About
| Birth Name: | Peter William Postlethwaite |
| Birth Notes: | 16 February 1946, Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK |
| Height: | 5' 9" |
| Family: | * Jacqueline Morrish (1987 - present); 2 children |
| Biography: | An odd-looking but quite fascinating bloke with prominent, bony cheeks and a rawboned figure, distinguished character actor Pete Postlethwaite was born in 1946 and grew up in Cheshire, England amid middle-class surroundings. He went to college and while completing his studies developed an interest in theatre, to the chagrin of his family. His father, a labourer, wanted him to find a more secure position in life. A drama teacher initially, he decided to follow his acting instincts full-time and gradually built up an impressive array of classical stage credits via repertory, including the Bristol Old Vic Drama School and stints with Liverpool Everyman, Machester Royal Exchange and Royal Shakespeare Company. By the 80s he was ready to branch out into film and TV, giving a startling performance as a wife abuser in the British film Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988). His highly distinctive features were subsequently put to good use in a number of versatile roles, usually menacing but sometimes humble, and most frequently as working-class types. By 1993 he had crossed over into Hollywood parts and earned his first Oscar nomination for his superb role as Daniel Day-Lewis' father in In the Name of the Father (1993). Other quality roles came his way with The Usual Suspects (1995), Brassed Off (1996), and Amistad (1997). Television has been a creative and positive venue as well with such fine work in Sharpe's Company (1994) (TV), Lost for Words (1999) (TV) and "The Sins" (2000). Working equally both here and abroad these days, Postlethwaite avoids the public limelight for the most part and lives quietly in England. |
Filmography
| Amistad (1997) as Holabird |
| Clash of the Titans (2010) as Spyros |
| Closing the Ring (2007) as Quinlan |
| Hamlet (1990) as Player King |
| In the Name of the Father (1993) as Giuseppe Conlon |
| Inception (2010) as Maurice Fischer |
| Solomon Kane (2009) as William Crowthorn |
| Split Second (1992) as Paulsen |
| Strange Bedfellows (2004) as Russell McKenzie |
| The Age of Stupid (2009) as The Archivist |
| The Constant Gardener (2005) as Dr. Lorbeer/Dr. Brandt |
| The Last of the Mohicans (1992) as Capt. Beams |
| The Limit (2003) as Gale |
| The Omen (2006) as Father Brennan |
| The Shipping News (2001) as Tert Card |
| The Usual Suspects (1995) as Kobayashi |
| Triggermen (2002) as Ben Cutler |
| A Private Function (1984) as Douglas J. Nuttol the Butcher |
| Alien³ (1992) as David |
| Among Giants (1998) as Raymond 'Ray' |
| Anchoress (1993) as William Carpenter |
| Bandyta (1997) as Sincai |
| Between Strangers (2002) as John |
| Brassed Off (1996) as Danny |
| Clough (2009) as Narrator |
| Cowboy Up (2001) as Reid Braxton |
| Crimetime (1996) as Sidney |
| Dark Water (2005) as Veeck |
| Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) as Father |
| DragonHeart (1996) as Gilbert of Glockenspur |
| Fords on Water (1983) as Winston's Boss |
| Ghost Son (2007) as Doc |
| James and the Giant Peach (1996) as Old Man |
| Killing Bono (2010) as Karl |
| Number 27 (1988) as Becket |
| Occupy! (1976) as Player in Everyman Theatre Company, Liverpool |
| Player (2008) as Colin |
| Rat (2000) as Hubert |
| Red Mercury (2005) as Gold Commander |
| Romeo + Juliet (1996) as Father Laurence |
| Suite 16 (1994) as Glover |
| Tattoos: A Scarred History (2009) |
| The Bonny Boys (2010) |
| The Divine Ryans (1999) as Uncle Reg Ryan |
| The Dressmaker (1988) as Jack |
| The Duellists (1977) as Man shaving Gen. Treillard |
| The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) as Roland Tembo |
| The Racer (1975) as Ecco |
| The Selfish Giant (2003) as Arthur |
| The Serpent's Kiss (1997) as Thomas Smithers |
| The Town (2010) as Fergus 'Fergie' Colm |
| To Kill a Priest (1988) as Josef |
| Valley of the Heart's Delight (2006) as Albion Munson |
| Waterland (1992) as Henry Crick |
| Waving at Trains (2009) as Douglas |
| Wayward Son (1999) as Ben Alexander |
| When Saturday Comes (1996) as Ken Jackson |
| When the Sky Falls (2000) as Martin Shaughnessy |
| Æon Flux (2005) as Keeper |
Trivia
|
* He was raised in Northern England. * He formerly taught at a Catholic girl's convent school. * He was awarded OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 New Year's Honors List for his services to drama. * He once let an agent go after the agent suggested Pete change his last name to something more marquee-friendly. * He is married to a BBC drama assistant and has two children. * Steven Spielberg called him "The best actor in the world". * At the beginning of one hit wonder "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba, it is his voice saying these words from the movie "Brassed Off!" (1996): "Truth is I thought it mattered, I thought that music mattered. But does it bollocks! Not compared to how people matter." * He was listed as a potential nominee on the 2006 Razzie Award nominating ballot. He was listed as a suggestion in the Worst Supporting Actor category for his performance in the film Æon Flux (2005). However he failed to receive a nomination. * His portrait by Christopher Thompson was acquired by The National Portrait Gallery. * Children: William Postlethwaite (b. 1989) and Lily Postlethwaite (b. 1996) with Jacqueline Morrish. * He is the only actor in Romeo + Juliet (1996) who speaks in iambic pentameter, the rhythm of speech William Shakespeare 's plays are written in. * Turned down major roles in Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000) and Gangs of New York (2002). |
Quotes
| * "At the end of the day, acting is all about telling lies. We are professional imposters and the audience accept that. We've made this deal that we tell you a tale and a pack of lies, but there will be a truth in it. You may enjoy it, or it will disturb you." |
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