LOS ANGELES — Sir Patrick Stewart, the classically trained Shakespearean actor who became a global star as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, has died at the age of 86.
Stewart died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He had been living with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, the BBC reported.
He played Picard in more than 170 episodes of The Next Generation between 1987 and 1994 and in four feature films, before returning to the role in Star Trek: Picard in 2020. His final film role was in Avengers: Doomsday.
Before Hollywood, Stewart built his career on the stage, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966. He was knighted in 2010.
Tributes poured in from colleagues. Sir Ian McKellen, his longtime friend and X-Men co-star, called him the “most respected and beloved actor of his generation.” William Shatner, George Takei and Hugh Jackman were among others who paid tribute.
London’s West End theatres will dim their lights for two minutes on November 3 in his honour. Stewart is survived by his wife, Sunny Ozell, and his children, Daniel and Sophie.
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