‘Titanic’ actor and beloved drama teacher Lew Palter dies at 94

Lew Palter, a veteran character actor and renowned drama teacher, has died after a battle with lung cancer. He is 94 years old.

Pat passed away on May 21 at his home in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer.The news was confirmed as The Hollywood ReporterMonday is hosted by his daughter, Catherine Palter.

pat is known for his role in james cameron’s film Titanic, In it he plays Isidor Straus, the real-life business magnate and co-owner of Macy’s who dies on board with his wife, Ida. Played by Elsa Raven, passed away in November 2020.

Notably, the Strauss were among the wealthiest passengers who died on the Titanic, and they were the great-great-grandparents of Wendy Rush’s wife. Stockton Rush, CEO, OceanGate ExpeditionsHe died last week while diving into the wreck of the Titanic submersible.

Besides his role TitanicPat has had small roles in numerous television shows and films throughout his long acting career, beginning in 1967. He often plays the judge in different projects, including “First Monday in October”, “The Flying Nun,” “LA Legal,” “Hill Street Blues” and others.

in ” Titanic But he was an award-winning lecturer at the CalArts School of Drama, where he was a mentor, teacher and director from 1971 until his retirement in 2013.

Among his thousands of past students, Pat has worked with and directed notable actors, including saturday night live Alumna Cecily Strong and Oscar nominees Don Cheadle and Ed Harris.

Pat’s wife, Nancy Vawter, who passed away in November 2020 after 64 years of marriage to Pat, is survived by their daughter and three grandchildren.