Sands was a commanding presence who acted in some of the greatest dramas of his age. One of his earliest movie roles was Jon Swain in 1984's Khmer Rouge drama "The Killing Fields," which won three Academy Awards. The very next year, he starred in the Helena Bonham Carter drama "A Room With A View," which also went on to win three Oscars. Sands' drama chops also include Mike Figgis' "Leaving Las Vegas," and on the TV front, he notably played Vladimir Bierko in "24" and Jor-El in "Smallville."
The actor was also well-known for his roles in horror movies. He even had his own horror franchise, "Warlock," where he played the titular villain for two movies before Bruce Payne took over for the third film. He also starred as Nick Cavanaugh in the body horror film "Boxing Helena," and had a significant role as Dr. Atherton in the spider-themed horror comedy "Arachnophobia."
Sands was a solid professional who could analyze his roles with great care. "For me, it was like a Shakespearean experience," he spoke of his "Warlock" role in an interview with Decider. "The warlock himself was a classical, whimsical stage villain in a rich, nuanced way. His use of language, his smile, his movement, his random wickedness ... It was a great treat to play."
Outside acting, he was equally thoughtful. "To be nice, and grab it with both hands, we know it is short," Sands once shared his most important lesson about life with The Guardian.
