GUWAHATI: Sir Patrick Stewart, the acclaimed British actor known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, has died at the age of 86.
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Stewart died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. His spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, said the actor had experienced a “brief and poignant journey” with the illnesses. His diagnoses had not been publicly disclosed earlier.
A statement shared on Stewart’s official X account confirmed his death, saying he passed away in the loving care of his wife, Sunny, at their Los Angeles home.
Born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, Stewart built a career spanning nearly seven decades across theatre, television and cinema. Before gaining international recognition, he established himself as a respected stage actor through his 14-year association with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he performed in several classical productions.
His international fame grew after he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987. As the captain of the USS Enterprise, Stewart became one of the most recognisable faces of the science fiction franchise.
He later reached a wider film audience through his portrayal of Professor Charles Xavier, the leader of the X-Men, appearing in several films in the superhero franchise and related Marvel productions. He is also set to reprise the role in Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled for release in Indian theatres on December 17, ahead of its US release on December 18.
Despite his success on screen, Stewart remained closely connected to theatre throughout his career. His stage performances included roles as Macbeth, Mark Antony, Henry IV, Shylock and Oberon. He also appeared in a one-man adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
Among his other notable theatre appearances were Harold Pinter's No Man's Land and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, in which he performed alongside longtime friend and fellow actor Sir Ian McKellen.
Stewart was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his contributions to drama. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry.
Tributes poured in from fellow actors following news of his death. Hugh Jackman, who shared the screen with Stewart in the X-Men films, remembered him as a close friend and mentor.
"We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today," Jackman wrote on social media. He added that he had learned a great deal from Stewart and would miss him.
Sir Ian McKellen described Stewart as a "man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love". Star Trek actor William Shatner said Stewart "stood for the best of us", while George Takei called him an "irreplaceable legend".
