Beloved Star Trek star Sir Patrick Stewart dies at 86

The acclaimed British actor, who won generations of fans as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor X, has died following Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

Sir Patrick Stewart, the much-loved British actor whose unmistakable voice and commanding presence made him a television and Hollywood favourite, has died aged 86.

The Star Trek and X-Men star died at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday, October 28, surrounded by family and friends.

His spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, confirmed Stewart had experienced what was described as a “brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

His final hours were spent surrounded by live music, prayer, laughter and tears, with his wife, singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell, among those closest to him.

For millions of viewers, Stewart will forever be Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the wise and principled commander of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Yet his career began long before he first stepped onto the bridge of a starship.

From Yorkshire to the stars

Born in Mirfield, Yorkshire, in 1940, Stewart grew up in a working-class household and discovered acting as a boy.

He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, building a distinguished stage career before Hollywood came calling.

In 1987, aged 47, he landed the role that would change his life.

Star Trek: The Next Generation ran for seven seasons, turning Stewart into an international star. He returned as Picard in four feature films and the television series Star Trek: Picard, which concluded in 2023.

His famous command, “Make it so”, became part of television folklore.

A second generation of fans

Stewart found another enormous audience in 2000 when he became Professor Charles Xavier, the wheelchair-using leader of the mutants in the X-Men films.

His portrayal of Professor X introduced him to younger moviegoers, while his love of Shakespeare never faded.

He earned a Tony Award nomination for Macbeth on Broadway in 2008 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for services to drama.

Away from acting, Stewart was a passionate advocate for survivors of domestic violence, having witnessed his father’s abuse of his mother during childhood.

He also shared a famously affectionate friendship with fellow British actor Sir Ian McKellen, his X-Men co-star and frequent stage companion. McKellen even officiated at Stewart’s wedding to Ozell in 2013.

Stewart is survived by his wife and two children, Sophia and Daniel.

For those who grew up watching him command the Enterprise, his familiar voice and two simple words will be fondly remembered: “Make it so”.