Ian McKellen leads tributes to 'beloved’ Patrick Stewart following actor’s death at 86

"He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love," McKellen said

Ian McKellen has led tributes to Patrick Stewart following the actor’s death at the age of 86, describing his longtime friend as “the most respected and beloved actor of his generation”.

Stewart, best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28. His death was announced on social media.

McKellen, who shared a decades-long friendship with Stewart, reflected on the actor’s Yorkshire roots and the honesty he brought to his relationships.

“Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end,” McKellen wrote in a statement shared on social media.

“You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt. Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.”

McKellen also recalled advising Stewart against accepting the role in Star Trek, fearing it could take him away from his established theatre career in Britain.

“Do you really want to risk getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?” McKellen remembered asking him.

Stewart went on to take the role, becoming an international star while continuing to work across film and theatre. McKellen praised his performances in the X-Men films and his work in classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett.

He also highlighted Stewart’s appointment as Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, describing it as one of the actor’s proudest achievements and a reflection of his lasting connection to Yorkshire.

Actor Harriet Walter, another longtime friend of Stewart, said the world would be “very poor” without him. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, she said she could not imagine a world without the actor, comparing his death to “a huge giant tree” falling in a forest.

William Shatner, who played Captain James T Kirk in the original Star Trek television series, also paid tribute to Stewart, calling him a friend, colleague and magnificent actor.

“From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did,” Shatner wrote.

Stewart’s X-Men co-star Hugh Jackman shared two photographs of them together, describing him as one of the greats of stage and screen and a tremendous friend.

“I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days,” Jackman wrote.

Marvel Studios also paid tribute to the actor, praising his portrayal of Professor Charles Xavier across X-Men, Logan and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

The studio described Stewart as “a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman”, adding that its thoughts were with his wife Sunny, his children, friends and fans.

Stewart’s final film appearance is set to be in Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled for release in December.