Patrick Stewart, legendary 'Star Trek' and 'X-Men' actor, dies at 86

Patrick Stewart, beloved as Jean-Luc Picard and Professor X, dies at 86 after battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia

Patrick Stewart, the acclaimed British actor known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, has died at the age of 86.

Stewart died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles following a brief period living with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, his longtime spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak announced on October 29.

 

 

 

 

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In a statement, Novak said Stewart spent his final moments surrounded by family and friends, with music, prayer, tears and laughter marking his final days.

Born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, Yorkshire, England, Stewart built a distinguished career in classical theatre before becoming an internationally recognised science fiction star. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company at 26 and performed extensively with British theatre institutions before moving into film and television.

Stewart’s breakthrough in the United States came in 1987 when he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Although the series initially faced resistance from some fans, it eventually became a major success, running for seven seasons until 1994 and spawning four feature films.

He later became known to a new generation of audiences as Professor Charles Xavier, the leader of the X-Men, beginning with the 2000 film X-Men. Stewart appeared in several instalments of the franchise, including X2: X-Men United, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Logan. He also returned to the Star Trek universe with Star Trek: Picard, which premiered in 2020.

Beyond science fiction, Stewart earned acclaim for his Shakespearean performances and roles in productions including Moby Dick, The Lion in Winter and Hamlet. His television credits also included Extras, Blunt Talk and American Dad!.

Stewart was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001 and was knighted in 2010 for his services to drama.

He was married three times and is survived by his family. His performances as Picard and Xavier remain among the defining roles of his career.