Patrick Stewart, the celebrated actor renowned for his defining roles in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, has died at the age of 86. The news was confirmed Thursday afternoon via a post on his official social media account, which stated that he passed away Wednesday while in the care of his wife, Sunny.
According to the announcement, Stewart succumbed to a brief illness involving Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia. His team described the final moments as being held in the warm embrace of friends and family, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, and laughter. The tribute also highlighted his decades of acting acclaim and his extensive history of charitable contributions.
Stewart began his six-decade career on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the late 1960s, making his Broadway debut in A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1971. After appearing in various well-received films and television shows during the late 1970s and early 1980s, he achieved major success in the United States as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation, a role he played across 176 episodes and four films.
In the early 2000s, Stewart took on the role of Professor Charles Xavier, leader of the X-Men, acting opposite his lifelong friend Ian McKellen. He recently reprised this character for Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled for release in December. His extensive filmography also includes credits in Dune, Ted, Chicken Little, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Family Guy, American Dad, and Gnomeo & Juliet.
Throughout his career, Stewart received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award, four Emmy nominations, three Golden Globe nominations, and two Olivier Awards for his stage work. He also published a memoir titled Making It So in 2023. His last on-camera appearance noted by the outlet was in 2020, where he discussed the establishment of the U.S. Space Force.
Sources: TMZ.