"He was the best actor in the world," said Steven Spielberg after working with Pete Postlethwaite on Jurassic Park 2. It was just one among many compliments the English actor received during a career that mixed distinguished work with appearances in numerous popular blockbusters and cult hits. With credits as diverse as The Usual Suspects, The Constant Gardener and Romeo + Juliet, he was continually in demand, always able to bring weight to a production. Now he has died after 20 years of illness.
"I was honoured by his friendship - he is irreplaceable," said Bill Nighy, who worked with Postlethwaite in their theatre days. Postlethwaite began his career at the London Everyman Theatre and toured with the Royal Shakespeare Company before crossing over into film with 1988's Distant Voices, Still Lives. He was nominated for an Oscar for his work alongside Daniel Day Lewis in In The Name Of The Father, and in 2004 he was awarded an OBE for his services to the British film industry. Known for his strong social conscience, he was committed to environmental causes and recently narrated eco-docudrama The Age Of Stupid.
Postlethwaite developed testicular cancer in the early Nineties and, though he initially recovered, went on to suffer from a series of health setbacks. Nevertheless he enjoyed a busy life with many friends, and tributes to him have been pouring in all day. He is survived by his producer wife Jacqui and their two children, Will and Lily.
