Patrick Stewart dies at 86
The actor, known for Star Trek and X-Men, passed away at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday.
By Amina Kaminski ·
Patrick Stewart, the actor best known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Charles Xavier, died Wednesday at age 86.
His family announced the death on Thursday, stating he passed at his home in Los Angeles. His spokesperson confirmed the cause of death in a social media post, noting he had been dealing with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. The actor described his final period as a brief and poignant journey.
Stewart first rose to international fame in the 1990s through the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He portrayed Captain Picard, a role that defined the character for a new generation of viewers. The actor later joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing as Professor Xavier in the X-Men films that began in 2000.
Colleagues from both franchises shared tributes on social media on Thursday. Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, spoke to the media about his experience working with Stewart on the X-Men set. Feige recalled seeing the actor after years of knowing him only as Picard. He described Stewart as brilliant, charming, and warm, adding that the actor possessed a quiet strength and gravitas that matched his on-screen persona. Feige also noted that Stewart had a wonderfully sharp sense of humor off-camera.
The Russo brothers, directors of the upcoming Avengers films, posted on Instagram to honor the actor. They stated they had been lucky to work with their childhood heroes, placing Stewart among that group. They described him as a legendary actor with an unmistakable presence and unmatched integrity. The brothers thanked Stewart for teaching them humanity on and off the screen.
Wil Wheaton, who worked with Stewart on Star Trek: The Next Generation, shared a throwback photo on Instagram. He captioned the image with a broken heart emoji and the words Godspeed, Captain. Jonathan Frakes, who played Commander Riker, also posted a photo with the message Rest in peace my friend. Terry Matalas, the showrunner for the Star Trek: Picard series, shared a smiling photo of Stewart and wrote Oh Captain, my Captain. This is how I'll always remember you.
William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series, remembered Stewart in an Instagram post. Shatner called him a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. He noted that Stewart brought intelligence and grace to every role, from the stage to the Enterprise bridge. Shatner added that the actor and his portrayal of Picard represented the best of the franchise, which they first met in the 1994 film Star Trek: Generations.
Hugh Jackman, Stewart's co-star in the X-Men films, posted photos of the two together. Jackman wrote that they lost one of the greats of stage and screen. He described Stewart as a tremendous friend and man from whom he learned a great deal. Seth MacFarlane, who worked with Stewart on Family Guy and other projects, shared a black-and-white photo. MacFarlane called Stewart a rare actor who could elevate any dialogue, making good writers sound great. The Royal Shakespeare Company, where Stewart performed from 1966 to 1982, also paid tribute. They described him as a colossus of both stage and screen and one of the finest classical Shakespearean actors of his generation. Stewart will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters on December 18.
