Patrick Stewart, ‘Star Trek’ Legend and Beloved Shakespearean Actor, Dead at 86

Sir Patrick Stewart, the British actor best known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek franchise and Professor X in the X-Men movies, has died at the age of 86. According to Deadline, he passed away yesterday at his home in Los Angeles following a battle with Lewy Body Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Born on July 13, 1940, in West Riding of Yorkshire, England, Stewart was a classically trained actor who spent nearly two decades as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Consequence reports that his first professional stage appearance was in 1959, and his work included Peter Brooks’ 1971 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His early career also featured roles in historical dramas such as I, Claudius and Fall of Eagles, as well as the film Dune.

Stewart's television career included his first role as a fire officer on Coronation Street in 1967, according to TVLine. He joined the Star Trek franchise in 1987, playing Jean-Luc Picard for seven seasons of The Next Generation and in four theatrical movies. The Hollywood Reporter noted that he was also known for playing Charles Xavier, a character he admired for his compassion and kindness.

Brief written by urgent.news from IndieWire, TVLine, Consequence, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.