R.I.P: Pete Postlethwaite

Wow. The first RIP column of the year and we're only on Day Three. This one really sucks, too.

Pete Postlethwaite was an actor's actor. The best of the best. One of our favorites of all time. Because you knew if he was in the movie...it'd be a freakin' great movie.

You might not recognize the name but you'd recognize the face.

Spielberg called him the "probably the best actor in the world". Friends are saying he was quite simply "the most exciting, exhilarating actor of his generation." Bill Nighy, another Everyman veteran, called him "a rare and remarkable man", adding: "I was honoured by his friendship – he is irreplaceable". Stephen Fry tweeted: "The loss of the great Pete Postlethwaite is a very sad way to begin a year," and Simon Pegg, also on Twitter, called him "one of our finest actors", adding "Owned the stage, he did."

He was robbed of the Oscar, although nominated "in 1993 for In The Name of the Father, for his moving portrayal of Giuseppe Conlon, the father of one of the Guildford Four, who died in prison, wrongfully convicted of IRA bombings."

He spent time with the family to prepare for the role, and the real Gerry Conlon told Irish radio today: "He was so, so believable. There were times when he turned, and these quirky mannerisms that he performed, it was like looking at my dad."

Jim Sheridan, director of the film, said: "He was amazing. Everybody loved him. He was an amazing character and a lovely man."

That was the role we remember seeing him in the first. In the Name of the Father is one of the best films ever made. Pete was awesome in it.

Spielberg's description of him as the best in the world came in 1997, after Postlethwaite appeared in his films Amistad, and The Lost World: Jurassic Park.

Pete Postlethwaite was in dozens of movies including:
The Town
Inception
Clash of the Titans
The Omen
Aeon Flux
The Constant Gardener

Jurassic Park: The Lost World
The Shipping News
Amistad
Romeo and Juliet
DragonHeart
The Usual Suspects
In the Name of the Father
The Last of the Mohicans

R.I.P - Pete Postlethwaite
Thank you and Good-bye, Sir.