Pete Postlethwaite passes away at the age of 64

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You may not know his name, but chances are that you’ve seen Pete Postlethwaite in something – he was one of the all-time great character actors. Pete passed away yesterday in England, after fighting cancer for years. He was Oscar-nominated for his role in In The Name of the Father, where he played the father of Daniel Day Lewis’s character, and he had smaller parts in some of the best films of the past two decades. Just in 2010, he was in Inception, The Town and Clash of the Titans. He is also remembered for his roles in The Usual Suspects, The Constant Gardener, Romeo + Juliet, Amistad, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and The Last of the Mohicans. Go here for his IMDB page – his filmography is incredible.

Pete Postlethwaite died in a in Shropshire, England, hospital Sunday after a lengthy fight with cancer. The actor was 64.

An Oscar nominee for his role as the father of Daniel Day-Lewis’s character in the 1993 In the Name of the Father, the distinctive-looking Postlethwaite also played the menacing owner of a flower shop in last year’s The Town, directed by and starring Ben Affleck. In Inception, he was the rich, dying patriarch (his son was played by Cillian Murphy).

Steven Spielberg, who directed Postlewaite in The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Amistad, once called him “the best actor in the world.” In response, Postlethwaite – who originally wanted to be a priest – quipped, “I’m sure what Spielberg actually said was, ‘the thing about Pete is that he thinks he’s the best actor in the world.’ ”

A political activist, Postlethwaite protested the war in Iraq, supported the Make Poverty History campaign and starred in a 2009 film about global warming, The Age of Stupid, reports Britain’s Independent.

Survivors are his wife, Jacqui, his son Will and daughter, Lily, says the newspaper.

[From People]

Sad. You know what’s weird? I always thought he was Irish, because his Irish accent was so good (to my ears), I had always associated him as an Irish actor. But he’s British! British actors are just incredible, aren’t they? Sigh… sad for his family, sad for the film community, sad that we lost such a great talent. Thoughts and prayers for his family and friends.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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50 Responses to “Pete Postlethwaite passes away at the age of 64”

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  1. nnn says:

    I have seen this a few minutes ago.

    Cancer is a bitch !

    RIP.

  2. tango says:

    I loved him in The Usual Suspects. RIP.

  3. sarah says:

    I watched two of his movies in the last three days. Good actor!

  4. Leek says:

    That is sad indeed. He was an amazing talent. RIP, Pete.

  5. mln76 says:

    Oh this guy is just one of the best character actors, I love all of the movies mentioned. And what a great name. RIP.

  6. brin says:

    Amen. He was a great actor. RIP.

  7. Bailey says:

    Brilliant actor, he will be dearly missed. Loved his accent too.

  8. WhiteNoise says:

    So sad to hear this this morning. A very graceful man and a truly gifted actor, one of the best around. He owned every role and was as formidable on stage as on screen. Stunning legacy of films but a big big loss to the acting profession and the human race. RIP.

    Brassed Off gets overlooked (an absolute gem of a film) but it features one of his most spectacularly beautiful and moving performances.

  9. the original bellaluna says:

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

    I adored him! He was odd, and he was glorious. Loved him in Dragonheart and Last of the Mohicans. He was just…words fail me.

    And not even “old” either. He will be missed.

  10. malachais says:

    WhiteNoise, ITA. Such a wonderful actor, he will be missed :(.

  11. leuce7 says:

    I just saw Inception (again) and The Town, and couldn’t even remember which character he was in Inception, he just disappeared so completely into them. He was awesome in The Town, too. Accent spot on, and totally creepy. What a loss to Hollywood and his family.

  12. Eve says:

    Really sad news…he was an amazing actor.

  13. DiMi says:

    I’m really sad. He was a great artist. I’m glad that he had such a full and wonderful life. Bravo to him on every level.

  14. Lori says:

    I always loved him and his wonderful knobby face. RIP.

  15. Tess says:

    Someone said something about him being the one who set the tone for The Usual Suspects and the thread that held the film together and I agree.

    A loss for sure.

  16. viper says:

    IM IN TEARS you guys have no idea just how much I loved this man. Im seriously crying right now. God I didnt even know he had cancer oh no… damn it…

  17. carrie says:

    totally agreed with you!
    he always will be Guiseppe Conlon(his in the name of the father ‘s character) for me

  18. Sassy says:

    Loved him in The Town. And I too, thought he was Irish. What a great actor!

    So sad. Condolences to his family. 🙁

  19. Johnny Depp's Girl says:

    Sorry for this great loss. To his family and friends, my condolences.

  20. Elin says:

    Damn. We lost a lot of talent the last few days. Per Oscarsson (an actor/legend in Sweden, he was in the Millenium-trilogy) is presumed dead after his house burned to cinders, and now this…
    2011 opend by sucking.

  21. Mairead says:

    We have lost one of our greatest actors.

