Lew Palter, the renowned actor who portrayed department store magnate Isidor Strauss in James Cameron’s Titanic, has died at the age of 94. A steady presence as a character actor and a deeply respected teacher, Palter left an imprint on the American stage and screen through a career that spanned decades. His peers and students remember him as a consummate professional who brought nuance and warmth to every role, both on screen and in the classroom.
Palter passed away from lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles on May 21, a fact confirmed by his daughter, Katherine Palter. The news touched many in the acting community, where his influence extended far beyond his performances to the mentorship he offered to generations of aspiring actors.
The New York native is best remembered for his work as one of the Supreme Court justices in The First Monday in October (1981), a film that paired him with a strong ensemble cast and showcased his ability to blend authority with humanity. His career also included appearances on beloved television series such as The Flying Nun, Hill Street Blues, and L.A. Law, where he demonstrated a knack for delivering restrained, memorable turns that stuck with audiences long after the credits rolled.
Palter became a fixture in arts education when he joined the California Institute of the Arts in 1971, serving as an acting instructor and later as a principal at Santa Clarita High School. He remained in the classroom and in the studio until his retirement in 2013, shaping countless actors who would go on to perform on stages and screens across North America. Beyond the campus, he offered private seminars and lectures, sharing insights with students in cities across the country and around the world, including Edinburgh, Carnegie Mellon, and UCLA, always focused on cultivating real technique, stage presence, and a love of the craft.
Throughout his career, Palter guided thousands of students, many of whom reached prominence in film and television. Notable alumni who carried forward his emphasis on discipline, storytelling, and character work include Ed Harris, Don Cheadle, and Cecily Strong, among others. Those who trained under him recall a teacher who challenged them to trust their instincts while mastering the mechanics of performance, a combination that proved essential for durable success in a demanding industry.
In Titanic, Palter portrayed Isidor Strauss, a role that placed him alongside Elsa Raven as Ida Strauss in one of the film’s most poignant sequences. The scene, set aboard the fading luxury liner as the ship’s orchestra continues to play and the water begins to surge, captures a moment of quiet, dignified resolve. Palter’s performance, anchored in restrained emotion, helps illuminate the couple’s devotion and resolve in the face of catastrophe, a testament to his ability to convey depth with deliberate, measured disquiet.