Lew Palter, a veteran actor and teacher who portrayed Isidor Straus in James Cameron’s Titanic, has died at the age of 94.
Palter died on May 21st of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, his daughter told The Hollywood Reporter.
In Titanic, Palter portrayed Straus, a U.S. Congressman and co-owner of Macy’s department store. He and his wife, Ida, perished on the sinking ship after refusing to board a lifeboat because there were women and children who had yet to be saved. In one of the film’s final scenes, Palter’s character embraces his wife (played by Elsa Raven) in their stateroom as water rushes in.
Wendy Rush, the wife of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush who died last week on a dive in a submersible to the wreck of the Titanic, is a great-great-granddaughter of the Strauses — as is the singer King Princess.
Earlier on in his career,...
Palter died on May 21st of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, his daughter told The Hollywood Reporter.
In Titanic, Palter portrayed Straus, a U.S. Congressman and co-owner of Macy’s department store. He and his wife, Ida, perished on the sinking ship after refusing to board a lifeboat because there were women and children who had yet to be saved. In one of the film’s final scenes, Palter’s character embraces his wife (played by Elsa Raven) in their stateroom as water rushes in.
Wendy Rush, the wife of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush who died last week on a dive in a submersible to the wreck of the Titanic, is a great-great-granddaughter of the Strauses — as is the singer King Princess.
Earlier on in his career,...
- 6/27/2023
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Film News
Lew Palter, who played Isidor Straus in James Cameron’s Titanic and a Supreme Court justice in First Monday in October, has died. He was 94.
Palter died of lung cancer May 21 at his Los Angeles home. CalArts, where Palter was a longtime faculty member, shared news of his death on Twitter.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that longtime #calartstheater faculty Lew Palter has passed away. Lew retired from @CalArts in 2013, having served our community since 1971 as an acting teacher, director, and mentor.”
Among his students at CalArts was Cecily Strong, said it was Palter who encouraged her to try out for improv/sketch comedy group The Groundlings, leading to her breakout role on SNL.
“Lew loved the craft of acting, and taught his students to do the same,” said CalArts School of Theater Dean Travis Preston in a statement. “He fostered deep curiosity, care, intellect,...
Palter died of lung cancer May 21 at his Los Angeles home. CalArts, where Palter was a longtime faculty member, shared news of his death on Twitter.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that longtime #calartstheater faculty Lew Palter has passed away. Lew retired from @CalArts in 2013, having served our community since 1971 as an acting teacher, director, and mentor.”
Among his students at CalArts was Cecily Strong, said it was Palter who encouraged her to try out for improv/sketch comedy group The Groundlings, leading to her breakout role on SNL.
“Lew loved the craft of acting, and taught his students to do the same,” said CalArts School of Theater Dean Travis Preston in a statement. “He fostered deep curiosity, care, intellect,...
- 6/27/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Lew Palter, the veteran character actor and admired CalArts School of Theater faculty member who portrayed the department store magnate Isidor Straus in James Cameron’s Titanic, has died. He was 94.
Palter died May 21 of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, his daughter, Catherine Palter, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The New York native played one of the Supreme Court justices in First Monday in October (1981), starring Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh and Barnard Hughes, and he donned a robe for stints on The Flying Nun, Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law as well.
Plus, he portrayed an LAPD detective on the 1976-77 CBS series Delvecchio, starring Judd Hirsch.
Palter joined CalArts in 1971 and served as an acting teacher and director at the Santa Clarita school until his retirement in 2013, but he also conducted private workshops and taught around the country and around the world, including in Edinburgh and at Carnegie Mellon and UCLA.
Palter died May 21 of lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles, his daughter, Catherine Palter, told The Hollywood Reporter.
The New York native played one of the Supreme Court justices in First Monday in October (1981), starring Walter Matthau, Jill Clayburgh and Barnard Hughes, and he donned a robe for stints on The Flying Nun, Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law as well.
Plus, he portrayed an LAPD detective on the 1976-77 CBS series Delvecchio, starring Judd Hirsch.
Palter joined CalArts in 1971 and served as an acting teacher and director at the Santa Clarita school until his retirement in 2013, but he also conducted private workshops and taught around the country and around the world, including in Edinburgh and at Carnegie Mellon and UCLA.
- 6/26/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
(To celebrate "Titanic" and its impending 25th-anniversary re-release, we've put together a week of explorations, inquires, and deep dives into James Cameron's box office-smashing disaster epic.)
In 1912, the Titanic -- a ship that was called "unsinkable" -- hit an iceberg and sank, killing over 1,500 of the souls onboard. Some of those people were well-known business magnates, authors, and company owners. Many of those celebrities (some of whom survived) appeared as on-screen characters in James Cameron's 1997 epic film "Titanic." Some of them include Molly Brown (called "The Unsinkable Molly Brown"), played by Kathy Bates, business tycoon John Jacob Astor IV (Eric Braeden), Colonel Archibald Gracie IV (Bernard Fox), a writer who penned a book about the disaster, Benjamin Guggenheim (Michael Ensign) the mining titan, Isidor Straus (Lew Palter) and his wife Ida (Elsa Raven), the former owner of R.H. Macy and Company, among many others.
When the film came out,...
In 1912, the Titanic -- a ship that was called "unsinkable" -- hit an iceberg and sank, killing over 1,500 of the souls onboard. Some of those people were well-known business magnates, authors, and company owners. Many of those celebrities (some of whom survived) appeared as on-screen characters in James Cameron's 1997 epic film "Titanic." Some of them include Molly Brown (called "The Unsinkable Molly Brown"), played by Kathy Bates, business tycoon John Jacob Astor IV (Eric Braeden), Colonel Archibald Gracie IV (Bernard Fox), a writer who penned a book about the disaster, Benjamin Guggenheim (Michael Ensign) the mining titan, Isidor Straus (Lew Palter) and his wife Ida (Elsa Raven), the former owner of R.H. Macy and Company, among many others.
When the film came out,...
- 2/9/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Elsa Raven appears in Back to the Future for less than a minute, but her “Save the clock tower!” character stuck with the audience for a number of reasons. Not only did she deliver a critical piece of exposition, but Raven delivered it in such a way that was passionate and unforgettably honest.
Raven died Tuesday. She was 91.
Back to the Future screenwriter spoke with The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, during which he recalled Raven as a true professional and a joy to be around.
“She was one of those A-list performers who could turn a small role into a ...
Raven died Tuesday. She was 91.
Back to the Future screenwriter spoke with The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, during which he recalled Raven as a true professional and a joy to be around.
“She was one of those A-list performers who could turn a small role into a ...
- 11/5/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Elsa Raven appears in Back to the Future for less than a minute, but her “Save the clock tower!” character stuck with the audience for a number of reasons. Not only did she deliver a critical piece of exposition, but Raven delivered it in such a way that was passionate and unforgettably honest.
Raven died Tuesday. She was 91.
Back to the Future screenwriter spoke with The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, during which he recalled Raven as a true professional and a joy to be around.
“She was one of those A-list performers who could turn a small role into a ...
Raven died Tuesday. She was 91.
Back to the Future screenwriter spoke with The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, during which he recalled Raven as a true professional and a joy to be around.
“She was one of those A-list performers who could turn a small role into a ...
- 11/5/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Los Angeles, Nov 5 (Ians) Actress Elsa Raven, known for playing small but notable roles in films like Back To The Future and Titanic, is dead.
Raven died at the age of 91 on Monday, reports variety.com.
The late actress played the woman asking people to save the clocktower in "Back To The Future" and the realtor who sold the house in "The Amityville Horror". Although most of her scenes as Ida Strauss in "Titanic" were edited, she was seen in the video of the song, "My heart will go on".
Raven was last seen in the 2011 film "Answers To Nothing". On television, she appeared in "Seinfeld", besides in an episode of "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air". She also She also played Inga the maid on the show "Amen" and Carlotta Terranova from 1987 to 1990 in "Wiseguy". The late actress also had a recurring role in "Days Of Our Lives".
Raven was...
Raven died at the age of 91 on Monday, reports variety.com.
The late actress played the woman asking people to save the clocktower in "Back To The Future" and the realtor who sold the house in "The Amityville Horror". Although most of her scenes as Ida Strauss in "Titanic" were edited, she was seen in the video of the song, "My heart will go on".
Raven was last seen in the 2011 film "Answers To Nothing". On television, she appeared in "Seinfeld", besides in an episode of "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air". She also She also played Inga the maid on the show "Amen" and Carlotta Terranova from 1987 to 1990 in "Wiseguy". The late actress also had a recurring role in "Days Of Our Lives".
Raven was...
- 11/5/2020
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
Elsa Raven, perhaps best known for her role as the woman who urges Marty McFly to “save the clocktower” in “Back to the Future,” died Tuesday in Los Angeles, Deadline reported. She was 91.
Raven’s agent, David Shaul, confirmed her passing to Deadline but has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.
