British actor Sir Patrick Stewart, best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, has died at the age of 86 at his home in Los Angeles.
His family announced his death in a statement posted on his social media accounts on October 29, saying that he had passed away a day earlier following a brief journey with Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia.
“We announce with great sorrow the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home in Los Angeles, in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia,” the statement read.
The family said that Stewart spent his final days surrounded by family and friends, with live music and prayers in the room.
His family requested donations to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America instead of flowers. Stewart was married to singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell for 13 years.
Stewart’s career spanned six decades across multiple mediums but began on theatre stages. One of his early roles was Cut-purse in a 1959 production of Cyrano de Bergerac at the Bristol Old Vic.
He later became associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Following the death of its founder, Sir Peter Hall, in 2017, Stewart credited him with helping shape his career, writing on social media that Hall “gave me a career”.
Stewart gained international recognition as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. He initially faced doubts about the show’s prospects, with several people in the industry, including his agent at the time, advising him that the revival was likely to fail. During the filming of its first season, he also lived out of a suitcase.
He continued playing Picard in several films in the franchise before returning to the character for three seasons of Star Trek: Picard, which ran on Paramount+ from 2020 to 2023.
Another role that brought him recognition was Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise. Stewart first played the character in the 2000 film X-Men and later reprised the role in X2, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Logan in 2017, alongside Hugh Jackman.
Stewart received two Laurence Olivier Awards and a Grammy during his career. He also earned nominations for one Tony Award, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 2010 for his services to drama.
Following news of his death, Marvel Studios paid tribute to Stewart, referring to him as “Our Professor X” and saying that it was “heartbroken” to learn of his passing.
Stewart had also reprised his role as Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in December. Marvel has not confirmed whether his death will lead to any changes to his role in the film.
