Sir Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Picard and Professor X, dies

British actor Sir Patrick Stewart has died at the age of 86 at his home in Los Angeles. His family said he had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

British actor Sir Patrick Stewart, known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the series “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, has died at the age of 86.

In a family statement, the actor’s relatives said he died on October 28 at his home in Los Angeles after a short and difficult battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. The family asked people to make donations to Alzheimer’s research instead of sending flowers.

British actor Sir Patrick Stewart

From Shakespeare to Star Trek

Stewart was born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, Yorkshire, and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company for many years. His role as Captain Picard brought him international fame: “Star Trek: The Next Generation” ran from 1987 to 1994, followed by four feature films, and from 2020 to 2023 the actor returned to the role in the series “Star Trek: Picard.”

His final role will be Professor X

Beginning in 2000, Stewart played the telepath Charles Xavier in the X-Men films. His final role will be Professor X in Marvel Studios’ film “Avengers: Doomsday,” which will be released in December; it will be the actor’s ninth appearance as the character.

Patrick Stewart at a photo shoot (archive)

In 2010, Stewart was knighted for services to drama. He was nominated for an Emmy and a Tony Award for his role in “Macbeth.” The actor had been married to American singer Sunny Ozell since 2013, and they had two children.