Ian McKellen leads tributes to 'admired and loved' actor Patrick Stewart

LAST UPDATE | 30 Oct

TRIBUTES HAVE POURED in following the death of legendary stage and screen actor Patrick Stewart at the age of 86.

Stewart was best known for his roles in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, as well as his extensive theatre work throughout his career.

He is to make his final on-screen film appearance as Professor Xavier in “Avengers: Doomsday,” set for release in December.

A representative announced the news on social media this evening and said he passed away “in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny”.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund https://t.co/luC5CdcWDy Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources https://t.co/zvNptfyuNd Photo Credit: Tommy Garcia https://t.co/XNncEVq56X

— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) October 29, 2026

They said he passed away following “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia”. 

“He will be remembered for the dignity, compassion and humanity he brought to every role – in his art and life.”

A proud Yorkshireman, Stewart “wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love,” Ian McKellan said of his “X-Men” co-star and dear friend.

McKellan, 87, recounted meeting Stewart in London and hearing about his “Star Trek” offer, warning him he may get lost in Hollywood and to think of his stage career.

“Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did.”

SIR PATRICK STEWART (1940-2026) Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end. You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt. Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love. We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions. My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in 'Star Trek'. “But Patrick think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk—getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?”. Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did for not just his devoted Trekkies but film and theatre audiences, who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes ('X-Men' of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway. America was his adopted home, where he met his adored Sunny who has cared for him through sickness and health, through thick and thin. But he never forsook his origins: and the proudest achievement of the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic, was his appointment as Chancellor of Huddersfield University in Yorkshire. His farewell performance in 'Avengers: Doomsday' is yet to be seen. Ian McKellen 29 October 2026 Photo: University of Huddersfield

— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) October 30, 2026

Actress and friend Harriet Walter said the world is “going to be very poor” without Sir Patrick.

Walter was another longtime friend of Stewart, with the pair having met at Stratford-upon-Avon in the early 1980’s.

Speaking to BBC’s Newsnight, she said she “can’t really imagine a world without him”.

“It’s like a huge giant tree has fallen in the forest,” Walter said.

“I’ve never heard a bad word against him. And I think the world’s going to be very poor without him.”

William Shatner, who played Captain James T Kirk in the original 1960s Star Trek TV series, posted on social media: “What a heartbreaking week it has been.

What a heartbreaking week it has been. Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did. Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work. My heart goes out to Sunny and his family. He will be deeply missed.

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) October 29, 2026

“Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did.

“Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work. My heart goes out to Sunny and his family. He will be deeply missed.”

LeVar Burton, who played Geordi La Forge on Star Trek, described Sir Patrick as “family”.

“There is no other context in which to hold him that makes sense,” he said in a statement.

“I am lucky to have known and loved so many of the facets of a soul so rich in talent and generous of heart. Of all the Dames and Knights I’ve known he was deep down-the silliest.”

Sir Patrick’s X-Men co-star Hugh Jackman posted two photos of the two of them together on Instagram, saying: “We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man.

“I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”

Meanwhile, Huddersfield Town football club said it was “deeply saddened” to learn of Sir Patrick’s death.

All at Huddersfield Town are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong supporter Sir Patrick Stewart. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this sad time. A titan of his craft and a legend and hero to millions worldwide, his legacy will live on. Fiercely proud of his Yorkshire roots, Sir Patrick was a Terrier in every sense, and we’re proud to have counted him as one of our own. Once a Terrier, always a Terrier 💙 #htafc

— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) October 29, 2026

In a message posted on X, the Terriers said: “All at Huddersfield Town are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong supporter Sir Patrick Stewart.

“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this sad time.

“A titan of his craft and a legend and hero to millions worldwide, his legacy will live on.

“Fiercely proud of his Yorkshire roots, Sir Patrick was a Terrier in every sense, and we’re proud to have counted him as one of our own.

“Once a Terrier, always a Terrier.”

Stewart acted in Britain with the Royal Shakespeare Company before heading to the US to enjoy an acclaimed career on American stage and screen.

His best-known Hollywood roles were as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and Professor Charles Xavier in multiple “X-Men” and related Marvel films.

“His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre,” a statement from Marvel Studios said.

“He explored the human condition in all its poetic complexity and brought hope not only to the far reaches of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but into science fiction’s most iconic final frontier aboard the Starship Enterprise.”

‘Make it so’

Stewart was 47 when he was cast as Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” the first live-action television spinoff of the trailblazing sci-fi series from the late 1960s.

He effectively filled the boots of William Shatner’s Captain Kirk from the original show, and the role became Stewart’s path to fame and fortune.

Picard became known for a few catchphrases including “Make it so!” Stewart’s 2023 memoir was entitled “Making It So.”

Stewart found further acclaim on the big screen in many films of the “X-Men” series, debuting in 2000 as the founder and mentor of the mutant superhero team.

“For more than 25 years, he brought a gravitas and profundity to the role, earning fans across the globe and helping to transform Super Hero storytelling forever,” Marvel Studios said.

Longtime co-star Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine, remembered Stewart as both “one of the greats of stage and screen” and “a tremendous friend and man.”

Stewart pictured arriving at an award show in Beverly Hills in 2024. AFF / Alamy Live News

From 2020 to 2023, Stewart was tempted back to the “Star Trek” franchise, starring in the “Star Trek: Picard” television series.

He was nominated for four Emmys, but never took one home.

And even as he found success in Hollywood, Stewart’s love of theatre, and the bard in particular, never left him.

Between filming, he would return to his roots on the stage, winning two Olivier awards.

“Having spent so much of my life with Shakespeare’s world, passions and ideas in my head and in my mouth, he feels like a friend, someone who just went out of the room to get another bottle of wine,” he said.

The decorated performer also nabbed a Grammy for spoken word, for his narration of “Prokofiev: Peter And The Wolf.”

Early life

Stewart was born on 13 July 1940 in the small West Yorkshire town of Mirfield, the third of three brothers in a working-class family.

He grew up in the shadow of domestic violence. His father, back from World War II and perhaps suffering from PTSD, would often beat Stewart’s mother.

Stewart would later work with the charity Refuge, which specialises in domestic abuse.

The actor left school at 15 but not without the encouragement of his English teacher Cecil Dormand, who introduced him to Shakespeare and gave him his first role in a play with adults.

He studied at Bristol Old Vic Drama School beginning in 1957, making his professional acting debut two years later.

Prematurely balding, Stewart missed out on many of the young romantic leads but quickly slotted into theatre life, joining the RSC in 1966 and staying there until 1982.

Any misgivings Stewart had about taking on the Picard role in “Star Trek” were mollified by the thought it would be a one-season failure.

He was wrong.

“It changed my life,” he said.

Knighted in 2010, Stewart married three times: to Sheila Falconer, with whom he had two children including Daniel, who is also an actor, briefly to “Star Trek” producer Wendy Neuss and most recently to American singer Sunny Ozell, 38 years his junior.

Additional reporting by AFP