Patrick Stewart dies at 86

Patrick Stewart died Wednesday in Los Angeles at the age of 86. His social media pages announced the death at home, citing a brief struggle with Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. The loss ends the career of a British stage actor who became a global icon through his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Charles Xavier.

Stewart's path to Hollywood was not direct. Born in Yorkshire, he described his childhood as difficult, noting an alcoholic and abusive father. He found refuge in school and eventually in Shakespeare. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and made his Broadway debut in 1970 with A Midsummer Night's Dream. In a 2023 interview with NPR, Stewart said that standing on an empty stage felt like being home, though it took time to reach that comfort.

The transition to television was met with skepticism. His friend and fellow actor Ian McKellen advised him not to take the role of Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, urging him to remain a stage actor. Stewart’s agent suggested the show would likely be canceled after one season, framing the job as a quick financial boost. Stewart accepted, expecting a short-term commitment to earn money and gain fame.

The series proved to be a major success, running for seven seasons from 1987 to 1994. Fans embraced Picard for his leadership and his habit of drinking Earl Grey tea. The role, however, limited Stewart’s stage work. He shifted his theatrical focus to one-man shows, including an award-winning performance in A Christmas Carol where he portrayed more than 40 characters. By the early 2000s, he had reestablished his stage presence while also working in animated films.

Stewart expanded his franchise work in 2000 when he joined the X-Men films as Professor X. He is set to make a final appearance as the character in the upcoming movie Avengers: Doomsday. His return to Star Trek came later, with the series Picard, which began streaming on Paramount+ in 2020. The show was developed by a team that included writer Michael Chabon. Chabon told NPR that writing lines for Stewart to speak was an incredible experience for him.

In Picard, the character deals with the psychological effects of leaving Starfleet. Stewart’s portrayal balanced weariness with joy, depicting a man haunted by the past. The actor had thought he was finished with the role before the new series was pitched to him. His final major role will appear in theaters as Avengers: Doomsday.