Patrick Stewart, best known for "Star Trek" and "X-Men," dies at 86
Patrick Stewart starred on stage and screen across his decadeslong acting career. He died at his home on Wednesday.
Key points
- Patrick Stewart, known for Star Trek and X-Men, died at home on Wednesday at age 86.
- His spokesperson said his death followed Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
- Stewart played Captain Picard and Charles Xavier and had a long award-winning stage career.
Sir Patrick Stewart, the actor best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek" and Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" films, has died at 86, his spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak confirmed. Novak said Stewart died at home on Wednesday after what she described as a brief journey with Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
Stewart began his career in British stage plays and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s. He played Picard on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" from 1987 across seven seasons and four films, and later returned to the role in "Star Trek: Picard." He appeared as Charles Xavier in more than half a dozen "X-Men" films and reprised the role for "Avengers: Doomsday," due in December 2026.
Tributes from co-stars
William Shatner called Stewart a friend, colleague and magnificent actor, saying Captain Picard stood for the best of us. Marvel Studios said it was deeply saddened and called Stewart a singular talent who defined the character for generations of fans.
Seth MacFarlane, who worked with Stewart on "Family Guy" and "American Dad," wrote that Stewart could elevate any dialogue and was as humble as they come.
Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor.
— William Shatner
Stage work and honours
Much of Stewart's work was on stage, including frequent Broadway and West End appearances and more than 60 Royal Shakespeare Company productions. He won three Olivier Awards and received one Tony nomination, and in 1995 he won a Grammy for a children's spoken word album.
Queen Elizabeth II appointed him an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001 and knighted him in 2010 for services to drama. He published the memoir "Making It So" in 2023, and his spokesperson said he was actively working until 2026.
