By Sohaib Shams
Sir Patrick Stewart, the Mirfield-born actor best known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, has died at the age of 86. He passed away at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday after suffering from Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia.
Tributes from Yorkshire and colleagues
Fellow actor Sir Ian McKellen said Stewart "never forsook his origins" and was defined by his Yorkshire roots. Prime Minister Andy Burnham described him as "one of the very best" who never forgot his working-class background. Spen Valley MP Kim Leadbeater called him "Mirfield's finest" and recalled his kindness at Huddersfield Town matches. The club's chief operating officer David Threlfall-Sykes noted Stewart's genuine excitement when meeting players and managers.
Early life and career
Born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, in 1940, Stewart attended local schools before leaving at 15 to work as a reporter on the Dewsbury Reporter. A teacher introduced him to Shakespeare, leading to a scholarship at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and a career that took him from Yorkshire to the world stage.
Connection to Yorkshire
Stewart served as chancellor of the University of Huddersfield from 2004 to 2015, and the university's drama building was later named after him. Vice Chancellor Bob Cryan said Stewart viewed the role as a way to repay the region that gave him a scholarship. He once told Michael Parkinson that producers found his Yorkshire accent "incomprehensible" for the role of Captain Picard.
Personal side
Stewart is survived by his wife Sunny Ozell, who was with him when he died. Cryan recalled Stewart's sense of fun, including an occasion when he and Cryan served meals as waiters at a university staff dinner. A statement on Stewart's Instagram ended with a quote from his memoirs about remaining true to his earthbound roots and feeling the call of home.
