Patrick Stewart of Star Trek and X-Men dies, aged 86

Patrick Stewart, the renowned actor from Star Trek and X-Men, has passed away at the age of 86. Born in the United Kingdom, he overcame humble beginnings to become a distinguished Shakespearean stage actor, and later attained worldwide acclaim as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men films.

A message on his X account revealed that he had passed away after a brief struggle with Alzheimer's and Lewy Body Dementia. His family expressed their profound gratitude for the love, music, prayers, tears, laughter, and emotion he inspired during his life. Stewart, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his contributions to drama, breathed his last at his residence in Los Angeles.

He began his acting career at the tender age of 18 and gained recognition as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s. However, it was his role as Captain Picard, which aired from 1987 to 1994, that catapulted him to global fame. Stewart continued acting until his 80s, leaving an indelible mark on various genres with his sonorous voice and extraordinary talent.

He starred in X-Men and its subsequent films, becoming an integral part of the franchise. In a committed relationship since 2013, Stewart was married thrice and had two children.