Sir Patrick Stewart, the British actor known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men, died on Wednesday, October 28, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86.
Statement from the family
The news was announced by his longtime spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak. In a statement, which according to NBC News was released to the media on Thursday, the actor’s passing was described as occurring „in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny”, after a „brief and moving journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. As reported by Fox News, the statement also appeared on his Instagram account.
According to the statement, the actor was surrounded in his final period by family and friends, music and prayer. The family did not provide further details, including information about a funeral.
Who Patrick Stewart was
Stewart was one of the most respected British actors. As Variety recalls, over roughly six decades he appeared in dozens of films, series and television productions, and his name also featured in nominations for the Emmys and the Golden Globes. He originally built his career on the stage, including Shakespearean repertoire, which The Guardian highlighted in describing him as an actor of „Shakespearean and sci-fi” fame.
His greatest popularity came from the role of Captain Picard in the series Star Trek: The Next Generation, which he later continued in feature films and in the later series Picard. His second defining role was Professor Charles Xavier, leader of the mutants in the X-Men films, starting with the first installment from 2000. Variety also mentions his involvement in upcoming Marvel productions, including Avengers: Doomsday.
Cause of death and family
According to the family, the cause was Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, which the actor had battled for a short time. He is survived by his wife, singer Sunny Ozell. The family has not publicly shared further information about relatives.
Tributes
Hugh Jackman, who played alongside Stewart in X-Men, wrote on Instagram that „one of the greats of stage and screen” had been lost, as well as „an extraordinary friend and man”. As Variety reports, William Shatner, captain of the Enterprise in the original series, posted a farewell message on Facebook. Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, in a statement, recalled his first meeting with Stewart on the set of X-Men and said the actor brought Xavier to life with „grace, intelligence and humanity”.
What it means for viewers in Poland
Stewart’s work is available to Polish viewers mainly on streaming platforms: the Star Trek and Picard series and the X-Men films can be found in the catalogues of services such as SkyShowtime or Disney+, although availability depends on the current catalogue. As of publication, no information has been given about funeral arrangements or any commemorative events.
