Sir Ian McKellen was deeply affected by the death of his close friend and frequent collaborator, Sir Patrick Stewart, mourning the loss of a true legend. In remembering his late friend, McKellen highlighted Stewart's emotional openness, stating that he wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, admire, and love.
The Lord of the Rings star recalled first meeting Stewart half a century ago. However, his earliest strong memory of their friendship involved Stewart warning him against taking on his now iconic Star Trek role, fearing it might jeopardize his prestigious stage career. McKellen later expressed gratitude on behalf of Trekkies as well as film and theatre audiences who were able to witness the late actor's talents.
The friendship between the two iconic actors spans decades, including their joint starring roles in the X-Men franchise beginning in 2000. Their personal bond was further solidified when McKellen officiated Stewart's wedding to Sunny Ozell in 2013 at a Mexican restaurant. Stewart had previously shared details of this spontaneous ceremony on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, explaining that because McKellen could not use his ministry credentials in Nevada, the couple invited him and two guests to dinner for the event.
As previously reported, Sir Patrick Stewart passed away at the age of 86 following a brief battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Sources: TMZ.