Patrick Stewart, Shakespearean actor turned 'Star Trek' and 'X-Men' star, dies at 86

Patrick Stewart, the renowned Shakespearean actor turned Star Trek and X-Men star, passed away at the age of 86. Born in Mirfield, Yorkshire, England in 1940, Stewart rose from poverty to achieve global fame. Raised in a challenging environment, acting became his safe haven, particularly after a schoolteacher introduced him to Shakespeare at 12.

He began his acting career at 18, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s. However, his breakthrough came in 1987 when he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, a role he played for seven seasons and in various films and subsequent series. Despite initial reservations, Stewart embraced the role of Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies, becoming a key part of another major franchise.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his contributions to drama. Stewart was married three times and had two children. He died at his home in Los Angeles, following a brief journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.