Legendary 'Titanic' Star Lew Palter Passes Away at 94 - Connection to OceanGate CEO's Wife Unveiled!
Actor Lew Palter, known for his role in 'Titanic,' passes away at 94 after a courageous battle with lung cancer His demise was confirmed by his family on June 26
Catherine Read Palter and Lew Palter Courtesy of Catherine Read Palter/Instagram
Lew Palter, the veteran character actor renowned for his role in Titanic, passed away at the age of 94. Catherine, Palter's daughter, shared the news with The Hollywood Reporter on June 26. She disclosed that her father succumbed to lung cancer at his residence in Los Angeles on May 21.
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Apart from his role in the iconic movie Titanic in 1997, Palter was also recognized for portraying a Supreme Court justice in the film First Monday in October in 1981. This film also featured Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh. He made numerous appearances on television, appearing in popular shows such as Columbo, The Virginian, Mission: Impossible, Kojak, The Brady Bunch, Charlie’s Angels, Baretta, Hill Street Blues, and The Flying Nun.
Palter began his career as an acting instructor at the California Institute of the Arts in 1971 and continued working there until his retirement in 2013. According to Travis Preston, the dean of CalArts School of Theater, Palter had a strong passion for acting and instilled the same passion in his students. He was known for cultivating intellectual curiosity, compassion, and humor in every scene, play, and class. His students held him in high regard and he encouraged them to find truth in their work and personal lives.
Content: Palter had a significant impact on numerous students throughout the years, including Ed Harris, Don Cheadle, and Cecily Strong. After Palter's passing in May, Strong, who is now 39 years old, acknowledged her former teacher's influence in encouraging her to explore improvisation, which ultimately led to her successful audition for Saturday Night Live.
Taking to Instagram, Strong expressed her gratitude towards Palter, stating, "Thanks Lew. And thanks because for so many years I got to boast about the fact that my teacher was the old guy in Titanic who chose to stay in bed. Lew knew how to live a fulfilling life and teach his students not only to become better actors but better individuals as well. He lived a remarkable 94 years, and his impact remains undeniable."
In Titanic, Palter portrayed the fictionalized character of Isidor Straus, a prominent figure in the department store industry who tragically perished aboard the ill-fated ship in 1912 alongside his beloved wife, Ida Straus. Despite the impending doom of the sinking vessel, Ida adamantly refused to evacuate in a lifeboat without her husband, and thus, the devoted couple were last spotted arm in arm on the ship's deck. Isidor's body was subsequently recovered from the wreckage and transported to New York City, where he found his final resting place in his family's mausoleum situated in the Bronx. In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Ida's remains were never located.
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Earlier this month, Wendy Rush, the wife of OceanGate cofounder and CEO Stockton Rush, made headlines along with Ida and Isidor due to their familial connection. Wendy, who serves as the company's communications director, is actually a great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida.
Tragically, Stockton was one of the casualties during an OceanGate expedition to explore the wreckage of the Titanic. The submersible vessel, named Titan, went missing on June 18, approximately one hour and 45 minutes into its descent. On Thursday, June 22, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that searchers had discovered debris that indicated a severe implosion of the vessel.
OceanGate has issued a statement confirming the tragic deaths of the five individuals aboard the Titan. The statement expresses sorrow and announces the loss of Stockton Rush, the CEO, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet. The statement recognizes their adventurous spirit, passion for exploring and protecting the oceans, and acknowledges the significant impact they had on the lives of those who knew them. Our thoughts and condolences are with their families during this heartbreaking time.
