Pete Postlethwaite

Biography

Stage-trained actor Pete Postlethwaite started out in movies largely playing the heavy, trading on the natural menace inherent in his angular face. Though he made his film debut in the late 1970s, Postlewaite came into prominence a decade later thanks to a riveting performance as an abusive, alcoholic father in "Distant Voices, Still Lives" (1988). 

He soon broke into Hollywood with turns in Mel Gibson's "Hamlet" (1990) and "Alien 3" (1992), while joining old friend and repertory mate Daniel Day-Lewis in "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992). 

But it was his incredible supporting performance as a quiet, but fiercely devoted father opposite Day-Lewis in "In the Name of the Father" (1993), which marked one of Postlewaite's finest performances of his career. 

He followed with an iconic turn as the mysterious lawyer to feared crime figure Keyser Söze in the acclaimed crime thriller, "The Usual Suspects" (1995). 

Because of those two key roles, doors were opened to Postlewaite, who began enjoying greater prominence in major feature films like "Amistad" (1997) and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" (1997), while continuing to film acclaimed British-made movies such as "Brassed Off" (1996). 

By the time he landed supporting roles in "Inception" (2010) and "The Town" (2010), Postlewaite had become one of the most sought-after character actors working in the business.

Postlewaite died on January 2, 2011, at age 64, of pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by his wife and son, and by his daughter from a prior relationship.