Sir Patrick Stewart, Star Trek’s Captain Picard, dies aged 86
Sir Patrick Stewart, the Yorkshire-born actor who became one of the most familiar faces on television and in cinema, has died at the age of 86.
His representatives said he died on Wednesday, 28 October, at his home in Los Angeles, with his wife Sunny caring for him. They said that, in his final period, he had been unwell with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
He was one of the rare actors who seemed equally at home in Shakespeare and in science fiction, and he stayed popular with audiences of every age.
News of his death was reported by the BBC, the Associated Press, NPR and Deadline, among others.
From Yorkshire to the Royal Shakespeare Company
Stewart was born in Yorkshire in 1940. Long before Hollywood came calling, he built his reputation on the stage.
He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and spent many years playing classical roles, including King John, Oberon and Henry IV. The company has paid tribute to him as “a colossus of both stage and screen”.
Captain Picard and Professor X
For millions of viewers, he will always be Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He first took command of the starship Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation and later returned to the role in the series Star Trek: Picard.
Star Trek: The Next Generation first aired in 1987 and ran for seven seasons. Stewart also led the crew in four big-screen Star Trek films.
His calm voice and serious, thoughtful style made the captain a different kind of hero, one who preferred talking to fighting.
A new generation of fans knew him as Professor Charles Xavier, the wise leader of the mutants in the X-Men films. He played the character again in Logan, alongside Hugh Jackman.
A long and varied career
Stewart’s screen career stretched over decades and many genres. Highlights included:
- Dune (1984), one of his early film roles
- The comedy Robin Hood: Men in Tights
- The thriller Safe House
- A memorable comic appearance in Ricky Gervais’s sitcom Extras in 2005
He was knighted in 2010 for his services to drama, and he also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Fans have been invited to lay flowers there in his memory.
Away from acting, he was a proud supporter of Huddersfield Town football club.
Tributes from friends and co-stars
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment world.
William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek, told the BBC: “Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him.”
Hugh Jackman, his long-time X-Men co-star, also paid tribute, calling him one of the greats of stage and screen.
Family
Sir Patrick is survived by his wife, Sunny, and his children, Daniel and Sophie.
For many older viewers, Stewart was a reminder that great acting can travel anywhere, from a Shakespeare stage in Stratford to the bridge of a starship. His work will be watched and enjoyed for many years to come.
Sources
Featured image: Sir Patrick Stewart at the Peabody Awards in 2012. Photo: Anders Krusberg / Peabody Awards / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized). Source
