Why did Jean Shrimpton leave Terence Stamp? Split explored as 1960s legend passes away

Terence Stamp, the actor known for his role as Superman villain General Zod in the original films, passed away on the morning of August 17, 2025. He was 87.

His family released a statement to Reuters, stating that Stamp:

“Leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and a writer, that will continue to touch people for years to come. We ask for privacy at this sad time.”

With Stamp’s passing, his past relationships have come to light. In the 1960s, he was linked to supermodel Jean Shrimpton and actress Julie Christie. In 2002, his marriage to Elizabeth O’Rourke, a pharmacy student, drew public attention due to their 35-year age gap. However, the split occurred in 2008. He never had any biological children.

His relationship with Shrimpton was highly publicized, especially when she left him because she discovered that he was allegedly receiving a percentage of her salary for organising the promotional work she undertook, according to The Telegraph.

Please continue to read more about their relationship.

Everything we need to know about the relationship between Terence Stamp and Jean Shrimpton

Terence Stamp was reportedly in an on-off relationship with supermodel Jean Shrimpton in the 1960s. She was also known as “The Shrimp.”

As per a report in the Daily Mail, Stamp met her while filming The Collector. During that time, Shrimpton was recovering from her break-up with photographer and director, David Bailey. Their relationship began with a photoshoot for Kellogg's Cornflakes in 1960. However, her relationship with Bailey ended after four years in 1964.

Jean Shrimpton became the face which was printed on multiple magazine covers in the 1960s. But when she suggested to Stamp that she wanted to become an actor, he retorted that she had more chance of becoming a brain surgeon. Stamp told the Daily Mail columnist David Lewin:

“She's not like the usual model girl. She can talk and she is bright. She is really my first girlfriend – steady, that is.”

According to The Telegraph, Stamp decried his relationship with Jean Shrimpton which began in 1995, as “the perfect sexual and emotional partnership in my life.” But she left him after three years when she discovered his alleged stealing. Recalling the split, the actor said:

“Jean was totally wrong about the money. I was keeping 10 per cent but had intended to present her with a lump sum as a surprise. Stealing never was my style.”

They separated in 1968. While speaking about their separation, Jean Shrimpton said that she is a “realistic” person, and added:

“I put up with quite a lot, but then I just walk away. I don't think he was in love with me at all, and if he was, he had a funny way of showing it. He was incredibly beautiful, and I was in love with his looks. I was infatuated and in awe of him, but I wasn't in love with him.”

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Stamp’s breakup with Shrimpton had a profound impact on him which impacted his career as an actor. He went to India to seek spiritual understanding and transformation. He settled in Pune, Mumbai at a hotel called the Blue Diamond.

He also admitted his fault in his relationship, referring to himself as a “lunatic.” He said that he “wasn’t ready for a twin-soul relationship.”

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