Sir Patrick Stewart has died at the age of 86.
His family announced the news on Thursday, October 29, revealing that he had passed away the day before at his home in Los Angeles, cared for by his wife, Sunny, following “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.”
According to his longtime spokesperson, his loved ones gathered around him during his final days, sharing music, prayers, laughter and tears. The family said they would always cherish “the peaceful ease and reflection on his face.”
Stewart was born in 1940 in Mirfield, a small town in West Yorkshire, England. He grew up in a working-class family and left school at 15, but he had already fallen in love with acting.
He began his career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he appeared in more than 60 productions. He made his Broadway debut in 1971, and over the years he won three Olivier Awards and was nominated for a Tony.
He rose to fame on British 1970s television shows like I, Claudius and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. But it was in 1987 that his life changed forever, when he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The role made him a household name around the world.
In 2000, he took on another iconic role as Professor Charles Xavier, the leader of the mutants in the X-Men films. His career also included Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated performances in The Lion in Winter, Moby Dick and Hamlet.
In 2010, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama. In 2013, Stewart married American singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell. Their wedding ceremony was officiated by none other than Ian McKellen. Stewart is survived by Sunny and by his two children, Sophie and Daniel, from a previous marriage.
Instead of flowers, his family has reportedly asked that donations be made to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s caregiver resources.
Rest in peace, Sir Patrick.
Read more:
