Lew Palter, 'Titanic' Actor and Beloved Theater Teacher, Dead at 94
on Monday by his daughter, Catherine Palter.Palter is best known for his role in James Cameron's in which he played Isidor Straus, the real-life business magnate and co-owner of Macy's who died aboard the ship with his wife, Ida — a role played by Elsa Raven, who died in November 2020.Notably, the Strauses — who were among the wealthiest passengers to die aboard Titanic — are the great-great-grandparents of Wendy Rush, the wife of OceanGate Expeditions CEO Stockton Rush, who died aboard the Titan submersible last week, during a dive to the Titanic wreckage.Apart from his role in, Palter had small roles in a slew of TV shows and films throughout his long acting career, which began in 1967. He frequently played judges in different projects, including First Monday in October, and others.He largely retired from film and TV acting after his role in but was an acclaimed instructor at CalArts School of Theater, where he worked as a mentor, teacher and director from 1971 until his retirement in 2013.Among his thousands of past students, Palter worked with and mentored celebrated actors including alum Cecily Strong and Oscar nominees Don Cheadle and Ed Harris.Palter — whose wife of 64 years, Nancy Vawter, died in November 2020 — is survived by their daughter, as well as three grandchildren.