Sir Patrick Stewart, the celebrated performer of stage and screen, who was best known for his roles in the X-Men and Star Trek franchises, has died at the age of 86, his family announced Thursday.
The British actor died Wednesday (28 October) at his home in Los Angeles, after a “brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia,” his longtime spokesperson announced.
“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all,” the statement read. “We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”
Stewart rose to international fame in 1987, playing the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the classic sci-fi series Star Trek: The Next Generation, but he was already a star in the theatre, with a reputation for achieving astounding feats of performance in Shakespearean work including King Lear, The Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Over the course of his career he would portray many of Shakespeare’s key creations, among them Hamlet, Othello and Macbeth.
On-screen, and with his signature bald head, he was superlative casting for the role of Professor Charles Xavier, rescuer of adrift mutant teenagers, in the film adaptations of the X-Men comic books. In a tribute, Ian McKellen, who portrayed Professor X’s arch nemesis Magneto in the X-Men franchise and first met Stewart during their time as young actors at the Royal Shakespeare Company, remembered his friend as a man who “wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love”.
Stewart’s other screen credits included David Lynch’s Dune, the comedy spoof Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Steve Martin’s LA Story, and the cult neo-Nazi horror film Green Room. He parodied his own luvvy reputation in Ricky Gervais’s industry comedy Extras, and this year voiced an elderly ram in the oddball comedy The Sheep Detectives. His co-star in the film Hugh Jackman, who also played Wolverine to his Professor X, remembered Stewart as “a tremendous friend and man”, adding: “I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”
The actor’s final performance will arrive this Christmas, with Stewart reprising his Professor X role in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday.
He is survived by his wife, Sunny Ozell, and his two children, Daniel and Sophie Stewart.
Patrick Stewart death
- Patrick Stewart has died at 86
- Actor's cause of death revealed
- Patrick Stewart discussed love of Shakespeare in final appearance
- He will appear posthumously in 'Avengers: Doomsday'
- Sir Patrick Stewart: Shakespearian actor who brought gravitas to every role
- Sir Ian McKellen leads tributes to ‘respected and beloved’ friend
Stewart's 10-year-old co-star in 2017 remembers his 'colourful reading glasses' in sweet tribute
09:21 , Adam WhiteThe actor Dafne Keen, who was just 10 years old when she worked with Stewart on the Marvel film Logan, has posted a tender tribute to her late co-star.
“I remember his endless jokes, nurturing nature and colourful reading glasses,” Keen wrote on her Instagram. “Every single day spent working by his side was an honour and a privilege I can’t quite believe I had.
“I will forever hold those months we spent together close to my heart, and will always think of him as a pivotal part of how I view the world around me.”
Patrick Stewart started his career as a newspaper reporter at 15
08:50 , Shahana YasminPatrick Stewart was just 15 when he got his first job as a junior reporter on a local newspaper in West Yorkshire.
“All I got to do were deaths, births and marriages. One morning I saw three dead bodies before lunch and went back to the newsroom and said, ‘I don’t think I can do this,’” he said in a 2015 interview with Time.
His interest in acting, however, was already competing with his journalism career. Stewart was involved in several amateur theatre productions and regularly missed reporting assignments to attend rehearsals. He eventually left the newspaper after his editor gave him an ultimatum: choose between journalism and acting.
Looking back in a questionnaire with Interview magazine, Stewart joked: “I could be Rupert Murdoch now if I’d kept at it.”
Sir Patrick Stewart: Shakespearian actor who brought gravitas to every role
08:30 , Shahana YasminWhether he was playing a stoic starship captain in ‘Star Trek’ or a telepathic mentor figure in the ‘X-Men’ franchise, Stewart was always able to imbue his characters with depth and humanity, writes Kevin E G Perry
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Sir Patrick Stewart: Shakespearian actor who brought gravitas to every role
Harriet Walter remembers Patrick Stewart as a ‘huge giant tree’ whose absence will leave the world poorer
08:10 , Shahana YasminDame Harriet Walter has paid tribute to her longtime friend Patrick Stewart, saying she cannot imagine a world without the actor and that his death will leave it “very poor”.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Walter recalled meeting Stewart in Stratford-upon-Avon in the early 1980s and described the loss. “It’s like a huge giant tree has fallen in the forest,” she said. “The man was alive in the moment. And that's my favourite kind of acting. He never got set into habits. He was always just alive.”
