Oscar-Nominated Actor Pete Postlethwaite Dies at 64

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 3rd 2011 06:27AM

Pete Postlethwaite, famously dubbed the "best actor in the world" by Steven Spielberg and who starred in films such as 'Inception' and 'The Usual Suspects,' has died after a lengthy battle with cancer. The respected British star was 64.

Spokesman and friend Andrew Richardson told the UK press that Postlethwaite died in a hospital in Shropshire, in western England, on Sunday. Shortly before his death, he publicly thanked the hospital staff in the local newspaper for their "wonderful" treatment and care during his illness.

The unmistakeably gritty actor earned an Oscar nomination for his role as Daniel Day-Lewis' father, Giuseppe Conlon, in 1993's 'In the Name of the Father' and worked steadily through the years in big Hollywood fare such as 'The Town,' 'Romeo + Juliet' and the Spielberg hits 'Amistad' and 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park.'

Watch Video of Postlethwaite in Memorable Roles:

He began his acting career in the British theater after initially planning to be a priest. In the 1980s and early 1990's, Postlethwaite worked a great deal in British television.

Along the way, the actor made a wealth of friends. Bill Nighy, who performed with Postlethwaite in the 1970s, called him "a rare and remarkable man," adding in comments to the BBC that he was "honored by his friendship -- he is irreplaceable."

He received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 2004 along with many other honors for his long career in movies, theater and television.

He is survived by his wife, Jacqui, a son Will and daughter, Lily. Watch More of Postlethwaite as Kobayashi in 'The Usual Suspects' and More of His Best Roles

Tags: Pete Postlethwaite

Comments

(26)

Monday 03 January

By robin

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RIP pete, you will be dearly missed. Thanks for all the great movies.

By BTDT

Remarkable talent. RIP Mr. Postlehwaite.

By tryjfg

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RIP Pete
You were at your best as the villian in the "Sharpe" series...
A sad day :(I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via ageg apsingles.c 'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. Just love it

By iocbisdfh

Just proves that a butt ugly man with talent can make it///oh great article ,My boyfriend and i both think so ...He is almost 11year older than me .i met him via uniform'edmeet.c 'oma nice place for s'ee'king Army, Navy, Mari'nes, Air Force, Police Force and their admires.just love it

By T

Easily a favorite actor of mine. I used to get him mixed up with Wes Studi. He was definitely a rare talent and I'll miss seeing him on the screen into the future.

By Girl Next Door

RIP Pete Postlethwaite. Nobody but you could have portrayed Giuseppe Conlon as honorably as you had. A TRUE actor in every sense of the word! :(

By knotintheloop

Good-bye Kobayashi, You will be missed. I bet Keyser Soze will give you a beautiful funeral.

By art

megan is all bones, no rear, no legs, no shape, skinny as they get. is she trying out for the twiggy role?

By wil2660

I never knew his name but did enjoy him in any movie he was in.

By Lisa (Postlewaite) Gohn

A great actor. May he rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to family and friends.

Lisa Postlewaite-Gohn

By joan

Another loss, the first for 2011. Deepest sympathies to his family. Pete was such a diverse actor, could play anything. Loved him in Dragonheart and James and the Giant Peach too. Rest in peace dear man.

By Mandi Pinni

No Way..!!! I just loved watching him act. He was so versatile! Another sad RIP.

By keithsmove

RIP Pete
You were at your best as the villian in the "Sharpe" series...
A sad day :(

By eggbert

Just proves that a butt ugly man with talent can make it///

By Gabi

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Loved his work whenever I saw him. Fabulous expressive and unusual face; just remarkable. Condolences to his family.

By kevinbgood621

His acting was natural and brilliant .RIP .

By Jenny

What an awesome talent Pete Postlethwaite had. May his soul go on to even bigger and better things.

By Nichael

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Sad loss. I always thought he added something extra to the movies he was in. I remember him from films like Alien3, The Last of the Mohicans, & James & the Giant Peach. He was very cool. My condolences to his family.

By Dan

I'm not familiar at all with this guy but the legendary ANNE FRANCIS died yesterday. Why isn't there a story about her?

By walker

I really loved his work. Watched very carefully everything he did, which made him in my book an excellent actor. I especially loved him in the stage version of Nicholas Nickleby. Will miss him truly. resst in Peace dear man.

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