Sir Patrick Stewart, Star Trek’s Jean-Luc Picard and X-Men’s Professor X, dies at 86

Sir Patrick Stewart, the English actor whose career ranged from acclaimed Shakespearean stage work to the globally recognized screen roles of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek” and Professor Charles Xavier in the “X-Men” films, has died at 86, according to a family statement posted Thursday to his official social media accounts and confirmation from his longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak.

Stewart died Wednesday, Oct. 28, at his home in Los Angeles, California. In the family statement, relatives said he died in the care of his wife, Sunny Ozell, following “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.” The Associated Press reported that those diagnoses had not previously been disclosed publicly.

The Yorkshire-born actor was one of the rare performers to command both major classical-theater stature and mass popular fame. Internationally, he was best known for playing Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” which debuted in 1987 and ran for seven seasons through 1994, then continued in four “Next Generation” films and later in “Star Trek: Picard.” He was also widely known for portraying Xavier, the telepathic leader of the mutant team in the “X-Men” film series, beginning in 2000.

Before and alongside his screen career, Stewart was closely associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company and was widely regarded as one of the leading Shakespearean actors of his generation. He was born July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, in England’s West Riding of Yorkshire. In 2010, he was knighted for services to drama.

His family announced his death in a statement that said: “We announce with great sorrow the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home in Los Angeles, in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.”

Stewart is survived by Ozell, his son Daniel and his daughter Sophia. The family asked that memorial contributions be made to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

SAG-AFTRA, the union representing film and television performers, said in a public statement Thursday: “Sir Patrick Stewart will live on in our hearts and memories through his remarkable career spanning the British stage, television and film. He brought depth, humanity and distinction to every role. Our condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and a galaxy of fans. #SagAftraMember since 1987.”