# Ian McKellen Pays Tribute to Close Friend Patrick Stewart: ‘He Wore His Heart on His Sleeve’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ian-mckellen-pays-tribute-to-close-friend-patrick-stewart-he-wore-his-heart-on-his-sleeve/
- Published: 2026-10-30T00:35:36+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T10:29:59+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/ian-mckellen-patrick-stewart-tribute-1236934477/
- Topics: Art, Culture, UK, World

## Key points

- McKellen remembered Stewart’s honesty and Yorkshire roots.
- The actors became close while making “X-Men”.
- Both are set to appear in “Avengers: Doomsday”.

## Summary

Ian McKellen has paid tribute to his close friend Patrick Stewart, who has died aged 86 after living with Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia. McKellen remembered Stewart as an honest, dependable man proud of his Yorkshire roots, and praised the way he built a major stage career alongside international screen success.

The pair met as young actors at the Royal Shakespeare Company and became close while filming the 2000 film “X-Men”, playing Magneto and Professor X. Stewart went on to star in the “Star Trek” franchise and numerous films and plays; McKellen recalled advising him to consider the risks of taking the television role. They also performed together on stage, and McKellen officiated at Stewart’s 2013 wedding. Both appear in “Avengers: Doomsday”, due for release this December.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.