“I’ve never heard a bad word against him. And I think the world’s going to be very poor without him,” she added.
Rebecca Romijn pays tribute to Patrick Stewart, remembering him as a friend and inspiration
07:50 , Shahana YasminRebecca Romijn has paid an affectionate tribute to Patrick Stewart, remembering the actor as a friend whose humour, warmth, and unmistakable voice had inspired her for 25 years.
Romijn, who played Mystique in the X-Men films and appeared with him in the Star Trek universe, shared a video message on Instagram, saying: “I feel so grateful to have known him for the last 25 years, and to have been in his orbit for the last 25 years, both as a fellow mutant and as a fellow member of Starfleet.”
“He was positively delicious, hilarious, naughty, [with an] incredible sense of humour,” she said, adding that his booming voice, which could reach “the very back of the room”, had always been an inspiration.
“What a gift to have been your friend. Rest in peace, dear Patrick,” she wrote in her caption.
Patrick Stewart’s beloved football club Huddersfield Town pays tribute to the actor
07:30 , Shahana YasminHuddersfield Town Association Football Club has paid tribute to Patrick Stewart, remembering the actor as a lifelong supporter who remained proud of his Yorkshire roots.
“All at Huddersfield Town are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong supporter Sir Patrick Stewart,” the club said in a statement shared on X.
Describing him as “a titan of his craft and a legend and hero to millions worldwide”, the club added: “Fiercely proud of his Yorkshire roots, Sir Patrick was a Terrier in every sense, and we’re proud to have counted him as one of our own.”
All at Huddersfield Town are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong supporter Sir Patrick Stewart. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this sad time.
— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) October 29, 2026
A titan of his craft and a legend and hero to millions worldwide, his legacy will live on. Fiercely… pic.twitter.com/A70gXgTQ59
Stewart, who was born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, began supporting Huddersfield at the age of seven. He was at Wembley in 2017 when the team secured promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 45 years.
The club ended its tribute with a fitting sign-off: “Once a Terrier, always a Terrier.”
Minnie Driver recalls Patrick Stewart’s ‘funniest stories’ after actor’s death
07:10 , Shahana YasminMinnie Driver has paid tribute to Patrick Stewart, remembering the actor as a friend who always had time to listen and offer advice.
Driver, who appeared alongside Stewart in the 2017 romantic comedy The Wilde Wedding, wrote on Instagram: “Is this year some kind of portal to a much, much better place that all the greatest people know about and so have gently made their exits?”
“Dearest Patrick. Who always had the best advice, the funniest story, the patience to listen. I’m just bereft. All love to your family, and you, in my heart forever.”
Royal Shakespeare Company pays tribute to ‘colossus of stage and screen’ Patrick Stewart
06:50 , Shahana YasminThe Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has paid tribute to Patrick Stewart, describing him “one of the finest classical Shakespearean actors of his generation”.
Stewart joined the company in 1966 and remained a core member until 1982, appearing in more than 30 productions. His roles included Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, Prospero in The Tempest, Macbeth, and King Henry IV.
In a statement, the RSC’s artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of RSC Honorary Associate Artist, Sir Patrick Stewart; a colossus of both stage and screen and one of the finest classical Shakespearean actors of his generation.
“Despite being one of the most recognisable Shakespearean performers in the world, Sir Patrick remained deeply connected to Stratford-upon-Avon and the RSC throughout his career. His contribution to our company and to our industry is beyond measure.”
Cary Elwes says he ‘fell in love’ with Patrick Stewart when they first met
06:30 , Shahana YasminCary Elwes has remembered Patrick Stewart as a kind and generous co-star, recalling how they first met on the set of the 1984 film Lady Jane.
