ACTOR · BORN 1946 · DIED 2011
Pete Postlethwaite
- Born
- 7 February 1946, Warrington, Cheshire, England, UK
- Died
- 2 January 2011
- Known for
- In the Name of the Father (1993), Dark Water (2005), The Shipping News (2001), Inception (2010)
16 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Pete Postlethwaite (7 February 1946 – 2 January 2011) was an actor best known for In the Name of the Father, Dark Water and The Shipping News.
16 Interesting Facts About Pete Postlethwaite
Interesting Facts (6)
- #001
In the 1996 film 'Romeo + Juliet', Postlethwaite was the only actor who spoke in iambic pentameter, the rhythm in which William Shakespeare's plays were written. This shows his command of Shakespeare's texts and his acting discipline. While the other actors spoke modern English, Postlethwaite's preservation of the original rhythm stood out.
- #002
Postlethwaite started smoking at the age of ten and kept up the habit until his death. Although he described smoking as his 'greatest regret', he could not give it up. This is known as one of the contradictions in his life.
- #003
A portrait of Postlethwaite by Christopher Thompson was purchased by the National Portrait Gallery. This is an indication of his standing in the art world. The portrait is displayed as a lasting memorial to the actor.
- #004
When an agent suggested that Postlethwaite change his surname to something more memorable, the actor rejected the suggestion and fired his agent. This shows Postlethwaite's attachment to his own identity and name. He valued artistic values over commercial concerns.
- #005
Postlethwaite's surname is pronounced 'POSS-ul-thwait'. It is one of the difficult surnames in English and is often mispronounced. The actor took a humorous approach to the matter.
- #006
Although Postlethwaite claimed to support striking miners, he was criticised for saying that people should never burn coal. Critics argued that the two positions conflicted.
Behind the Scenes (1)
- #007
Postlethwaite formed a long-lasting friendship with the actress Sue Johnston. The two met early in their careers and developed a lifelong bond. After Postlethwaite's death, Johnston made emotional statements about him.
Characters & Cast (2)
- #008
Postlethwaite wanted a role in Martin Scorsese's 'Gangs of New York' but turned it down when he was offered a low fee. He explained his decision with the words 'Working with Scorsese was my life's greatest dream, but I thought this was a swindle.' He also noted that his friends Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio were not offered the same low fee.
- #009
Pete Postlethwaite was considered for a role in Martin Scorsese's 'Gangs of New York' (2002). He turned the role down, however, after being offered a low salary. The episode became a significant decision in his career and was often brought up afterwards.
Deeper Meaning (1)
- #010
The voice heard at the beginning of Chumbawamba's hit song 'Tubthumping' belongs to Postlethwaite. The voice was taken from the 1996 film 'Brassed Off': 'The truth is I thought it mattered, I thought that music mattered. But does it bollocks! Not compared to how people matter.' The line sums up the film's main theme and gives the song a powerful opening.
Career & Awards (4)
- #011
Daniel Day-Lewis was one of the fans who frequently watched Postlethwaite on stage in his youth. Day-Lewis recommended him for the father role in the 1993 film 'In the Name of the Father'. The recommendation proved a major turning point in Postlethwaite's career and brought him international recognition.
- #012
Postlethwaite was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 New Year Honours for services to drama. On 16 November 2009, while the Labour government he had long supported was considering building a coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent, he threatened in a conversation with the then Climate Change Minister Ed Miliband to hand back his OBE if the government went ahead with its plans. The threat showed his sensitivity to environmental issues. In the end the power station proposal was shelved.
- #013
Pete Postlethwaite appeared in two films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: 'In the Name of the Father' (1993) and 'Inception' (2010). Both also hold an important place in cinema history.
- #014
After working briefly as a welder, Pete Postlethwaite trained as a teacher. At the age of 24 he applied to join the Old Vic theatre. That application marked the start of his acting career and was an important step into the world of theatre.
Life & Family (2)
- #015
Although Postlethwaite played Irish characters in many films, he was not of Irish descent himself. His successful use of the Irish accent won praise from critics.
- #016
In 2006 the University of Liverpool awarded Postlethwaite an honorary doctorate. The honour was given alongside the British actress Alison Steadman and the founders of the Everyman Theatre, Terry Hands and Martin Jenkins. The award recognised his contributions to theatre and cinema.
Related pages
Continue through the archive
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work