Veteran actor Patrick Stewart, best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, has died at the age of 86. He died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, his representative confirmed on Thursday.
In a statement, his spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak said that Stewart had died following a brief illness involving Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. He was surrounded by his wife, singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell, and other loved ones.
“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all. We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace,” the statement read.
Born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England, Stewart developed an interest in acting at a young age. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School before beginning his professional career on stage in 1959. He subsequently joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, establishing himself as a respected stage actor through performances in several Shakespearean productions.
His early screen credits included the British television series Coronation Street and the miniseries Fall of Eagles. Stewart’s career took a defining turn in 1987 when he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