“My heart is seriously heavy today. We have lost the marvelous Patrick Stewart,” Elwes wrote on Instagram. “I first met Patrick on the set of Lady Jane back in 1984 and fell in love with him immediately. Not only was he amiable and kind with a great sense of humour, he was incredible to work with.”
The pair reunited nearly a decade later in Mel Brooks’s 1993 comedy Robin Hood: Men in Tights, in which Stewart played King Richard.
Elwes said he had recommended Stewart for the role when discussing casting with Brooks. “Fortunately for us he accepted and once again shared his joy and talent with us all,” Elwes wrote.
He ended: “Good night, sweet Prince.”
Bryan Batt recalls Patrick Stewart guiding him through his first film role
06:10 , Shahana YasminBryan Batt has remembered how Patrick Stewart helped him through his first film role in the 1995 comedy Jeffrey, in which the pair played lovers.
Based on Paul Rudnick’s play, the film follows Jeffrey (Steven Weber), a gay New Yorker who decides to give up sex because he fears contracting HIV during the AIDS epidemic. His resolve is tested when he falls for Steve (Michael T Weiss), who is HIV-positive.
Stewart played Jeffrey’s close friend Sterling, while Batt appeared as Sterling’s partner Darius, also living with HIV.
Batt, who had originated his role in the stage production, said he was anxious about making his film debut. Stewart, however, “took me under his wing and guided me along, teaching me so much”, he wrote in a tribute shared on Facebook.
“He was one of the most talented, kindest, and generous actors I’ve ever had the honour of working with,” Batt added, describing Stewart as “a wonderful giving actor and true gentleman of the theatre”.
Logan director James Mangold remembers Patrick Stewart as the film’s ‘beating heart’
05:50 , Shahana YasminJames Mangold, who directed Stewart in The Wolverine and Logan, has remembered the actor as a close friend and an essential part of the 2017 film.
“A generous and kind man, Patrick was very dear to me but also a towering, magnificent talent,” he told The Los Angeles Times. “There is no Logan without his brave portrayal of Charles Xavier. He is the beating heart of our film and our collaboration will be a cherished gift in my life.”
RIP Sir Patrick. What an amazing life he led. As a brilliant and tireless actor from stage to screen to TV and back again, as a great collaborator, gentle soul and friend to everyone.. I miss him already. pic.twitter.com/Z4wX5oyW3w
— Mangold (@mang0ld) October 29, 2026
Star Trek actor Jonathan Frakes remembers his ‘late great friend’ Patrick Stewart
05:30 , Shahana YasminJonathan Frakes has paid tribute to Patrick Stewart, describing him as a friend he will carry with him forever.
Frakes, who played Commander William Riker opposite Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, told The Los Angeles Times: “There’s no one on this planet that I have acted with or directed more often than my late great friend Patrick Stewart. He will be with me forever. May he rest in peace.”
The pair also worked together on four Star Trek films and the series Star Trek: Picard.
Patrick Stewart said playing Captain Picard made it harder to get other film roles
04:50 , Shahana YasminPatrick Stewart said his success as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek made it difficult to find other film roles, with directors reluctant to cast him because he had become so closely associated with the character.
“I had come to the point when I realised it was unlikely that my film career was going to move beyond a certain level of role,” he said in 2009. “And I was – because I had graphic instances of it – handicapped by the success of Star Trek. A director would say, ‘I don't want Jean-Luc Picard in my movie’ – and this was compounded by X-Men as well.”
The actor eventually returned to the stage, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in productions of The Tempest and Antony and Cleopatra.
Fans mourn Patrick Stewart's death in Hollywood
04:30 , Shahana Yasmin
‘I screamed at my father to stop hitting my mother’: Sir Patrick Stewart opens up about domestic abuse
04:10 , Shahana Yasmin
Patrick Stewart: ‘I screamed at my father to stop hitting my mother’
Sesame Street revisits Patrick Stewart's memorable Hamlet parody
03:50 , Shahana YasminSesame Street has shared a clip of Patrick Stewart turning Hamlet’s famous soliloquy into a comic tribute to the letter B.
Sesame Workshop shared the clip on X after his death, writing: “Thank you for being our friend and for sharing your brilliance, joy, and kindness with the world.”
Sesame Workshop mourns the loss of Sir Patrick Stewart. Thank you for being our friend and for sharing your brilliance, joy, and kindness with the world. 💛💚 pic.twitter.com/NuTvTvOS0c
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) October 29, 2026
The clip, from a 1996 appearance on the children’s television show, sees Stewart dressed in Renaissance-style costume and delivering a playful version of Hamlet’s famous ‘To be, or not to be’ soliloquy. Only, instead of wrestling with the meaning of life, he is contemplating the alphabet’s second letter.
“B, or not a B?” he asks, before going on to describe its shape, with a straight back and two rounded bumps.
Patrick Stewart's final screen appearance will be in Avengers: Doomsday
03:30 , Shahana YasminPatrick Stewart’s final year on screen saw him voice a talking pig’s head, play a sheep in a murder mystery, and return to the role of Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday.
He voiced a severed pig’s head named Pigtrick Stewart, in two episodes of Riz Ahmed’s comedy series Bait, released in March.
Stewart voiced Sir Ritchfield in The Sheep Detectives, a comedy mystery released in May. Starring Hugh Jackman, the film follows a flock of sheep who set out to investigate the mysterious death of their shepherd. Stewart voices the flock’s elder sheep, who helps guide the investigation.
He also narrated an audiobook of all 154 of Shakespeare's sonnets, released in April.
His appearance in Doomsday, set to be released in cinemas on 18 December, will mark the ninth time he has played Xavier on the big screen, bringing a 26-year association with the character to a close.
Patrick Stewart vowed to ‘always and forever’ be an actor in final interview
03:10 , Shahana YasminPatrick Stewart said he couldn’t “imagine ever officially retiring” in his final interview, while admitting that opportunities for older performers were becoming harder to come by.
“As any actor my age will tell you, there are fewer and fewer available roles as we get older,” he told TV Insider in July, in an interview to mark 60 years of Star Trek. “That being said, I still continue to receive interesting offers and I love being challenged by new work, like voicing a pig’s head in Riz Ahmed‘s brilliant new series Bait.”
He added: “I can’t imagine ever officially ‘retiring.’ I’ll always and forever be an actor.”
Stewart also described his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard “the most significant role of my career”.
“And I will be forever grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of what is now such a historic franchise,” he said.
Tribute to a Shakespearian actor who brought gravitas to every role
02:30 , Kevin PerryIf Patrick Stewart’s efforts had been successful, he might never have developed the look that made him an icon of stage and screen. He was just 17, still a young man finding his way in West Yorkshire, when he first began to lose his hair. As he recalled in his 2023 memoir Making It So, Stewart found work as a bricklayer and poured all of his earnings into treatment at a clinic in Bristol that involved having electrodes attached to his head. “But it was hopeless,” wrote Stewart. “By the age of 19, I was as bald on top as I am now.”
If Stewart feared his alopecia would harm his chances at building an acting career, he need not have worried. An interviewer once described him as having “the most famous cranium in the world.” His striking appearance helped him secure a string of signature roles, notably Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film series, but there was always more to Stewart than his looks.
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Sir Patrick Stewart: Shakespearian actor who brought gravitas to every role
Kumail Nanjiani says Stewart was ‘the best’
02:00 , Kevin Perry
In a brief tribute on Blue Sky, comedian and Marvel star Kumail Nanjiani wrote: “Sir Patrick Stewart was the best. I don’t know what else I can say.”
Mike Myers brings back memories of Stewart's SNL role
01:30 , Kevin PerryMike Myers has posted a short tribute to Stewart, writing: “Mourning the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart. An incredible talent and a true gentleman.”
He also shared a photo of the pair together in a 1994 episode of Saturday Night Live, which Stewart hosted. In one sketch, he appeared as Phil McCracken, the Scottish therapist.
