LOS ANGELES: British actor Sir Patrick Stewart, known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek” and Professor Charles Xavier in “X-Men”, died on Wednesday aged 86, his family announced.
A statement posted on his Instagram account on Thursday said he died at home with his wife, Sunny Ozell. It described his illness as involving Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
His longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, shared the announcement. Family and friends gathered around him, and the statement described him as “surrounded by live music, prayers, tears and laughter”. Stewart’s career stretched across theatre, television and film.
He first played Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” in 1987. During seven seasons, he portrayed the captain of the Enterprise before taking the character into four films. Decades later, he returned to the role in “Star Trek: Picard”, which ran from 2020 to 2023.
His other major screen role introduced him to another generation of viewers. Stewart played Professor Xavier in the first “X-Men” film in 2000 and returned to the character across subsequent productions.
Marvel Studios paid tribute to his generosity as a colleague and the intelligence and humanity he brought to Xavier. Its message extended condolences to his wife, children, friends and fans.
Before those screen roles, Stewart had built his career in classical theatre. Born in Mirfield, Yorkshire, in July 1940, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and remained until 1982.
His stage work included “Hamlet” and “The Merchant of Venice”. He made his Broadway debut in Peter Brook’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
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Acting followed an early spell in journalism. As a teenager, Stewart worked as a newspaper reporter before choosing theatre when his employer asked him to decide between the two jobs.
Away from performing, his family remembered his support for human rights, survivors of domestic violence, refugees, veterans’ mental health services and animal welfare.
Queen Elizabeth II awarded Stewart a knighthood in 2010 for services to drama. He is survived by Ozell and his two children.
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His family requested memorial donations instead of flowers to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centre Fund and Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources.
(With additional input from ITV News and ABC News)
