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Sir Patrick Stewart: A life in pictures
Sir Patrick Stewart, the Yorkshire-born actor whose career spanned more than seven decades, has died at his home in Los Angeles aged 86. His performances ranged from Shakespeare on stage to two of science fiction’s most recognised franchises, making him a celebrated figure across theatre, television and film.
A schoolteacher first encouraged Stewart to perform Shakespeare, and he went on to appear in productions including *Two Gentlemen of Verona* and the BBC series *I, Claudius*. He became internationally known as Jean-Luc Picard in *Star Trek: The Next Generation*, which ran for 178 episodes across seven seasons, and as Professor Charles Xavier in the *X-Men* films. His honours included a Grammy, two Laurence Olivier Awards and a knighthood in 2010.
In short
- Patrick Stewart has died aged 86.
- His career spanned more than seven decades.
- He was known for Star Trek and X-Men.
Explained simply
Patrick Stewart was a British actor whose career bridged theatre, television and film. He began in Shakespearean theatre, after a teacher encouraged him to perform, and later appeared in television productions including the BBC drama I, Claudius.
Many viewers came to know him as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films. These roles connected him with two major science-fiction series, while his stage work and honours, including a knighthood, reflected a career across several forms of acting.