Sir Patrick Stewart, the acclaimed British actor whose career spanned stage, screen and radio, has died at 86. His spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, said he passed away at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, after a short struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Stewart became internationally known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” The series ran from 1987 to 1994, across seven seasons and 178 episodes. He later returned as Picard in four feature films and in the Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Picard,” which ran for three seasons from 2020 to 2023.
His screen career also included playing Professor Charles Xavier in several “X-Men” films, beginning with the 2000 movie. Earlier roles included War Master Gurney Halleck in David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation of “Dune” and King Leodegrance in the 1981 film “Excalibur.”
A prolific performer on stage as well as screen, Stewart also starred in a one-man production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” playing every character in the novella. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010.
Bush Novak said Stewart spent his final days surrounded by family and friends, with music, prayer, tears and laughter. He is survived by a legacy of performances that brought him a devoted audience across generations.
Sources: Space.com.