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 Megs

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Have you ever wondered - why all the talent or beauty goes with them. Actors or people in the public eye (to a greater extent) - their legacy lives on with what they have shared with the rest of us. But us 'lesser mortals' we are also remembered by those who love us.
A truly good man and an exceptional actor with a tough craggy yet handsome face has left us. You will be remembered. God Bless.

By Walt G.

FACE IT THE BRITS PRODUCE THE BEST ACTORS IN THE WORLD, WHILE WE START WITH SIMPLE LITTLE PLAYS, THEY ARE DOING SHAKESPEARE, THE BEST ACTOR OF THE PAST 75 YEARS ARE BRITISH, LIKE ALAN RICKMAN GARY OLDMAN, MICHAEL CAIN SIR ALEX GUINESS, SHAWN CONNERY, HELEN MIREN, RICHARD BURTON, ANTHONY HOPKINS, PETER SELLERS AND THE BEST OF ALL SIR LAWRENCE OLIVER, CONSIDERED THE BEST ACTOR OF ALL TIMES, JUST TO NAME A FEW. WE OF COURSE HAVE MANNY GRET ACTOES, BUT THESE NAMES CHANGE THE EQUASION.

By basinr

Without a doubt a gifted actor !!!

By Lisa

I will always remember this man for his small part in the third installment of the Alien trilogy - "Alien 3". He was the prisoner who went looking for the alien and calling out "Here kitty kitty kitty" which made me howl with laughter. I'll never forget that scene or him. RIP, Pete.

By elad2u

Truly a great and wonderful actor. Privilidged to have seen nearly every movie he's made be it UK, Australian or American. Extremely diverse, able to master various accents.

Condolences to his family.

Friday 07 January

By sam johnson

rip pete

and we will always make shur that win we set up base camp its not on a game trail or in the middle of a rex nest

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