The Oscar-nominated actor, recently seen in ‘The Town’ and ‘Inception,’ was just 64 years old.

Pete Postlethwaite, who Steven Spielberg called “the best actor in the world,” has died at 64 after a long battle with cancer.

Postlethwaite was a quintessential character actor, effortlessly appearing in both blockbusters and indie fare. He was nominated for an Oscar for 1993′s In the Name of the Father and has appeared in huge films such as The Usual Suspects and The Lost World: Jurassic Park. He was most recently seen in bit parts in several high-grossing 2010 films, including Inception, The Town, and Clash Of The Titans.

Postlethwaite will next be seen in the upcoming comedy Killing Bono.

— William Earl