Sir Patrick Stewart has died at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 86, per movieweb.com. The acclaimed British actor’s spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, confirmed he passed away following a brief battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Stewart’s family also announced his passing in a statement published on his social media accounts.
Stewart built a career spanning nearly seven decades across stage, television, and film, acquiring almost 160 professional credits between 1964 and 2026. Following early work on Broadway, alongside appearances in early screen productions such as the 1984 film adaptation of Dune, he achieved international prominence in 1987 as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. He portrayed the Starfleet commander across seven television seasons and four feature films, later reprising the role for three seasons in Star Trek: Picard.
In 2000, Stewart assumed the role of Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film franchise. He portrayed the telepathic character across seven films over nearly two decades, culminating in Logan (2017) and a cameo appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). His final posthumous on-screen performance is set to feature in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release on December 18.
Marvel Studios issued a statement offering condolences to Stewart’s wife, Sunny, his children, and his family. The studio commended his portrayal of Charles Xavier and noted his contribution to the franchise across 26 years. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige praised Stewart’s professional conduct and character, referencing their shared involvement on the original X-Men production in 2000.
In addition to his franchise film work, Stewart maintained an extensive theatrical career, including long-standing work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. His stage performances included lead roles in Macbeth and Hamlet, earning a Tony Award nomination in 2008 for the former. Over his career, he received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. His screen credits also encompassed comedic roles, including voice work on American Dad!, alongside parts in A Christmas Carol, The Lion in Winter, and The Prince of Egypt.
•Featured image by 20th Century Fox