Hugh Jackman honors “X-Men ”costar Patrick Stewart in poignant tribute after his death at 86

Key points

• Patrick Stewart died at age 86 on Wednesday.

• His X-Men costar Hugh Jackman paid tribute to Stewart in a social media post.

• Stewart and Jackman costarred in eight films together.

Hugh Jackman is paying tribute to his legendary costar Patrick Stewart.

The Greatest Showman actor posted a sweet tribute to his late X-Men costar Patrick Stewart, who died Wednesday at 86.

“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man,” Jackman wrote in the caption of his Instagram post, which featured a photo of the two actors backstage at an event as well as a picture of the duo on the set of Logan. “I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”

Jackman and Stewart first worked together in 2000’s X-Men, which saw them portray Logan/Wolverine and Professor Charles Xavier, respectively, for the first time.

The two actors reprised their mutant roles together in 2003’s X2: X-Men United, 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand, 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, 2013’s The Wolverine, 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, and 2017’s Logan.

Jackman and Stewart were also both part of the cast of The Sheep Detectives, the family-friendly murder mystery film released earlier this year. Jackman portrayed the central flock’s fallen shepherd, while Stewart provided the voice of an elderly sheep named Sir Ritchfield.

Stewart will return as Xavier in Avengers: Doomsday, which releases on Dec. 18. Jackman has yet to be officially announced as part of the cast, though he did help promote the movie at D23 in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/27950880994593139″ rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>video, in which he joked about not being part of the cast alongside Deadpool & Wolverine costar Ryan Reynolds.

Stewart’s death was announced on Thursday died following “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia” at home in Los Angeles

“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,” the post said. “We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”

In addition to memorializing his professional accomplishments on screen and stage, the post also made note of 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.”

The post added, “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.”

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The post concluded with a quote from Stewart’s 2023 memoir, Making It So, in which the actor compared himself to his Star Trek: The Next Generation character Jean-Luc Picard.

“Like me, Jean-Luc has lived an unusual life that has taken him far beyond the bounds of normal human experience,” it said. “But he is also someone who has remained true to his earthbound roots, for they are what gave him his identity. In the end, he feels the call of home, as do I.”

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