Julian Sands' official cause of death released months after actor went missing on hike

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Kevin Ryan recalls meeting Julian Sands for the first time and how the actor introduced him to Mount Baldy

Kevin Ryan told Fox News Digital he first met Julian Sands while on the set of "Crossbones," revealing he has hiked the same trail Sands went missing on and explaining it can be difficult depending on the weather.

Julian Sands' official cause of death has been released, weeks after his remains were found on a mountain in California.

The actor's cause of death was listed on his death certificate as "undetermined," Fox News Digital can confirm. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department positively identified Sands on June 27 after hikers found his remains on Mount Baldy.

The "undetermined" cause of death is "common when dealing with cases of this type," the sheriff's department explained to Fox News Digital.

Sands was first reported missing by his wife on Jan. 13 after he failed to return from a hike in the San Gabriel Mountains, which are roughly an hour outside of Los Angeles.

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Julian Sands' remains were recovered by hikers on June 24 and identified as the missing actor on June 27. (Matt Winkelmeyer/BAFTA LA/Getty Images for BAFTA LA)

Authorities searched for the missing actor via ground, helicopter and drones in the first weeks after he was reported missing.

However, toward the end of February and into March, a series of powerful storms hit the San Bernardino Mountains. Just before landfall, the National Weather Service issued its first-ever blizzard warning for the area.

When the rare weather event was over, the mountain communities were covered in nearly 10 feet of snow. Roads were closed, residents went without power for days, and sheriffs reported 13 deaths under investigation, but ruled only one person died as "a direct correlation to the weather."

Julian Sands starred in "The Killing Fields," "Ocean's 13" and other movies. (David Livingston/Getty Images)

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Authorities picked up the search for Sands again in June, but many parts of the mountain still remained "inaccessible due to extreme alpine conditions," according to the police.

Sands is known for his roles in "The Killing Fields," "A Room With A View," "Leaving Las Vegas" and "Warlock." He also appeared in "Ocean's 13," "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," "Arachnophobia," "Boxing Helena" and "Medallion."

WATCH: KEVIN RYAN RECALLS MEETING JULIAN SANDS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND HOW THE ACTOR INTRODUCED HIM TO MOUNT BALDY

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At the time of his death, Sands reportedly had six projects in the works, per IMDb.

Sands is survived by wife Evgenia Citkowitz, their two daughters and his son from his first marriage.

Julian Sands met his wife, Evgenia Citkowitz, through John Malkovich. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

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Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this report.