Lew Palter, an actor most known for portraying Isidor Straus in “Titanic,” passed away at 94. According to Palter’s daughter, who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, the adored actor died of lung cancer on May 21.
Teaching was Palter’s main passion, even if his on-screen talents went much beyond his moving scene in “Titanic,” where he and his on-screen wife suffered a chilly, tragic death together. Before this, Palter was employed at the CalArts School of Theater.
CalArts paid tribute to Palter at the time of his passing, even though the news is just now getting to a larger audience. Lew Palter, a veteran faculty member of the School of Theater, passed away, the institution announced in a statement uploaded to its Instagram account.
“Lew retired from CalArts in 2013, having worked as an acting instructor, director, and mentor since 1971. Lew enjoyed acting and instilled this love of the craft in his students. He encouraged profound interest, concern, intellect, and comedy in every scene, play, and class.”
The last “Titanic” actor to pass away was Palter. Spicer Lovejoy’s actor, David Warner, passed away in July 2022.
The synchronicities of history can occasionally make the hairs on your arm stand up. For instance, Lew Palter passed away about a month before the Titan submarine, which exploded and killed the five persons on board while trying to visit Titanic’s remnants, became a worldwide phenomenon, according to the BBC.
Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, the organization in charge of the entire operation, was one of the casualties.
Notably, Wendy Rush, Stockton’s widow, is linked to Isidor Straus, the character Palter portrayed in “Titanic” many years ago. According to a statement by The Straus Historical Society, Wendy Weil Rush, the wife/widow of Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate, is the great-great-granddaughter of Isidor and Ida Straus, who perished in the Titanic disaster.
“Minnie, one of Isidor and Ida’s three daughters, was her great-grandmother. Minnie and Richard Weil got married.
Wendy hasn’t spoken out about her husband’s premature passing yet. Unfortunately, the litigation that could arise from this tragedy may impact her time of mourning.
Wendy was a member of the expeditions team and the head of communications for OceanGate. Despite the crew members’ ostensibly irrevocable waivers, ABC 7 Chicago reports that the victims’ families may still be able to hold OceanGate legally liable.