RIP Patrick Stewart, the actor best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek franchise and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies, died Wednesday, October 28. He was 86. Stewart had Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, though neither diagnosis was made public until after his death.
After his longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, formally announced his passing, tributes poured in from around the world. Fans and former colleagues recalled his iconic roles and marveled at how easily he moved between commercial cinema and classical Shakespearean theater.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine in the X-Men movies, called Stewart a "tremendous friend" and praised his contribution to the entertainment industry. "We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days," he wrote on Instagram.
– Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) October 29, 2026
Another former co-star, English actor Ian McKellen, also mourned Stewart's death, describing him as a proud Yorkshireman and one of the most respected and beloved actors of his generation. In a long, heartfelt message on Instagram, McKellen said Stewart was "a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love."
Star Trek co-star William Shatner also remembered Stewart fondly, calling him "a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor." In a social media post, Shatner wrote, "What a heartbreaking week it has been," an apparent reference to the death of Walter Koenig earlier in the week. Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov in Star Trek, died October 25 at 90.
Praising Stewart's diverse body of work, Shatner said: "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... He will be deeply missed."
– William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) October 29, 2026
Born in Mirfield, England, in 1940, Stewart's career got a boost when he joined the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966. He appeared on the long-running British soap Coronation Street in 1967 and made his Broadway debut in 1971 in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Over the following decades, Stewart starred in a string of hit movies and TV shows, including Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1999), which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge. He also played Captain Ahab in the miniseries Moby Dick (1998) and King Henry II in the film The Lion in Winter (2003), for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.
Stewart turned up on Frasier in the show's 11th and final season in 2003, playing a gay Seattle socialite and opera director who mistakes Kelsey Grammer's title character for a potential love interest. He also appeared on Top Gear and lent his voice to multiple characters on Fox's animated sitcom Family Guy.
His career drew awards from both critics and peers. He won three Laurence Olivier Awards between 1979 and 2008, as well as a Grammy in 1996 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for his recording of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. He was also nominated for a Tony Award, three Golden Globes, four Emmys and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Queen Elizabeth II knighted Stewart in 2010 for his services to drama. He was also an ambassador for the International Rescue Committee. His final on-screen performance will be a return as Professor Charles Xavier in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, due in theaters in December.
Actor Patrick Stewart dies at 86, legendary star of Star Trek and X-Men