    He was always immensely watchable and always portrayed his character’s character – with a sympathetic character you empathised with them, with a nice role you loved them and with an evil person (such as the nasty piece of work he played in “Sharpe”) you absolutely detested them.

    RIP Pete, the acting world will be poorer without you.

  22. Eve says:

    @ Tess:

    I thought his Mr. Kobayashi was creepier than even Keyser Söze himself in The Usual Suspects.

  23. WhiteNoise says:

    Danny’s ‘speech’ from Brassed Off. No matter how many times I’ve seen this film (and it’s in double figures), this moves me to tears every time.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKx3MUqzCcQ

  24. marge says:

    I remember… many, many years ago, seeing him in a lot of English movies, alongside Ewan McGregor (yum) and he was just brilliant, and I loved it when he became a more reknown actor, internationally. Rest in peace

    PS. Check the “The Serpernt’s Kiss” and “Brassed Off” for some vintage Ewan and some amazing acting from Mr Postlethwaite

  25. stepmama says:

    Love him! He was a fantastic actor-RIP.

  26. PrettyTarheel says:

    Love, Love, LOVE Mr. Kobayashi!!! He just made the Usual Suspects, which is easily my all time favorite movie!

  27. kiko says:

    oh come on!!!!!!!!!no just no!!not fair!!!
    rip 😥

  28. munchies says:

    the first ever CD we had was In the Name of the Father. we played it many many times and all members of the family knows him. Sad.

  29. mslewis says:

    So sad. He was one of my favorite character actors. You always noticed him in a movie. He’s gone too soon. I always imagined he would be one of those Brit actors who was still going strong at 90!! Cancer is a bitch!!

  30. Sandy says:

    Really a great loss, and young too.

  31. StopKiddingYourself says:

    Peter was English. Even if he was Irish, he would still be considered British- the British Isles include Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales…

    Anyway, R.I.P. What a fine actor, he will be missed.

  32. Cheyenne says:

    I always liked him in his movies and I never knew his name.

  33. jc126 says:

    Aw, man! That’s so sad! RIP to a great talent.

  34. Linda says:

    I’ll bet he was a really nice man too. He’ll be missed.

  35. MrsOdie2 says:

    Most of Ireland is an independent Republic, but let’s not quibble.

    Oh, Pete! I am so sad! He was too young! So talented. He will be missed.

  36. Chickie Baby says:

    Aw, this is upsetting. He was a fine actor and had such a quiet presence onscreen. God bless his family.

  37. Solveig says:

    He was one of my favourite actors, and yet I can’t spell his name correctly.
    Then you see some of his movie, or some of D.D. Lewis’ or even Cillian Murphy’s and you suddenly realize or remember what talent and great movies are.
    Fuck Hollywood.

    May he rest in peace.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKx3MUqzCcQ

  38. SuperSleuth says:

    He was one of my favorite actors. Loved him in the town; so creepy. This is a very sad day.
    We need to find a cure.

  39. Nudgie says:

    So sad – talent like his doesn’t come by very often. :~(

    (and RIP Anne Francis – she rocked as ‘Honey West’)

  40. Amandahugandkiss says:

    RIP Pete. You’ll certainly be missed. A gentleman always is. x

  41. MymaJane says:

    RIP Pete!

    I recently saw The Town, and I gasped when I saw him because he looked so thin and ill. At the time I had know idea he’d been battling cancer.

  42. Rasputina says:

    Sad news indeed. This man had smaller parts here and there, but he was always memorable and glorious and had grown on me.
    You will be remembered, Pete.

  43. Mel says:

    Very sad and a big loss to the acting world.

    He lived locally, here in Shropshire and did a lot for the community. Everyone who met him said he was so lovely and down to earth. He also supported and gave his time and talent to a lot of local projects, he never said no. A true gent.

  44. Excellent actor. RIP!

  45. Matt says:

    Very very sad and a great loss to the industry. Especially so when he has been in movies as recently as Inception.

    He was a proud Englishman and very down to earth, I had seen him on the train from Worcester to London before, very low key.

  46. Camille says:

    Really sad news, RIP PP. 🙁

  47. jemshoes says:

    Condolences to his family and friends.

    And I agree: British actors and actresses are amongst the best in the world!

  48. trollydolly says:

    @stopkiddingyourself (31)

    May I politely tell you to Feck Off with your ludicrous assertion that Irish People are “British” because of living in the British Isles. I am Irish, was born in the Republic of Ireland, NO ONE can call me British. Total nonsense.

    RIP Pete x

  49. slymm27 says:

    is cancer out to wipe the world really? I mean…wth? Every freaking person is dying of cancer…. Scaryyyyyyy. Rip pete!

  50. ste says:

    RIP Pete – he was a true legend , an excellent actor which is so rare nowadays. you’ll be missed.