In his memoir Making It So, Stewart recalled that he found the SNL experience stressful but added: “The one exception was Mike Myers, with whom I found myself in a sketch in which he played an irritable Scotsman who runs a Scottish paraphernalia shop and uses the catchphrase ‘If it’s not Scottish, it’s craaap!’ – something that [my wife] Sunny and I still like to say around the house.”
Ian McKellen pays tribute to Stewart: 'He wore his heart on his sleeve'
01:23 , Rachel DobkinFellow English actor Ian McKellen has paid tribute to Sir Patrick Stewart, whom he worked with during the late star’s early days.
“Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end,” McKellen wrote on Instagram. “Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.”
“We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions. My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in 'Star Trek.’”
McKellen recalled initially questioning the offer, telling Stewart, “Think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk—getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?”
“Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did for not just his devoted Trekkies but film and theatre audiences, who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes ('X-Men' of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway.”
Patrick Stewart will make posthumous appearance in 'Avengers: Doomsday'
01:00 , Kevin Perry
Marvel have confirmed that Stewart will make one last appearance as Professor Charles Xavier in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
In a statement, the studio said: “All of us at Marvel Studios are deeply saddened by the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart.
“Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from X-Men to Logan to Avengers: Doomsday.”
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 18, 2026.
George Takei says Stewart is 'irreplaceable'
00:30 , Kevin Perry
Star Trek star George Takei wrote on Threads: “Fans across the world mourn the passing of a true and irreplaceable legend. As Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Patrick Stewart took the starship Enterprise to places it had never gone before, and he inspired a whole next generation of star-gazers who looked longingly ahead to a brighter future for all humanity. Our hearts are heavy, indeed. Rest in the heavens, Captain.”
Patti Smith salutes 'our dear Captain'
00:00 , Kevin PerryRock’n’roll icon Patti Smith is perhaps an unlikely Star Trek fan, but she was certainly a fan of Stewart’s Picard.
Alongside a photo of the pair, she wrote: “This is saying farewell to our dear Captain. He made it so.”
Malcolm McDowell on Stewart's journey from RSC to Star Trek
Thursday 29 October 2026 23:53 , Kevin PerryMalcolm McDowell, who knew Stewart at the RSC and played the villainous renegade scientist Dr. Tolian Soran in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations, wrote on Instagram:
“I’ve known Patrick since we were both members of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1965. He was always a massive talent but had to come to the United States to make his talent appreciated by a larger audience. He was wonderful as Picard, which always slightly amused him. But it also granted him the freedom to do work that he wanted to do. Most memorably would be his Macbeth. He will be missed by all his colleagues and fans around the world. It was a pleasure to have known and worked with him. RIP”
Kyle MacLachlan shares 'Dune' memories
Thursday 29 October 2026 22:56 , Kevin Perry
Kyle MacLachlan, who starred with Patrick Stewart in David Lynch’s Dune, wrote on Instagram: “My friend, we shared some memorable times…from the deserts of Arrakis to the mysterious jungles of Thailand and onto the New York stage. I already miss you. You will always be my Gurney Halleck and I, your young pup.”
Gillian Welch calls Stewart 'a marvel'
Thursday 29 October 2026 22:50 , Kevin Perry
The country musician Gillian Welch has penned an emotional tribute to Stewart, which she shared alongside a photo of him working on a jigsaw wearing a T-shirt bearing her name.
She wrote: “I just heard that the world has lost this great artist, this generous and loving man. I was lucky enough to count Sir Patrick Stewart as a friend, though we did not get to hang out as often as I would have wished. And yet, the times when we did get to eat a late supper after a show, or simply tell stories in the kitchen, these are treasures.
“I will never forget the sound of that sonorous voice calling out our names as he greeted us backstage, turning ‘David’ into the reverberation of a monumental bell, and ‘Gillian’ into a one word river of breath, powered by a giant bellows. The man was a marvel and I will never forget him. He brought so much joy to so many, including a host of creatures great and small. My deepest sympathies to his beloved wife Sunny, for whom my heart is breaking. Rest now Sir.”
