Patrick Stewart, the British actor whose 60-year career spanned the stage to the Final Frontier, has died. He was 86 years old.
Stewart died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles from Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, his longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, said in a statement.
A classically trained stage actor, Stewart was relatively unknown to American audiences when he was chosen to direct a revival of “Star Trek.” In addition to portraying Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and numerous sequels, he is known for playing Professor Charles Xavier in the “X-Men” franchise and for voicing Avery Bullock in the animated film “American Dad!”
“He was held in the warm arms of his family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayers, tears, laughter and the kind of deep emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of dedication to all of us,” Novak’s statement continued. “We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on her face, a lasting reminder of her invincible grace.”
“His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances across all genres. He explored the human condition in all its poetic complexity and brought hope not only to the far reaches of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but to science fiction’s most iconic final frontier aboard the Starship Enterprise.”
The Times described Stewart as “an unknown British Shakespearean actor” in a 1987 article announcing his casting to play the ship’s captain, Jean-Luc Picard. Stewart never let fans (or this publication) forget him.
The story “said the captain would be played by an unknown British Shakespearean actor,” Stewart recalled in a 2015 interview with The Times. “I was a little disappointed. Then my friend Brent Spiner, who was on the show, had a sign made saying he had someone taped to the front door of my trailer that said, ‘Warning. Unknown British Shakespearean actor.'”
The original “Star Trek” series, created by Gene Roddenberry, was canceled after three seasons in 1969, but gained a cult following through syndication that led to an animated series and a series of films starring the original cast. “Star Trek: The Next Generation” would be the first to follow an entirely new company and its crew.
Stewart was initially hesitant to take the role due to the number of years he would have to commit to the television role, but his confidants assured him that “The Next Generation” would not last a year. The series ran for seven seasons and Picard became one of Stewart’s signature roles. He also played him in four feature films – “Star Trek Generations” (1994), “Star Trek: First Contact” (1996), “Star Trek: Insurrection” (1998) and “Star Trek: Nemesis” (2002) – and, after a 20-year hiatus, in three seasons of “Star Trek: Picard.”
Stewart initially turned down “Picard.” He ultimately agreed on two conditions: that he not have to wear a uniform and that the show not simply be a nostalgic reunion of “The Next Generation.”
“I think it was (producer) Alex Kurtzman who said, ‘Look, 20 years have passed, and in those 20 years, a lot of things have probably happened to you, Patrick. I know your life well enough to know that there have been upheavals and changes. Surely the same thing happened to Jean-Luc Picard. What could those things be?'” Patrick recalled in 2023 when asked to reflect on his return.
In a statement, “Picard” co-creator Kurtzman said it was “impossible” to express how grateful he was for the “once in a career” opportunity to “share this moment with him.”
“From our first meeting, he made it clear that the only reason to play Picard again was to innovate,” Kurtzman said. “Picard had to be the man we knew and loved, but also completely different, just as Patrick himself was 30 years after wearing the uniform. The world of the Federation had to feel fresh and reflect many of the big issues facing the world today, issues he wanted to face as a human and an artist, which meant interrogating an ideal to expose something more honest.”
LeVar Burton, who appeared alongside Stewart in numerous episodes of “Star Trek,” described him as a “member of the family.”
“He was part of the family. There is no other context in which detaining him makes sense,” Burton said in a statement. “I am lucky to have known and loved so many facets of a soul so rich in talent and so generous of heart. Of all the ladies and knights I knew, he was deep down the most idiotic.”
Stewart was born on July 13, 1940 in Mirfield, England, a small town in West Yorkshire. He began working with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, where he participated in productions of “Hamlet”, “Henry V”, “King Lear”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and other works of the bard. His early screen credits include the 1981 film “Excalibur” and the 1984 adaptation of “Dune.” He also appeared in the shows “Coronation Street,” “I, Claudius” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.”
Besides being a prominent Starfleet officer, Stewart is also known for his portrayal of Professor Xavier in the “X-Men” franchise. A powerful mutant with telepathic abilities, Xavier founded the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, a boarding school where young mutants have the chance to flourish. He is also the leader of the mutant superhero team, the X-Men.
In addition to five films in Fox’s “X-Men” franchise, Stewart played a version of the character in Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (2022) and will appear in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” (in theaters Dec. 18).
“I will never forget the first time I saw Sir Patrick Stewart on the set of the original X-Men,” Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said in a statement. “After years of knowing him as the inimitable Captain Picard, I was in awe – and he turned out to be everything I had seen on screen and more: brilliant, charming, warm, generous, with a quiet strength and seriousness. Away from the cameras, he was even more remarkable, with a wonderfully keen sense of humor.”
In its statement, Marvel Studios described Stewart as “a singular talent, a generous collaborator and a true gentleman.”
“Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from ‘X-Men’ to ‘Logan’ to ‘Avengers: Doomsday,'” the studio said. “Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art.”
Stewart is survived by his wife Sunny and his children Daniel and Sophie Alexandra Stewart.
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