I was saddened to hear of the unexpected death of Pete Postlethwaite, one of our finest British actors, and a favourite of mine who I was lucky enough to see in his one man show, Scaramouche Jones, at the Arts Theatre, Cambridge, a few years ago. He was only 64 and had been having treatment for testicular cancer.
I loved his quirky features and all his thunderous perfomances were tremendous and memorable. I first saw him in the film Brassed Off and instantly became a huge fan of the former Shakespearean actor, particularly in Dickens television adaptions. I shall order a dvd of his film In the Name of the Father, which tells the story of the Guildford Four and the IRA pub bombing which was nominated for many awards, and I have not yet seen.
Pete’s death leaves a huge void in the acting world.
It’s such sad news. I know he has done many wonderful and weighty performances but I love him as the mad Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill in Sharpe – a virtuoso performance of facial tics, eye-rolling and scenery chewing!
Sheila, yes, thanks for the reminder, Pete was sensational in Sharpe.
Yes, so sad.
I was very sad when I read about his death in my local newspaper. He was a lovely man and so talented.
I am saddened too, he ought to be remembered alongside the greatest of English actors.
His performance as Guiseppe Conlon in “In the Name of the Father” was of the very highest quality and marked him out as one of the world’s best. He always seemed at his best in performances which had a strong message, and that particular film with Daniel Day Lewis burns into the mind the injustices that occur when a conviction is required at all costs.
He is simply irreplaceable.
My condolences to all in England for this loss and also actor-director Peter Yates, who was very familiar to us in the USA.