In addition to her memorable role in 1985’s “Back to the Future,” Raven appeared on the big screen in movies like “The Amityville Horror,” “Indecent Proposal,” “In the Line of Fire” and “Titanic,” though most of her scenes in that classic film were cut.
Raven also had regular television roles as well, appearing as a maid named Inga on “Amen,” and as the mother of Ken Wahl’s “Wiseguy” on the 1980s series. On the daytime television side, she played Lucille for several years on “Days of Our Lives.”
She appeared as a guest star on a number of other shows,...
Raven’s agent, David Shaul, confirmed her passing to Deadline but has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.
In addition to her memorable role in 1985’s “Back to the Future,” Raven appeared on the big screen in movies like “The Amityville Horror,” “Indecent Proposal,” “In the Line of Fire” and “Titanic,” though most of her scenes in that classic film were cut.
Raven also had regular television roles as well, appearing as a maid named Inga on “Amen,” and as the mother of Ken Wahl’s “Wiseguy” on the 1980s series. On the daytime television side, she played Lucille for several years on “Days of Our Lives.”
She appeared as a guest star on a number of other shows,...
- 11/5/2020
- by Daniel Goldblatt
- The Wrap
Elsa Raven, known for her roles in “Back to the Future” and “Amen,” died on Monday at the age of 91.
Born Elsa Rabinowitz, she chose Raven as her stage name and began her career performing in New York City. She went on to find a successful career in both television and film, landing her first movie role in 1970’s “The Honeymoon Killers,” where she played a matron.
Raven had small but memorable parts such as the woman advocating to save the clocktower in “Back to the Future” and the realtor who sold the house in “Amityville Horror.” Her final film role came in 2011 when she took on the character of Mrs. Harrison in “Answers to Nothing.”
Though most of the scenes she filmed as Ida Strauss in “Titanic” were cut, she was featured in the Celine Dion video as part of the couple in the stateroom where water poured in.
Born Elsa Rabinowitz, she chose Raven as her stage name and began her career performing in New York City. She went on to find a successful career in both television and film, landing her first movie role in 1970’s “The Honeymoon Killers,” where she played a matron.
Raven had small but memorable parts such as the woman advocating to save the clocktower in “Back to the Future” and the realtor who sold the house in “Amityville Horror.” Her final film role came in 2011 when she took on the character of Mrs. Harrison in “Answers to Nothing.”
Though most of the scenes she filmed as Ida Strauss in “Titanic” were cut, she was featured in the Celine Dion video as part of the couple in the stateroom where water poured in.
- 11/5/2020
- by Eli Countryman
- Variety Film + TV
Elsa Raven, a character actress whose memorable turns were highlighted by her role as the “Save The Clock Tower” lady in the original Back to the Future, died Tuesday at home in Los Angeles. Her death was confirmed by her agent, David Shaul.
Raven, whose real name was Elsa Rabinowitz, was born September 21, 1929, in Charleston, Sc, the fourth child of Louis and Rosalie Rabinowitz. She started her acting career on stage in New York City, where she also assisted Joseph Papp in bringing the Free Shakespeare Festival to Central Park.
Her career included many character actress roles. Beyond Back to the Future, she also played the realtor who sold the house in The Amityville Horror, John Malkovich’s landlady in In the Line of Fire, Gertrude Stein in The Moderns and the mother who lost her son in Fearless.
Raven, whose real name was Elsa Rabinowitz, was born September 21, 1929, in Charleston, Sc, the fourth child of Louis and Rosalie Rabinowitz. She started her acting career on stage in New York City, where she also assisted Joseph Papp in bringing the Free Shakespeare Festival to Central Park.
Her career included many character actress roles. Beyond Back to the Future, she also played the realtor who sold the house in The Amityville Horror, John Malkovich’s landlady in In the Line of Fire, Gertrude Stein in The Moderns and the mother who lost her son in Fearless.
- 11/5/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Elsa Raven is on-screen in “Back to the Future” for no more than 60 seconds, and her character doesn’t even have a proper name (she’s credited as “clocktower lady”). But she had an essential role in the film. If she hadn’t handed Marty that flyer, he and Doc would have never known where and when they could get a bolt of lightning to send Marty back to 1985. Raven, now 85, continues to be amazed by the staying-power that the sci-fi comedy has and by the part she’s continued to have in the “Back to the Future” family, 30 years after the movie’s release. She has joined the cast at several autograph signings at conventions over the years and has introduced screenings of the film in Los Angeles. After filming “Back to the Future,” the character actress appeared in such shows as “Seinfeld,” “3rd Rock from the Sun” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
- 7/17/2015
- by Emily Rome
- Hitfix
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