Titanic star Lew Palter dead at 94

Titanic star Lew Palter dead 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, hugging his wife in bed, in James Cameron’s critically acclaimed 1997 drama Titanic, which grossed $2.2 billion, which opens July 1. broadcast on Netflix.

Audiences may 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 grossed $12.4 million at the worldwide 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 important Palter was in pushing her away from serious acting and into more comedic roles.

‘What a great teacher. Lewis Palter. Scratched his big giant ears and slapped his “K’s” so wet and often reminded us that, as the great Bertold Brecht said, “The proof is in the pudding,” the 39-year-old Illinois resident wrote Instagram.

Spooky scene: The New York City-born thespian is perhaps best remembered for his role as real-life department store magnate Isidor Straus, hugging his wife in bed when 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 Jane Martin’s Show Business with all the other girls who weren’t cast in our sophomore year’s big shows. We started to feel defeated for not being picked for the bigger shows, but ended up feeling like we were on 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 had to yell at the audience, “I’m fucking you with my art.”

“Lew told me he thought I should take a class with the Groundlings. I was in no way saying I’m a serious actor. Turns out Lew was right. I took class with the Groundlings. It brought me back to Chicago to study improv. Then I auditioned for Lorne Michaels. Thanks Lew. And thank you for allowing me to brag for so many years that my teacher was the old man in Titanic who chose to stay in bed. Lew knew how to live life right. How to teach students not only to be better actors, but also better people. He came 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 cast member of NBC’s long-running sketch comedy series for 11 seasons spanning 2012 until her final episode aired on December 17.

Westworld star Ed Harris met Lew (née Leon) during the two years he attended CalArts, from which he graduated in 1975.

Palter – who retired from teaching in 2013 – also taught The Wonder Years narrator Don Cheadle at CalArts, graduating in 1986.

The US Army veteran has played a variety of roles on TV shows including Delvecchio, The Flying Nun, Hill Street Blues, LA 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 finally made it to the big screen in 1987 with Barbra Streisand as the manslaughter call girl.

Backlash! Audiences may also remember Lew (L, seated) as Associate Justice Benjamin Halperin opposite Walter Matthau and Jill Clayburgh in Ronald Neame’s 1981 Supreme Court drama First Monday in October, which grossed $12.4 million at the worldwide 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 important Palter was in pushing her away from serious acting and into more comedic roles (pictured April 19)

The 39-year-old Illinois resident wrote on Instagram, “Lew told me he thought I should take a class with the Groundlings. I was in no way saying I’m a serious actor. Turns out Lew was right. I took class with the Groundlings. It brought me back to Chicago to study improv. Then I auditioned for Lorne Michaels. Thanks Lew’

Wanted: Lew scored several roles on TV shows, including Delvecchio, The Flying Nun, Hill Street Blues, LA 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 LA 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, receiving his undergraduate 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 LA Law actress Nancy Vawter, who passed away in 2020.

Lew is also survived by his three grandchildren Sam, Tessa and Miranda Morgan.