By Basant El-Faramawy
Patrick Stewart, the acclaimed British stage and screen actor known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" franchise, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86. His longtime spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak told The Hollywood Reporter that he died after "a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia."
Star Trek and Global Fame
Stewart was 47 when he was cast as the graying Captain Picard in the first live-action spin-off of the 1960s series. Over seven seasons aboard the Starship Enterprise, his even-keeled performance and directives such as "engage!" and "make it so" turned him into a global star. He reprised the role in four feature films and the series "Star Trek: Picard," which ran from 2020 to 2023.
X-Men and Marvel Legacy
His other signature role was Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" series, which he played in seven films and was set to reprise in the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday." Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige called him "brilliant, charming, warm, generous, with a quiet strength and gravitas" and praised his mentorship of many in the industry.
Stage Roots and Early Life
Born on 13 July 1940 in Mirfield, England, Stewart grew up in a household marked by alcoholism and domestic violence. He found refuge in acting, first in school and later at the Bristol Old Vic Theater School, which he entered at 17. After shedding his Yorkshire accent, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and built a distinguished stage career before his screen breakthrough.
Awards and Memoir
Throughout his career Stewart won a Grammy Award, two Laurence Olivier Awards, and received a Tony nomination and four Emmy nominations. In 2023 he published his memoir, "Making It So," reflecting on a life he said he had long been in denial about.
Tributes
Novak described his final moments as peaceful, surrounded by family, friends, live music, and prayer. Feige added that away from the cameras Stewart was "even more remarkable, with a wonderfully sharp sense of humor."
