Patrick Stewart, legendary ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X

<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/694940094001/4987a353-f66b-4dd5-b94f-12ecc66a4685/07eb868a-49cc-4bdb-9c5d-f52e194bcd1c/1280×720/match/896/500/image.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="Patrick Stewart, beloved ‘Star Trek’ captain and ‘X-Men’ star, dead at 86″>

Patrick Stewart, beloved ‘Star Trek’ captain and ‘X-Men’ star, dead at 86

The Associated Press revisits memorable moments from Patrick Stewart’s decades-long career on stage and screen, including his celebrated portrayals of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Charles Xavier, following his death at 86.

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Sir Patrick Stewart, the legendary British actor best known for portraying Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek” and Professor Charles Xavier in the “X-Men” franchise, has died at 86, according to a statement shared on his Instagram account.

Stewart diedWednesday at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family and friends and cared for by his wife, Sunny, following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, the statement said.

“We announce with great sorrow the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home in Los Angeles, in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia,” Stewart’s longtime spokeswoman Kelly Bush Novak said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “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. We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”

She added that he went from his home in Yorkshire to the Royal Shakespeare Company and on to an “equally acclaimed career spanning six decades on Broadway, the silver screen and television.”

PATRICK STEWART: A LIFE IN PICTURES

Legendary “Star Trek” and “X-Men” actor, Patrick Stewart, died on <a href="https://comicvibe.com/october-2026-indie-world-showcase-recap-announcement/” title=”October 2026 Indie World Showcase recap announcement”>October 28 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. He was 86.(Photo by Phillip Faraone/ for Paramount Pictures)

Actor Patrick Stewart, Captain Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation, poses for a portrait circa 1987 in Los Angeles, California (Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/

“His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre,” she wrote. “He explored the human condition in all its poetic complexity and brought hope not only to the far reaches of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but into science fiction’s most iconic final frontier aboard the Starship Enterprise.”

HOLLYWOOD STARS WHO DIED IN 2026: PHOTOS

Bush Novak said that Stewart’s professional accomplishments were “humbly matched by his philanthropy and activism on behalf of human rights, survivors of domestic violence, global refugees, veterans’ mental health services, and animal welfare, particularly his cherished foster pitties. He was a Knight, Chancellor, motor sport enthusiast, and lifelong Huddersfield Football fan. He will be remembered for the dignity, compassion and humanity he brought to every role — in his art and life.”

‘STAR TREK’ STAR PATRICK STEWART RECALLS VIOLENT CHILDHOOD WITH BRITISH ARMY FATHER

While Stewart was best known for his TV and film sci-fi roles, he was a prolific — and classically trained theater actor. 

Stewart was first discovered for the part of Jean-Luc Picard by a “Star Trek: The Next Generation” producer when he was reading Shakespeare at a UCLA lecture. 

PATRICK STEWART CONFIRMS ‘STAR TREK’ RETURN AS JEAN-LUC PICARD

Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”(CBS

The actor didn’t expect the series, which revamped the original “Star Trek” starring William Shatner, to go past one season. 

“I was very naïve about the conditions attached to series television in the U.S.A.,” Stewart admitted to Startrek.com in 2010, explaining he found out he had to sign a six-year contract for the series. “Every single person I spoke to – agents, directors, screenwriters, other actors – said, ‘Oh, don’t worry about six years. You’ll be lucky to make it through the first year.’ Everybody felt it was madness to try to revive an iconic series like William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy’s Star Trek. So, on the basis of that advice I signed the six-year contract.” 

The series ended up running for seven seasons and spawned four films: “Star Trek: Generations,” “Star Trek: First Contact,” “Star Trek: Insurrection,” and “Star Trek: Nemesis.” 

Shatner paid tribute to Stewart on Thursday afternoon. 

“What a heartbreaking week it has been. Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor,” Shatner wrote. “From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did. Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work. My heart goes out to Sunny and his family. He will be deeply missed.” 

His “X-Men co-star Hugh Jackman wrote on X: “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.”

“Star Trek” star George Takei wrote on X that fans “across the world” were mourning the loss of a “true and irreplaceable legend. As Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Patrick Stewart took the starship Enterprise to places it had never gone before. He inspired a whole next generation of star-gazers who looked longingly ahead to a brighter future for all humanity. Our hearts are heavy, indeed. Rest in the heavens, Captain.” 

GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE

Despite becoming one of the most iconic faces of the “Star Trek” universe and taking on the part of Professor Charles Xavier in nine films, starting with “X-Men” in 2000, Stewart largely avoided becoming typecast as he said he feared. 

Patrick Stewart pictured in 1999’s “A Christmas Carol.”(Oliver Upton /© TNT / Courtesy Everett Collection)

He was cast in 1991’s “L.A. Story,” “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” “Conspiracy Theory,” the TV miniseries “Moby Dick,” “A Christmas Carol,” “A Lion in Winter,” “Extras,” a 2009 TV movie of “Hamlet” in which he played Claudius, and Seth MacFarlane comedies “Blunt Talk” and “American Dad.” 

Stewart even voiced one of the sheep in Amazon’s “The Sheep Detectives,” which came out earlier this year. 

He most recently reprised his “Star Trek” role in 2020 for a three-season run on “Star Trek: Picard” for Paramount+. 

MacFarlane paid tribute to Stewart on his Instagram on Thursday, writing that he “grew up as a fan, and was later gifted the privilege of becoming a colleague and friend, working with him for many years on ‘American Dad!’, ‘Family Guy’, and ‘Ted’. He was that rare actor who could take any bit of dialogue and elevate it, making a good writer sound great, and a great writer sound masterful. He was also as humble as they come. I remember exchanging emails with him a number of years ago when he was beginning day 1 of a new film. He commented to me that he always walked onto a new set feeling like the biggest novice there. My stunned reaction was the same as anyone’s would be. I said, ‘Patrick, if you feel that way, the rest of us are screwed.’ We have lost a legendary actor today, and for many of us, a good friend. He will be deeply missed by the entire planet.” 

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

He received Emmy nominations for “Moby Dick,” “A Lion in Winter,” “Extras,” and “Hamlet.”

Sir Patrick Stewart wearing a tuxedo while attending the BAFTA Film Awards in 2023.(Carlo Paloni/BAFTA

On stage, Stewart played Claudius, Ebenezer Scrooge and received his only Tony nomination for his starring role in “Macbeth” on Broadway, following a run in London’s West End.

PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE

“Nearly 50 years I’ve waited,” Stewart told The Associated Press in 2008. “I learned it when I was 14. I memorized all the soliloquies just because I thought they were great. And they stuck, so I didn’t have to learn those bits of the play, which is a blessing, because learning lines has now become the one curse of this job.”

Stewart married his third wife, Sunny Ozell, in 2013. He is also survived by two children, a daughter, Sophia, and a son, Daniel.

Fox News Digital’s Larry Fink and The Associated Press contributed to this report.