British Actor Pete Postlethwaite Dies

British Actor Pete Postlethwaite DiesLondon, Jan 4. -British actor Pete Postlethwaite, known worldwide for his role in the film In the Name of the Father (1994), died at the age of 64 after a long struggle with cancer.

The news was confirmed by his friend, journalist Andrew Richardson, who said he died early in the morning in a Shropshire hospital, where he had been admitted several days ago.

Described by U.S. filmmaker Steven Spielberg as "the best actor in the world," Postlethwaite studied at St. Mary's University College in London and then worked as a professor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

With a long career in the Royal Shakespeare Company, Postlethwaite was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the 1994 film In the Name of the Father by Jim Sheridan.

Despite his illness, he starred in another of 2010 films, including Christopher Nolan's Inception and Louis Leterrier's Clash of theTitans.