Before debuting on the silver screen, Stewart had spent years performing classical theatre in England. Photo: @SirPatStew
‘Star Trek’, ‘X-Men’ fame actor Patrick Stewart dies at 86
Stewart died at his Los Angeles home after battling Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia
Patrick Stewart, the British actor best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in theX-Men films, died at 86. His longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, confirmed his death on Wednesday (October 28).
Stewart died at his Los Angeles home after “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia,” Novak said.
Stewart's final days
“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 that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all,” she said.
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Novak also remembered his final days, saying, “We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”
From Yorkshire to international stardom
Stewart was born in Mirfield, Yorkshire, on July 13, 1940. His parents were Alfred and Gladys Stewart. His father worked as a semi-skilled labourer and served in World War II. He was among the last soldiers evacuated from Dunkirk.
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Before debuting on the silver screen, Stewart had spent years performing classical theatre in England. His casting as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the late 1980s introduced him to American audiences. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 2010 for his services to drama.
Stewart set to appear in 'Avengers: Doomsday'
Stewart is set to appear as Professor Charles Xavier in Avengers: Doomsday. The Marvel film is scheduled to open in India on December 17 and in the US on December 18.
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Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine alongside Stewart in the X-Men series, also remembered the actor in a post on Instagram. They appeared together in X-Men (2000) and Logan (2017).
“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days,” Jackman wrote.