Lew Palter
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{short description|American actor (1928–2023)}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Lew Palter
|image = Lew-Palter-titanic-resize.jpg
|caption = Palter in Titanic, 1997
|birth_name = Leon Louis Palter
|birth_date = {{birth date|1928|11|03}}
|birth_place = New York City, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2023|5|21|1928|11|03}}
|death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|occupation = Actor
|spouse = {{marriage|Nancy Vawter|1956|2020|end=died}}
|children = 2
}}
Leon Louis Palter (November 3, 1928 – May 21, 2023) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Isidor Straus in the 1997 film Titanic. He was also a longtime instructor at the CalArts School of Theater.
Early life
Leon Louis Palter was born in New York City's Brooklyn borough on November 3, 1928.{{cite web |title=Lewis Palter |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/193925572:2238?tid=&pid=&queryId=b54ad3f5564dc870e6f5334fb3e05fa1&_phsrc=Dqh6018&_phstart=successSource |publisher=U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947 |access-date=June 23, 2023}} After studying at Tufts University and Alfred University, he earned a PhD in theater at Northwestern University.
Career
Palter appeared in New York productions such as The Madwoman of Chaillot and An Enemy of the People. He also directed Off-Broadway plays including Let Man Live, Overruled and The Trial of Lucullus. In 1965, he directed and produced with Robert L. Hobbs at the Millbrook Playhouse. He acted and directed on summer stock theaters. He began to appear on screen in 1967 with an appearance in the television series Run for Your Life. Palter guest-starred in television programs including The A-Team, Day by Day, Charlie's Angels, Baretta, The Virginian, Columbo, The High Chaparral, Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, The Six Million Dollar Man, Kojak, The Brady Bunch and The Flying Nun.{{Cite web |title=Lew Palter |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba9caec00 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528140043/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba9caec00 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 28, 2018 |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=BFI |language=en}} He also played Det. Clark in seven episodes of the American drama television series Delvecchio,{{Cite web |date=June 26, 2023 |title=Titanic And Delvecchio Star Lew Palter Dead At 94 |url=https://www.looper.com/1323923/titanic-delvecchio-actor-lew-palter-dead-94-obituary/ |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=Looper |language=en-US}} and guest-starred on The Doris Day Show.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fYXeCQAAQBAJ|title=Doris Day: Sentimental Journey|page=255|first=Garry|last=McGee|publisher=McFarland|date=November 22, 2010|isbn=9780786461073|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web |title=Lew Palter |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lew-palter/3000392490/ |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}} Apart from playing Isidor Straus in Titanic,{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/elsa-raven-back-to-the-future-titanic_uk_5fa3e2afc5b69c36d952a157|title=Elsa Raven, Titanic And Back To The Future Star, Dies Aged 91|first=Daniel|last=Welsh|work=The Huffington Post|date=November 5, 2020|access-date=December 2, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Stimson |first1=Brie |title=Lew Palter, 'Titanic' actor and mentor to Hollywood stars, dead at 94 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/lew-palter-titanic-actor-mentor-hollywood-stars-dead-94 |access-date=July 1, 2023 |work=Fox News |date=June 29, 2023|quote=In Strong's tribute to Palter, she called him a 'great teacher' who 'knew how to live life well.' She also thanked Palter 'because for so many years I got to brag that my teacher was the old guy in Titanic that chose to stay in bed.'}} Palter appeared in other films, such as The Steagle and First Monday in October.{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=June 27, 2023 |title=Lew Palter Dies: 'Titanic' & 'First Monday In October' Actor Was 94 |url=https://deadline.com/2023/06/lew-palter-dead-titanic-first-monday-in-october-actor-1235425002/ |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Having started teaching acting at the CalArts School of Theater in 1971, Palter remained a faculty member there until his retirement in 2013. His many students included Don Cheadle, Ed Harris, and Cecily Strong.{{cite web |last1=Ziemba |first1=Christine N. |title=Cecily Strong: From the CalArts School of Theater to Saturday Night Live |url=https://blog.calarts.edu/2013/03/28/cecily-strong-from-the-calarts-school-of-theater-to-saturday-night-live/ |website=24700 |publisher=California Institute of the Arts |access-date=July 1, 2023 |date=March 28, 2013|quote=Strong said that it was faculty member Lew Palter who encouraged her to try out for the improv/sketch comedy troupe ....}}
Personal life
Palter was married to actress and costumer Nancy (née Vawter) from 1956 until her death in 2020. They had two daughters together.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/25430723/|title=Lewis Palter, Co-Director at Millbrook Playhouse|work=The Express|location=Lock Haven, Pennsylvania|date=March 24, 1965|access-date=December 2, 2021|page=6|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Closed access}}
Palter died from lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, on May 21, 2023, at the age of 94.{{cite web |last1=Barnes |first1=Mike |title=Lew Palter, 'Titanic' Actor and Longtime CalArts Teacher, Dies at 94 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lew-palter-dead-titanic-calarts-1235524055/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 26, 2023|access-date=June 26, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Dunham |first=Katie |date=May 30, 2023 |title=CalArts Mourns the Passing of Lew Palter |url=https://24700.calarts.edu/2023/05/30/calarts-mourns-the-passing-of-lew-palter/ |access-date=June 26, 2023 |website=California Institute of the Arts |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0658817}}
- {{TCMDb name | 147026{{!}}0 | Lew Palter }}
- [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/lew-palter/ Rotten Tomatoes profile]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Palter, Lew}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:Male actors from New York (state)
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American theatre directors
Category:American theatre managers and producers