Peter Faber, a beloved Dutch actor, passed away on Thursday, August 6, at the age of 82. He had been hospitalized in early July with breathing difficulties related to an untreatable heart condition.
Children's Emotional Tribute
His five children, Jasper, Jesse, Daan, Danja, and Sam, did not confirm the cause of death but shared an emotional Facebook post about his final hours. They wrote: "Yesterday, we said goodbye to our father. The past weeks have been intense and sad, but also special: we were able to spend so much time with him. Until the very last moment, he remained himself. Peter said 'yes' to life wholeheartedly. He was undeniably optimistic, curious, wanted to understand, and kept marvelling at everything. Even as his body failed him, he kept paying attention to the people around him. For the nurses, the doctors, his companions, and for us. The OLVG felt like a warm place for him, and he was genuinely grateful for the loving care he received."
They added: "Even in his final days, he remained the actor he always was: he carried poems, sang songs for his companions, and knew how to put a smile on faces. Humour, he never lost."
Career Highlights
Faber broke through in the 1970s with the film Max Havelaar. He later appeared in the 1977 epic war drama A Bridge Too Far, co-starring with Sean Connery. Other notable films included Ciske de Rat and Schatjes! He also starred in Paul Verhoeven's wartime classic Soldaat van Oranje, which later inspired a long-running musical that closed last month after 16 years. On television, he appeared in series such as Baantjer.
Theatre and Later Work
Faber co-founded the theatre collective Het Werkteater and won the Dutch theatre award Louis d'Or twice, for his roles in Het Koekoeksnest and Avondrood. He continued acting until recent years, with his final film role in 2023's Sweet Dreams, alongside his son Jesse, which was the Dutch Oscar entry the following year. He also appeared in an episode of Medisch Centrum West in 2025.
In 2018, he appeared in the RTL 4 comedy series Beter Laat Dan Nooit, traveling the world with other Dutch celebrities including Gerard Cox, Willibrord Frequin, and Barrie Stevens.
Final Words
His children concluded: "We are deeply moved by the thousands of cards, messages, flowers, and reactions we have received over the past weeks. We have shared them with him as much as possible. He was visibly moved and felt greatly supported. We are incredibly grateful for that. We are losing a father, grandfather, friend, and the most colourful artist we could have wished for. Rest in peace, dear dad."