'X-Men' screenwriter remembers Stewart as 'kind and generous'
Thursday 29 October 2026 22:42 , Kevin Perry
X-Men screenwriter David Hayter tells The Independent: “He did not want to play the role. He kept turning it down. Bryan Singer took him out to lunch… and told him Harrison Ford was Han Solo until he was Indiana Jones.
“Few people on set thought it would be a phenomenon. Patrick was the linchpin. He threw himself into it. He took the responsibility of carrying the film personally. He and Ian became best pals during the production, and it was amazing to see that friendship blossom and flourish. Not everyone was kind to me on that set. I was new, unproven and Patrick was always so kind and so generous with me. And I will hold that for the rest of my life.”
Sesame Street posts sweet tribute
Thursday 29 October 2026 22:12 , Caitlin Hornik“Sesame Workshop mourns the loss of Sir Patrick Stewart. Thank you for being our friend and for sharing your brilliance, joy, and kindness with the world,” the show’s account posted on X.
Sesame Workshop mourns the loss of Sir Patrick Stewart. Thank you for being our friend and for sharing your brilliance, joy, and kindness with the world. 💛💚 pic.twitter.com/NuTvTvOS0c
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) October 29, 2026
SAG-AFTRA honors Patrick Stewart
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:54 , Caitlin Hornik“Sir Patrick Stewart will live on in our hearts and memories through his remarkable career spanning the British stage, television and film. Our condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and a galaxy of fans. #SagAftraMember since 1987,” the union representing screen actors posted on X.
Sir Patrick Stewart will live on in our hearts and memories through his remarkable career spanning the British stage, television and film. Our condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and a galaxy of fans. #SagAftraMember since 1987 pic.twitter.com/kttssqGwnB
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) October 29, 2026
A tribute to Patrick Stewart
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:52 , Caitlin HornikHe was a deeply gifted and classically trained actor who could take fanciful material and ground it. While he will be fondly remembered for his blockbuster film roles, his first love always remained his long association with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Even as his Hollywood roles made him wealthy and famous around the world, Stewart continued to dream of England, and specifically the countryside near Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon. “My fantasy had always been that I would end up with a nice little house somewhere in the Cotswolds,” he confessed to The Independent. “And I would literally put myself to sleep at night in Los Angeles, by creating a virtual imagined home. Where would I live? What part of the Cotswolds? What sort of house would it be? And added to that, I would drive from my house to Stratford every day where I'd have some nice parts to play.”
Kevin Perry reports:
Sir Patrick Stewart: Shakespearian actor who brought gravitas to every role
Ricky Gervais pays tribute
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:50 , Caitlin Hornik“RIP Patrick Stewart. What an actor. I still can’t believe he agreed to do this scene. And he didn’t even mind when I ruined every take. Legend.”
RIP Patrick Stewart. What an actor. I still can’t believe he agreed to do this scene. And he didn’t even mind when I ruined every take. Legend. pic.twitter.com/QazyDScCOU
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) October 29, 2026
Inside Patrick Stewart and wife Sunny Ozell’s love story
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:49 , Caitlin HornikPatrick Stewart, 86, met American singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell, 47, in 2008 at Franny’s, a former pizzeria in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where she was working as a waitress while he was starring in Shakespeare’s Macbeth on Broadway.
Stewart described their meet-cute to People in 2022, saying: “This lovely woman came over and said, ‘Gentleman, on the house, what would you like for dessert?’ We got talking and she told me how much she’d wanted to see Macbeth, but it had been sold out.” The actor gave Ozell his phone number, saying it was the “was the only time in my life I’ve given someone my telephone number and said, ‘Call me.’”
They went on their first date after one of his performances. “We had dinner and here we are,” he said. “I’ve never met anyone like her before,” he continued.
“She is so smart and so informed. And her intellectual accomplishments are extraordinary. She remembers everything. My life is perpetually interesting – and it’s largely as a result of Sunny.”
In 2013, the couple married in a Lake Tahoe ceremony officiated by Stewart’s friend and X-Men co-star, the British actor Sir Ian McKellen.
