A beloved teacher and Titanic star has passed away from lung cancer at the age of 94.
Lew Palter was a New York City-native thespian who worked as a professor at the CalArts School of Theater and famously appeared in the 1997 blockbuster Titanic.
In the iconic movie, Palter portrayed department store mogul Isidor Straus who embraced his wife as they were lying in their bed while the ship was sinking and getting flooded.
Among other notable appearances on screen, Palter also secured the role of Associate Justice Benjamin Halperin in the Supreme Court drama comedy First Monday.
Besides his 54 acting credits, Palter was well-known at his school of theater where he previously taught several Oscar nominees including Don Cheadle, Cecily Strong, and Ed Harris.
According to the reports, the beloved actor and teacher succumbed to his illness and died at his Los Angeles home on May 21.
“What a great teacher. Lew Palter. Scratched his big giant ears and hit his ‘Ks’ so wet and reminded us often that as the great Bertold Brecht said, ‘The proof is in the pudding,’” producer and actress Cecily Strong wrote in a tribute to her teacher.
“Lew directed me in my second favorite play at CalArts – Anton in Show Business by Jane Martin with all the other girls who weren’t cast in the big shows our second year. We started out feeling defeated because we weren’t picked for the bigger shows but ended up feeling like we were in the best show of the season because people loved it (and the proof is in the pudding after all).”
Strong continued: “Lew told me he thought I should take a class at the Groundlings. I said no way I’m a serious actor. Turns out Lew was right. I took the class at the Groundlings. It brought me back to Chicago to study improv there. Then I ended up auditioning for Lorne Michaels.
“Thanks Lew. And thanks because for so many years I got to brag that my teacher was the old guy in Titanic that chose to stay in bed. Lew knew how to live life well. How to teach students to be not only better actors but better people. He got to a beautiful 94. The proof is in the pudding.”
On top of appearing in a variety of TV shows such as The Flying Nun, L.A. Law, Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, Baretta, Columbo, The Doris Day Show, and more, Palter was also known for directing a series of off-Broadway plays.
Our thoughts remain with Lew’s loved ones, including his three grandchildren, during this challenging time.