Pete Postlethwaite has died at the age of 64

Actor Pete Postlethwaite , has died at the age of 64, after a "lengthy illness" with cancer.

It is reported that he died peacefully in hospital in Shropshire, on Sunday 2 January 2011.

His recent London stage credits include "King Lear" at the Young Vic in 2009 and "Scaramouche Jones" at the Riverside Studios in 2002. His film credits include "The Usual Suspects", "Romeo And Juliet", "In The Name Of The Father", "Jurassic Park: The Lost World" and Brassed Off.

He was appointed OBE in 2003.