British actor Pete Postlethwaite, who was once described by Steven Spielberg as "probably the best actor in the world," has died at the age of 64.
The distinguished character actor passed away in hospital Sunday after a long battle with cancer, according to longtime friend Andrew Richardson.
Spielberg used Postlethwaite twice, in "Amistad" and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park." In 2007, the actor disputed Spielberg's high praise, telling The Telegraph "I'm sure what Spielberg actually said was, ‘The thing about Pete is that he thinks he's the best actor in the world.'"
Postlethwaite's recent work included appearances in Christopher Nolan's blockbuster hit "Inception" and Ben Affleck's "The Town" – but many will remember him best for his role as the mysterious Mr. Kobayashi in "The Usual Suspects" and his Oscar-nominated turn in the 1993 film "In The Name of the Father."
Born in Warrington, England in 1946, the accomplished actor began his career at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre, where he returned in 2008 to star in a production of King Lear.
He was also a political activist, championing the fight against global warming and criticizing the war in Iraq. He spent his later years living with his wife, former BBC producer Jackie Morrish Postlethwaite, and their two children in Shropshire.
He recently thanked the hospital staff of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, where he had received treatment.
"They have been wonderful and I am grateful to them. I cannot thank them enough for everything that they have done for me," he told the Shropshire Star newspaper.
