Actor Patrick Stewart, known for his roles in the “Star Trek” series and the “X-Men” series, died after a short struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, according to a statement published on his Instagram account on October 29. He was 86 years old.
Stewart passed away at his home in Los Angeles on October 28 “in the loving care of his beloved wife, Sunny,” according to the statement.
“He was held in the warm embrace of his family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the deep emotions that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all,” the statement said.
“We will forever remember the peaceful ease and reflection on her face, a lasting reminder of her invincible grace.”
In lieu of flowers, the post called for donations in the actor’s honor to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources.
Born in Mirfield, United Kingdom, Stewart was the son of a textile worker and a military veteran. A dedicated student of theatre, Stewart studied theater at the Bristol Old Vic Drama School before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and making a name for himself as a renowned Shakespearean actor.
He took on some roles on television and eventually took his acting chops to Broadway, making his stage debut as Tom Snout in the 1971 production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
But the star of stage and screen rose to mainstream fame in 1987 with his debut as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” a spinoff of the original sci-fi series. Commander of the Federation’s starships USS Stargazer, USS Enterprise-D and USS Enterprise-E, Stewart’s Picard became known for his authoritative voice and strong moral compass.
Stewart continued his reign in the science fiction world, most notably when he was cast as Professor Charles Xavier in the “X-Men” series. He made his debut in 2000 with his role in the movie of the same name. His portrayal of the telepathic mutant who shepherds and mentors outcast mutants endeared him to a new generation of viewers.
Stewart reprized his role as Professor X in the upcoming Marvel film “Avengers: Doomsday”; Fans are eagerly awaiting the actor’s return to the sci-fi genre.
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige paid tribute to the actor with an emotional statement.
“I will never forget the first time I saw Sir Patrick Stewart on the set of the first X-Men. After years of knowing him as the incomparable Captain Picard, I was in awe of him — and he turned out to be everything I had ever seen on screen and more: bright, charming, warm, generous, with quiet strength and dignity,” Feige said in a statement shared with NBC News.
“Away from the cameras, he was even more remarkable with an extraordinarily sharp sense of humour. It was a real privilege to know and work with him.”
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