Pete Postlethwaite, the actor Spielberg called 'the best in the world,' dies aged 64



Star of Brassed Off and The Usual Suspects passes away peacefully in hospital



Earned Oscar nomination for father of member of Guildford Four

Ex-partner Julie Walters leads tributes



Veteran British actor Pete Postlethwaite, best known for his roles in films Brassed Off and In The Name Of The Father, has died aged 64.

Mr Postlethwaite underwent treatment for testicular cancer after being diagnosed with the condition in 1990.

Journalist and friend Andrew Richardson said the star passed away peacefully in hospital in Shropshire yesterday following a lengthy illness.

At peace: Pete Postlethwaite seen at The Chelsea Flower Show last year, has died following a lengthy battle with cancer Classic: Postlethwaite, left, and Ewan McGregor at the 1997 New York premiere for Brassed Off

The 64-year-old star of Hollywood blockbusters Jurassic Park, and The Usual Suspects had continued to work until recent months despite receiving treatment for cancer.

Last year, he appeared in blockbuster Inception and gritty film drama The Town and his last film, Killing Bono, is set for release in April.

He was treated at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and recently paid tribute to the staff there, telling the Shropshire Star: 'They have been wonderful and I am grateful to them. I cannot thank them enough for everything that they have done for me.'

Leading the tributes, his actor friend Bill Nighy said: 'I was honoured by his friendship - he is irreplaceable.'

Career changing: Postlethwaite starred alongside Oscar-winner Daniel Day Lewis in 1993 film In The Name Of The Father as Giuseppe Conlon



Hollywood calling: Postlethwaite as Kobayashi alongside Gabriel Byrne, and Stephen Baldwin in movie classic The Usual Suspects

The Warrington-born star started out touring pubs in with the Everyman Theatre group, where he met former girlfriend Julie Walters in 1974. They were together for five years.



She said today he was a 'big part' of her early life as an actor.



Walters said: 'He was quite simply the most exciting, exhilarating actor of his generation.



'He invented "edgy". He was an exhilarating person and actor. Spielberg was right when he said he was the best actor in the world.



'I saw him in Coriolanus and it was the most terrifying, wonderful performance I have ever seen. The audience were privileged to see it.'



Gerry Conlon, one of the Guildford Four, praised Postlethwaite's portrayal of his dying father, Guiseppe.



Family man: Postlethwaite with his wife Jacqueline Moorish and their children William and Lily at the 2009 premiere of his film The Age Of Stupid 'I have to say when he played him he obviously lost a bit of weight but he was so, so believable. There were times when he turned and these quirky mannerisms that he performed it was like looking at my dad,' Mr Conlon said. 'I don't think anyone else could have played my father. People now look at In The Name of Father and when Pete comes on he's automatically Guiseppe. And I think that is great testament to his acting ability,' Conlon told RTE Radio. Stephen Fry wrote on Twitter: 'The loss of the great Pete Postlethwaite is a very sad way to begin a year.' Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said: 'So sad to hear of Pete Postlethwaite's death. Brassed Off and The Age Of Stupid had a real effect on me and our Government.' Writer Neil McCormick, who worked with the actor in his last film Killing Bono, wrote on Twitter: 'RIP Pete Postlethwaite. We were privileged to have him in Killing Bono when he knew the end was near. Such a sweet, funny performance too.'

Friends in high places: Sophia Loren kisses Postlethwaite during a photocall for their 2002 film Between Strangers at the Venice Film festival



Memorable performances

Captain Beams in The Last Of The Mohicans (1992)

Giuseppe Conlon in The Name Of The Father (1993)

Kobayashi in The Usual Suspects (1995)

Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill in the Sharpe TV series (93-94)



Danny in Brassed Off (1996)

Father Lawrence in Romeo And Juliet (1996)



William S. Holabird in Amistad (1997)

Roland Tembo in The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)



Dr Brandt in The Constant Gardener (2005)

Hooch in TV drama Criminal Justice (2008)

Mr Postlethwaite, who was made an OBE in the 2004 New Year's Honours List, was once described by Hollywood director Steven Spielberg as 'the best actor in the world'.

They worked together on The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Amistad.

To which Mr Postlethwaite responded: 'I'm sure what Spielberg actually said was, "the thing about Pete is that he thinks he's the best actor in the world".'

The actor has appeared in a string of box office hits including In The Name Of the Father, The Usual Suspects and Baz Luhrmann's Romeo And Juliet.

Born to a Catholic family of four, Postlethwaite originally intended to have a career in the church.

In was as he served as an altar boy, he discovered his love of performing.

He started his working life as a school teacher, before focusing on his love of acting.

And his screen work began with bit parts in Coronation Street, Minder and Casualty.

It was when he was working as artistic director at the The Little Theatre Company in Bristol, he forged a friendship with Daniel Day Lewis, going on to star in several films together.