Sir Patrick Stewart, Star Trek and X-Men star, dies aged 86
The Star Trek and X-Men star died at his home in Los Angeles after what his family called a 'brief and poignant journey' with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia.
Sir Patrick Stewart. File photo. · Photograph: Urbantog (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Sir Patrick Stewart, the actor who became a global star as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, has died aged 86.
A statement on his social media said he died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, in the care of his wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia.
His family said he was surrounded by live music, prayers, tears and laughter in his final days, and that they would cherish the peaceful ease on his face.
From Mirfield to the final frontier
Born in Mirfield in West Yorkshire in 1940, Sir Patrick spent more than 60 years on stage and screen, including 16 years with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
So how did a classically trained Shakespearean actor end up as one of science fiction's most recognisable faces? In 1987 he was cast as Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The series ran for seven years and led to films including Star Trek Generations in 1994 and Star Trek: First Contact in 1996.
For a new generation, he became Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films from 2000, returning to the role in X-Men: Days of Future Past, Logan, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Deadpool & Wolverine.
Awards and honours
He won two Olivier Awards, for Antony and Cleopatra in 1979 and Hamlet in 2009, received four Emmy nominations and won a Grammy in 1996 for his recording of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. He was knighted for services to drama in 2010.
His family said his career was matched by his campaigning for human rights, survivors of domestic violence, refugees, veterans' mental health and animal welfare. He was also a lifelong Huddersfield Town supporter.
Tributes pour in
Sir Ian McKellen, his X-Men co-star and close friend, led tributes to a respected and beloved colleague. William Shatner, the original Captain Kirk, said Sir Patrick was a friend and a magnificent actor and that Captain Picard stood for the best of us.
Marvel Studios called him a true gentleman, and Huddersfield Town said he was a Terrier in every sense. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said that from Shakespeare to Star Trek, he boldly went where few had gone before and took millions with him.
Alzheimer's Society chief executive Michelle Dyson said his death was a heartbreaking reminder of the impact of dementia. Support is available from the Alzheimer's Society on 0333 150 3456 or Alzheimer Scotland's 24-hour freephone helpline on 0808 808 3000.
He is survived by his wife Sunny, a son and a daughter. His family asked that, instead of flowers, donations be made to Alzheimer's research and carers' charities.