Legendary British actor Patrick Stewart, best known for portraying Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and Professor Xavier in the "X-Men" films, died Wednesday at the age of 86 after battling Alzheimer's disease.
Stewart's family announced his death on his official X account, formerly Twitter. According to the statement, he died at his home in Los Angeles, under the care of his wife, Sunny, "brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia." In his final moments, the family said, "he has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter."
His family remembered not only his roles, from the Royal Shakespeare Company to the Marvel universe and the starship Enterprise, but also his advocacy for victims of domestic violence, refugees, military veterans and animals, "especially the beloved pit bulls he fostered."
Stewart was born in 1940 in Yorkshire, England. As a teenager, he performed with local amateur theater groups and left school at 15. He worked for a time as a reporter for a local newspaper before ultimately deciding to pursue acting. By the age of 18, he had already lost his hair, and his bald head became one of his most recognizable trademarks.
Patrick Stewart
(Photo: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
He began his professional career at the Library Theatre in Manchester. In 1966, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing in more than 20 of its productions over the following two decades. During those years, he also established himself on British television, playing Sejanus in "I, Claudius" and a psychiatrist in "Maybury." His film work included two fantasy and science-fiction productions: John Boorman's "Excalibur" and David Lynch's "Dune."
The turning point in Stewart's career came in 1987, when he was cast as Captain Picard in the new series "Star Trek: The Next Generation." A classical theater actor who was virtually unknown in the United States became, almost overnight, the face of one of the most successful science-fiction series in television history.
Patrick Stewart in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'
(Photo: CBS)
He portrayed Picard throughout the show's seven seasons, until 1994, and subsequently in four feature films, the last of which was 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis." In 2020, he returned to the character in "Star Trek: Picard," which ran for three seasons.
A second chapter in his Hollywood career began in 2000, when he portrayed Professor Xavier, the leader of the mutants, in "X-Men." He reprised the role in a series of sequels and in 2017's "Logan." Opposite him, in the role of Magneto, was Ian McKellen. The two developed a close friendship on set that also led to collaborations onstage: "Waiting for Godot" in London's West End in 2009 and, in 2014, that production alongside Harold Pinter's "No Man's Land" on Broadway. When Stewart married singer Sunny Ozell in 2013, McKellen officiated at the ceremony.
In 2017, Stewart said farewell to the character in "Logan," in which he portrayed an elderly, ailing Xavier whose mental faculties were deteriorating. "He's losing the one thing he had," Stewart said at the time in an interview with ynet. He added that he was at peace with leaving the role behind, describing the film as a wonderful conclusion to the series.
Stewart embraced his status as a pop culture icon with humor. He lent his voice to "The Simpsons," "Family Guy" and "American Dad!" He played a snobbish waiter in Steve Martin's comedy "L.A. Story" and King Richard in Mel Brooks' "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." He also hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 1994 and later served as narrator for Seth MacFarlane's "Ted" films.
Even at the height of his Hollywood success, Stewart never abandoned the theater. In 2010, he was awarded a knighthood for his contributions to drama. In 2023, he published his memoir, "Making It So."
Stewart was married three times: to choreographer Sheila Falconer; to producer Wendy Neuss, who worked on "Star Trek: The Next Generation"; and to singer Sunny Ozell.
He is survived by his wife, his daughter Sophie and his son, actor Daniel Stewart, both from his first marriage.