Pete Postlethwaite, English actor (d. 2011)
Peter William Postlethwaite, (7 February 1946 – 2 January 2011) was an English character actor. He appeared in In the Name of the Father (1993), Sharpe (1994), The Usual Suspects (1995), Dragonheart (1996), James and the Giant Peach (1996), Romeo + Juliet (1996), Brassed Off (1996), Amistad (1997), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Animal Farm (1999), The Constant Gardener (2005), Clash of the Titans (2010), Inception (2010), and The Town (2010).
After minor television appearances, including in The Professionals, his first major success arose through the British autobiographical film Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988). He had a transatlantic breakthrough when he portrayed David in Alien 3 (1992), and his international reputation was further solidified when he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for In the Name of the Father. Following this role, he portrayed the mysterious lawyer Mr. Kobayashi in The Usual Suspects, and went on to appear in a wide variety of films.
On television, Postlethwaite played Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill on Sharpe. He trained as a teacher and taught drama before training as an actor. Director Steven Spielberg called him "the best actor in the world" after working with him on The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2004 New Year Honours list. Less than one month after his death, he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Ben Affleck's The Town (2010).
1946Feb, 7
Pete Postlethwaite
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Events on 1946
- 11Mar
Auschwitz concentration camp
Rudolf Höss, the first commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, is captured by British troops. - 2Sep
Jawaharlal Nehru
The Interim Government of India is formed, headed by Jawaharlal Nehru as Vice President with the powers of a Prime Minister. - 8Sep
Bulgaria
A 95.6% vote in favor of abolishing the monarchy in Bulgaria. - 23Oct
Flushing, Queens
The United Nations General Assembly convenes for the first time, at an auditorium in Flushing, Queens, New York City. - 19Nov
Iceland
Afghanistan, Iceland and Sweden join the United Nations.