Hollywood legend Patrick Stewart dead aged 86
Sir Patrick Stewart has died aged 86, according to a statement shared on his social media. He died at home in Los Angeles on 28 October, in the care of his wife, Sunny, after a brief illness involving Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. His death marks the end of a six-decade career spanning Shakespearean theatre, film and television.
Born in Yorkshire in 1940, Stewart made his stage debut in 1959 and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966. He became known to wider audiences as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men, while also supporting causes including human rights, refugees and veterans’ mental health. He is due to appear posthumously in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release on 18 December, and his Shakespeare sonnets audiobook has been submitted for Grammy consideration.
In short
- Sir Patrick Stewart has died aged 86.
- His career spanned six decades across stage and screen.
- His final Professor X role is expected in Avengers: Doomsday.
Explained simply
Patrick Stewart built his career across stage and screen, beginning in theatre before becoming known to international audiences through film and television. He joined Britain’s Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, where he performed in Shakespeare plays.
His best-known screen roles include Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films. These parts made him a familiar figure to generations of viewers, alongside his work in theatre.