Lew Palter, a veteran character actor best remembered for his role in James Cameron’s ‘Titanic,’ has died. He was 94.
Palter died of lung cancer on May 21, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In First Monday in October (1981), he played a Supreme Court justice alongside Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh, and Barnard Hughes, and he also appeared in robes on The Flying Nun, Hill Street Blues, and L.A. Law.
He also played an LAPD detective on Judd Hirsch’s 1976-77 CBS sitcom Delvecchio.
Palter joined CalArts in 1971 and worked as an acting teacher and director there until his retirement in 2013, but he also held private workshops and taught all throughout the country and the world, including in Edinburgh, Carnegie Mellon, and UCLA.
“Lew loved the craft of acting and taught his students to do the same. He fostered deep curiosity, care, intellect and humour in every scene, play and class,” CalArts School of Theater Dean Travis Preston said in a statement. “He had the utmost respect of his students and encouraged all to find truth in their work and lives.” He is survived by his daughter, grandchildren, Sam, Tessa and Miranda.
