Patrick Stewart, known for his roles in Star Trek and X-Men, has died at 86.
The actor died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday in the care of his wife, Sunny Ozell. His death followed a “brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia,” according to an X post from his spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak.
“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter and the kind of profound emotion only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all,” Novak said. “We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”
Stewart was best known for playing Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, which premiered in 1987.
“To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement. When Patrick Stewart entered the franchise he had a tough job ahead of him. It was not only his talent but his moral fortitude that allowed audiences to embrace a new generation of captain — one that chose diplomacy over aggression and showed that standing up for others is always the right choice,” Trevor Roth, chief operating officer of Roddenberry Entertainment, said. The multimedia company carries on the legacy of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.
Today we have lost not only a captain on screen, but a leader in life,” Roth added. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and fans throughout the world
Stewart was born July 13, 1940, in Mirfield in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. At 12 years old, he joined local drama groups. Three years later, he dropped out of high school to work as a junior reporter at a local newspaper, later quitting after his editor said he spent too much time at the theater. Wanting to attend Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Stewart saved money for a year, working as a furniture salesman.
He made his professional debut in 1959 as Tom Morgan in a stage adaptation of Treasure Island at the Theatre Royal with the Lincoln Repertory Company. In the early 1960s, he toured the world with the Old Vic Company. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, taking on roles such as Enobarbus in Antony and Cleopatra, winning him a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1979. Throughout his life, he remained deeply connected to the company’s productions, appearing in over forty shows, according to the Royal Shakespeare Company.
“His contribution to our company and to our industry is beyond measure. Our thoughts go out to his family at this time and to all those touched by his greatness,” the Royal Shakespeare Company said in an Instagram post.
Stewart made his Broadway debut in 1971 as Tom Snout in Peter Brook’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and continued to take on roles for over four decades.
In the 1980s, he moved to Los Angeles to star as Picard for seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He reprised the role in the films Star Trek: Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002).
Stewart continued to work on stage and in films. He debuted as Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men (2000) and appeared in several more X-Men movies and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His final on-screen performance as Xavier will come in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in December.
Throughout his life, Stewart engaged in extensive philanthropy and human rights activism. He served as a prominent patron of Refuge, a charity that helps women and children escape domestic abuse; advocated for displaced people and refugees through the International Rescue Committee; and supported organizations such as Combat Stress, which helps military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
He was also a vocal ally of the LGBTQ+ community and often fostered pit bulls to raise awareness against breed-specific legislation and animal abuse.
In total, Stewart won two Laurence Olivier Awards, a Grammy and a Critics’ Choice Super Award. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996.
Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 2010 for his contributions to theater, television and film.
Stewart married three times, marrying Ozell in 2013. He’s survived by his son and daughter, Daniel and Sophie Stewart.
In 2023, Stewart published his memoir, Making It So. In it, he wrote, “Like me, Jean-Luc has lived an unusual life that has taken him far beyond the bonds of normal human experience. But he is also someone who has remained true to his earthbound roots, for they are what gave him his identity. In the end, he feels the call of home, as do I.”
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