RIP: Professor and acting veteran Lew Palter passed away at age 94 from lung cancer at his Los Angeles home on May 21
Titanic star Lew Palter passed away at age 94 from lung cancer at his Los Angeles home on May 21.
The New York City-born thespian is perhaps best remembered for his role as real-life department store magnate Isidor Straus, who embraced his wife in bed, in James Cameron’s critically-acclaimed $2.2B-grossing 1997 drama Titanic, which streams July 1 on Netflix.
Audiences might also remember Lew as Associate Justice Benjamin Halperin opposite Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh in Ronald Neame’s 1981 Supreme Court dramedy First Monday in October, which earned $12.4M at the global box office.
Palter was also an esteemed professor at the CalArts School of Theater and his students included four-time Oscar nominee Ed Harris, Oscar nominee Don Cheadle, and two-time Emmy nominee Cecily Strong.
On May 22, Schmigadoon! producer-star Cecily Strong – who graduated from CalArts in 2006 – shared a touching post about how instrumental Palter was in pushing her away from serious acting and into more comedic roles.
‘What a great teacher. Lew Palter. Scratched his big giant ears and hit his “Ks” so wet and reminded us often that as the great Bertold Brecht said, “The proof is in the pudding,”‘ the 39-year-old Illinois native wrote on Instagram.
Haunting scene: The New York City-born thespian is perhaps best remembered for his role as real-life department store magnate Isidor Straus, who embraced his wife in bed as the ship sank in the 1997 drama Titanic
Real life tragedy: Isidor Straus and his wife Ida died on the Titanic. Isidor co-owned Macy’s with his brother, Nathan
‘Lew directed me in my second favorite play at CalArts – Anton in Show Business by Jane Martin with all the other girls who weren’t cast in the big shows our second year. We started out feeling defeated because we weren’t picked for the bigger shows but ended up feeling like we were in the best show of the season because people loved it (and the proof is in the pudding after all). I played a Polish director named Wikewich and I got to scream to the audience how “I f*** you with my art.”
‘Lew told me he thought I should take a class at the Groundlings. I said no way I’m a serious actor. Turns out Lew was right. I took the class at the Groundlings. It brought me back to Chicago to study improv there. Then I ended up auditioning for Lorne Michaels. Thanks Lew. And thanks because for so many years I got to brag that my teacher was the old guy in Titanic that chose to stay in bed. Lew knew how to live life well. How to teach students to be not only better actors but better people. He got to a beautiful 94. The proof is in the pudding.’
Cecily – who often sang and did impersonations of Judge Jeanine Pirro among others – was a hilarious member of the cast on NBC’s long-running sketch comedy series for 11 seasons spanning 2012 until her final episode aired on December 17.
Westworld star Ed Harris got to know Lew (born Leon) during the two years he attended CalArts, which he graduated from in 1975.
Palter – who retired from teaching in 2013 – also taught The Wonder Years narrator Don Cheadle at CalArts, which he graduated from in 1986.
The US Army veteran scored several roles in TV shows including Delvecchio, The Flying Nun, Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, The Doris Day Show, Columbo, The Brady Bunch, Baretta, The Waltons, Cagney & Lacey, and The A-Team.
Lew also directed numerous off-Broadway plays including Tom Topor’s drama Nuts for the Los Angeles Stage Company, which eventually got the big-screen treatment in 1987 with Barbra Streisand playing the manslaughtering call girl.
Throwback! Audiences might also remember Lew (L, seated) as Associate Justice Benjamin Halperin opposite Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh in Ronald Neame’s 1981 Supreme Court dramedy First Monday in October, which earned $12.4M at the global box office
‘What a great teacher’: On May 22, Schmigadoon! producer-star Cecily Strong – who graduated from CalArts in 2006 – shared a touching post about how instrumental Palter was in pushing her away from serious acting and into more comedic roles (pictured April 19)
The 39-year-old Illinois native wrote on Instagram: ‘Lew told me he thought I should take a class at the Groundlings. I said no way I’m a serious actor. Turns out Lew was right. I took the class at the Groundlings. It brought me back to Chicago to study improv there. Then I ended up auditioning for Lorne Michaels. Thanks Lew’
In demand: Lew scored several roles in TV shows including Delvecchio, The Flying Nun, Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, The Doris Day Show, Columbo, The Brady Bunch, Baretta, The Waltons, Cagney & Lacey, and The A-Team (pictured in 2018)
‘You will be missed by so many’: Palter is survived by his daughter Catherine Read Palter (L) from his 64-year marriage to L.A. Law actress Nancy Vawter, who passed away in 2020
Legacy: The US Army veteran is also survived by his three grandchildren Sam, Tessa, and Miranda Morgan (L)
Palter was highly educated having received his bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, his master’s degree from Alfred University, and a Ph.D. in theater from Northwestern University.
The Steagle star is survived by his daughter Catherine Read Palter from his 64-year marriage to L.A. Law actress Nancy Vawter, who passed away in 2020.
Lew is also survived by his three grandchildren Sam, Tessa, and Miranda Morgan.
