Peter Postlethwaite with his OBE for services to drama at Buckingham Palace, London. Wednesday June 9, 2004.

Pete Postlethwaite on the set of 'Closing the Ring', filmed in North Belfast. 2006

Pete Postlethwaite as he receives an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University

Pete Postlethwaite and Daniel Day-Lewis in In The Name of the Father

Oscar-nominated actor Pete Postlethwaite has died. He was 64.

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

The actor had continued to work until recent months despite receiving treatment for cancer.

His family has requested that the media respect their privacy.

Mr Postlethwaite, who was made an OBE in the 2004 New Year's Honours List, was described by Hollywood director Steven Spielberg as "the best actor in the world". They worked together on The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Amistad.

In response to the praise, Mr Postlethwaite joked: "I'm sure what Spielberg actually said was, 'the thing about Pete is that he thinks he's the best actor in the world'."

Mr Postlethwaite received his Oscar nomination for his performance as Guiseppe Conlon in the 1993 film In The Name Of The Father, about the wrongful convictions of the so-called Guildford Four for an IRA bomb attack.

In it he starred alongside his friend and fellow actor Daniel Day-Lewis and Emma Thompson.

Mr Postlethwaite and Mr Day-Lewis had previously worked together in repertory theatre in Bristol during the 1970s.

Pete Postlethwaite's other films included Brassed Off, The Usual Suspects, The Shipping News, Inception, Romeo & Juliet and The Town.

Born in Warrington, he had originally planned to be a priest. He later became a teacher but eventually followed his passion for the stage, beginning his career at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool where he rubbed shoulders with such future stars as Bill Nighy, Julie Walters, Alan Bleasdale, Jonathan Pryce, Matthew Kelly and Anthony Sher.

In 2008 he returned to the Everyman to play the lead in King Lear, a role that he had always wanted to play.

The performance was one of the highlights of Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture.

Mr Postlethwaite was also a political activist who marched against the war in Iraq, supported the Make Poverty History campaign and starred in the 2009 film about global warming, The Age of Stupid.

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

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

Belfast Telegraph