Patrick Stewart, Star Trek Star and Elder Statesman of Modern Sci-Fi, Dead at 86
Sir Patrick Stewart, the Yorkshire-born actor best known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, has died aged 86. His performance brought Shakespearean stature to science fiction and made him a defining figure in modern popular culture.
Stewart began on stage in 1959 and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966. He took the Star Trek role in the 1980s expecting the series to be short-lived, but it ran for seven seasons and led to films and a return as Picard in a three-season series from 2020 to 2023. He also played Professor Charles Xavier in eight X-Men-related films and was due to reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday.
In short
- Patrick Stewart has died aged 86.
- His Picard role made him a science-fiction icon.
- He also played Professor X in eight films.
Explained simply
Star Trek: The Next Generation is a science-fiction television series set aboard the starship Enterprise, whose crew explore space and encounter new societies. Patrick Stewart played its captain, Jean-Luc Picard, a role that later brought him back to the series in films and a separate television show.
Before Star Trek, Stewart built his career in British theatre, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also became known to film audiences as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films. His career connected stage acting with major science-fiction and superhero franchises.