Sir Patrick Stewart, the British actor loved by millions as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, has died at the age of 86.
His spokesperson confirmed that he died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, CBS News and NPR reported.
Family: A “Brief and Poignant Journey”
In a statement shared on his social media channels, his family said he died “following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.” They said he passed away “held in the warm embrace of family and friends,” with his wife, Sunny, at his side.
The family praised his “sonorous voice and singular talent,” as well as his years of philanthropy and activism.
From Yorkshire to the World Stage
Patrick Stewart was born on 13 July 1940 in Mirfield, Yorkshire, in northern England. He left school at 15 and worked as a newspaper reporter and furniture salesman before enrolling in drama school in 1957. He made his professional stage debut in 1959 and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, becoming one of Britain’s most respected classical actors.
Captain Picard and Professor X
His big international breakthrough came when he moved to Los Angeles to play Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation from 1987 to 1994. He went on to play Picard in four films: Generations, First Contact, Insurrection and Nemesis, and later returned in the series Star Trek: Picard.
For a new generation of fans, he was Professor Charles Xavier, the wise, wheelchair-using leader of the mutant X-Men, a role he played in several films alongside Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. He is due to appear one final time as Xavier in Marvel’s upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Across a career of more than 160 acting credits, he also became a familiar voice on television, most recently as Avery Bullock on the animated comedy American Dad! He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his services to drama.
Tributes Pour In
Tributes quickly flooded in from fans and fellow actors around the world. His X-Men co-star Hugh Jackman wrote: “We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today.”
His commanding presence and famous voice made him one of the most recognisable stars of his generation.
A Lasting Legacy
Few actors have moved so successfully between Shakespeare and blockbuster cinema. Whether on stage at the Royal Shakespeare Company or on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, Patrick Stewart brought dignity, warmth and authority to every role.
He is survived by his wife, Sunny, and his family.
Sources: CBS News, NPR, Yahoo Entertainment. Image: Wikimedia Commons (Patrick Stewart at TIFF 2015).