Originally published by L.S. Media. January 3rd 2011.

In the last couple of years there have been a plethora of Hollywood actors to come to Liverpool and performed for the local audiences, Sir Ian McKellen, Henry Winkler and Jonathon Pryce amongst them, all big A-list names that have wowed audiences with their humility and joy in acting in Liverpool. Perhaps none so more important or as well received as Pete Postlethwaite who died yesterday in a Shropshire hospital aged 64.

In 2008, Pete Postlethwaite came back to the place where it all started for him and gave one of the performances of his life as the destructive and vain King Lear. As part of the 2008 City of Culture celebrations, The Everyman Theatre pulled off a tremendous coup and brought him back to the stage where he played alongside the likes of Julie Walters, Bill Nighy and Antony Sher. A different time perhaps but it’s incredible to think that he started his career late but was considered one of the finest actors of his generation.

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg called him “The best actor in the world” after working with him in The Lost World: Jurassic Park and when you consider his C.V it would be hard to disagree with one of the most influential men in modern cinema. His screen roles included Giuseppe Conlon from In the Name of the Father for which he received an Academy Award nomination for, Brother Gilbert in Dragon heart and alongside Ewan McGregor in the hit British movie Brassed Off.

Pete Postlethwaite was not just a Hollywood star but also made time for British television and theatre and it is with that in mind that we remember as a city, one of the men we called our own. He may have been born in Warrington but from his early days in theatre at the Everyman, audiences and the people of Liverpool should be proud of one of their favourite adopted Scouse people.

Ian D. Hall