RIP Pete Postlethwaite

[therockbox]

The actor Pete Postlethwaite has died at the age of 64. Friends said he passed away peacefully in hospital in Shropshire yesterday having suffered from cancer for some time.

Postlethwaite was once described by the film director Steven Spielberg as "probably the best actor in the world today".

He worked with Spielberg on two films in 1997 – the fantasy adventure film The Lost World: Jurrassic Park, and Amistad, about a slave mutiny on a ship.

The craggy-featured actor received an Oscar nomination for his performance as Guiseppe Conlon in the 1993 film In The Name Of The Father, about the wrongful convictions of the Guildford Four.

His notable films included the 1996 film Brassed Off, in which he played the leader of colliery band in a Yorkshire community devastated by mine closures. The film was a favourite of the former deputy prime minister John Prescott, and became the inspiration for a coalfield regeneration programme.

Postlethwaite also played the menacing criminal mastermind Kobayashi in the 1995 hit film The Usual Suspects.

In recent years Postlethwaite became known as much for his political activism as his acting. He was the front man in the climate change film The Age of Stupid, arriving at the 2009 London premiere on a bicycle.

After the film's release he threatened to hand back the OBE he was awarded in 2004 in protest at the government's controversial decision to give the go-ahead for Kingsnorth coal-fired power station in Kent.

He also adapted his home to become environmentally responsible, installing a wind turbine and other features.

In 2003 he marched against the war in Iraq and was a vocal supporter of the Make Poverty History campaign.

Born in Warrington, Postlethwaite had originally planned to be a priest. He became a teacher but eventually took to the stage, beginning his career at the Everyman theatre in Liverpool. In 2008 he returned to the Everyman to play the lead in King Lear, a role he had always wanted to play. The performance was one of the highlights of Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture.

He is survived by his wife, Jacqui, his son, Will, and daughter, Lily.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jan/03/actor-pete-postlethwaite-dies

First thing I ever saw him in was Sharpe. He played Hakeswill brilliantly, and was probably one of my favourite villians ever.

[Colly]

Gutted. Ditto on Sharpe, then Romeo + Juliet, Usual Suspects etc etc etc. Love a bit of Pete.

[the machine]

Wow, that's sad news. Postlethwaite is coming off such a huge year, too. He had a small role in Inception and another in Clash of the Titans, and a supporting role in The Town. A really underrated actor.

[Jimmy]

Yeah, he had a great year. He was really growing on me as a father figure, good or bad. Such a huge shame, though I'm glad he went peacefully and is no longer suffering.

[Liam]

I absolutely loved him in Sharpe, just brilliant. Sad to hear of him passing, really talented guy. You knew whenever you saw him on TV or in a film, that he'd bring a bit of quality to it.

RIP

[TKz]

To me, Postlethwaite was one of the greatest supporting actors of his time that never really got the chance to shine as much as I think he could have, but still managed to give a hell of a performance no matter what role he played. Really one of the underrated greats and it saddens me to think that I won't see any more films from him. I honestly remember him most of all from Dragonheart, used to be one of my favourite films when I was younger.

[Kaney]

Yeah, TKz nailed it. When you think of the greatest actors you'd never think of him but when you do sit down and remember the stuff he was in, he was fucking brilliant. I mostly know him from Usual Suspects, but he was always a welcome appearance on my screen when he did show up. Real shame, but at least it was peaceful. I didn't even know he had cancer.

[LL!]

Well, apparently he lost a testicle back in 1990 because of testicular cancer. Not sure where the went, or if he went into remission, or what. It's just such a shame to see one of the best (if not THE best) supporting actor ever go away from such a heartless plague. The man was greatness and it's sad to see him go.

[Josh]

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Apparently Steven Spielberg once called him the best actor in the world.

I was shocked when I found out he'd died. Very saddening. Great actor. You knew you were in for a treat if he turned up in a movie.

[METALMAN]

Pete Posthumous

[Walker]

Such as shame, he was being shortlisted for the role of The Vulture in the next Spiderman film, he would had been perfect for that part.

[Pesci]

I didn't realise who he was when I heard he died but when I Googled him I recognised him and he's been a real highlight of every film I've seen him in. I'll probably remember him most from Usual Suspects but it's a real shame he's gone, a fantastic supporting actor with a great style who definitely stood out from the crowd. Bit late to the party but RIP, he will be missed.