Veteran British actor Sir Patrick Stewart, renowned for his roles in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, has died at the age of 86.
Gatekeepers News reports that Stewart died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, United States, following a brief illness involving Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, according to a statement released by his family on Thursday.
The statement said he passed away in the loving care of his wife, Sunny, surrounded by family and friends.
“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,” the statement read.
It added that he was surrounded by live music, prayers, tears and laughter during his final moments.
“His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre,” the statement said.
Born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, Yorkshire, England, Stewart built a career spanning more than six decades across theatre, television and film.
He became internationally recognised for portraying Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, which premiered in 1987 and ran for seven seasons.
He later reprised the role in several Star Trek films and the television series Star Trek: Picard.
Stewart also gained widespread recognition for playing Professor Charles Xavier, the leader of the X-Men, in multiple films within the Marvel superhero franchise.
Before achieving international fame on screen, he established himself as a distinguished stage actor, spending 16 years with Britain’s Royal Shakespeare Company, where he performed in several Shakespearean productions.
His stage performances included roles in Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and The Tempest.
His contributions to drama earned him several honours, including two Laurence Olivier Awards and a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for his narration of Peter and the Wolf.
In 2010, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to drama.
Following news of his death, tributes poured in from colleagues and fellow actors.
His X-Men co-star Hugh Jackman described him as a great actor and a tremendous friend, adding that he had learnt a lot from him.
Fellow Star Trek actor William Shatner also paid tribute, recalling Stewart’s contributions to the franchise.
“From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did,” Shatner said.
Marvel Studios also expressed sadness over his death, describing him as a singular talent who brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence and humanity.
Stewart is survived by his wife, Sunny Ozell, and two children from his first marriage to choreographer Sheila Falconer.