The pair never had children, but Stewart has two children, Daniel and Sophie, with his first wife, Sheila Falconer. They married in 1966 and divorced in 1990. He was then married to Wendy Neuss from 2000 to 2003.
Jeopardy honors Patrick Stewart
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:43 , Caitlin Hornik“RIP Sir Patrick Stewart. May your legacy live long and prosper,” the TV quiz show shared on X.
RIP Sir Patrick Stewart. May your legacy live long and prosper 🖖 pic.twitter.com/2qt8VeUNIK
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) October 29, 2026
Pete Buttigieg: 'It was a joy to get to know him'
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:21 , Carsen HoladayFormer transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote on X: “They say you should never meet your heroes, but as one of millions who grew up admiring Patrick Stewart, it was a joy to get to know him and discover that his kindness and decency were just as great as his enormous, generational talent.
“There will not be another like him, and with the sad news of his passing, our thoughts are with his wife Sunny, his family, and his many friends,” he said.
“Our culture is so much richer because of Sir Patrick Stewart’s life and work.”
Patrick Stewart's final Broadway bow
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:20 , Caitlin HornikPatrick Stewart was last on Broadway opposite his longtime collaborator and friend, Sir Ian McKellen, in 2013 when the duo performed Waiting for Godot and No Man's Land in repertory.
A Shakespeare man through and through, Stewart made his Broadway debut in the 1971 revival of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Patrick Stewart said he was doubtful about his Star Trek role in resurfaced interview
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:15 , Ellie MuirPatrick Stewart said he was put off signing a multi-year deal to lead Star Trek: The Next Generation because he thought the show would never last.
“I really couldn't see them employing a bald, middle-aged English actor to play the successor to the legendary James T Kirk,” he told The Independent in 2003.
“Of course, when I got it, I was very excited, but then I learnt that I had to sign a six-year contract.”
“I said that it was out of the question, that I had other things to do. I took it primarily because I thought it would never last. People assured me that it would be lucky to last a season.”
Seth MacFarlane pays tribute
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:08 , Carsen HoladayFamily Guy creator Seth MacFarlane shared an emotional tribute to Patrick Stewart, who worked as a voice actor on Family Guy, American Dad! and Ted.
“Patrick was one of those icons who we somehow all took for granted would always be with us,” MacFarlane wrote on Instagram.
“I grew up as a fan, and was later gifted the privilege of becoming a colleague and friend, working with him for many years on American Dad!, Family Guy, and Ted.”
He continued: “He was that rare actor who could take any bit of dialogue and elevate it, making a good writer sound great, and a great writer sound masterful. He was also as humble as they come. I remember exchanging emails with him a number of years ago when he was beginning day 1 of a new film.
“He commented to me that he always walked onto a new set feeling like the biggest novice there. My stunned reaction was the same as anyone’s would be. I said, ‘Patrick, if you feel that way, the rest of us are screwed.’”
MacFarlane concluded, “We have lost a legendary actor today, and for many of us, a good friend. He will be deeply missed by the entire planet.”
Patrick Stewart spoke about being a sex symbol in a resurfaced 2003 interview
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:05 , Ellie MuirIn an interview with The Independent in 2003, Stewart – then 62 – spoke about the positive reception he had from American viewers.
The interviewer remarked that Stewart had become “something of a sexy symbol” among American viewers and gay men.
“Oh yes,” Stewart replied. “It's an enormous compliment. Although it would have been nice to have it when I was 18. Then, I could really have done with a bit of help.”
Back to the Future star pays tribute
Thursday 29 October 2026 21:00 , Ryan ParkerLea Thompson, known for her role as Lorraine in the Back to the Future film franchise, spoke to The Independent about her experience with Patrick Stewart while directing several episodes of Star Trek: Picard.
“Patrick was one of the most magnetic and classy actors I have ever worked with,” Thompson said.
“He commanded a scene, but when the cameras were off, he had no ego. He was a true Hollywood star. They don't make them like that anymore.”
George Takei: 'Rest in the heavens, Captain'
Thursday 29 October 2026 20:54 , Carsen HoladayGeorge Takei, who played Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek: The Original Series, wrote on Bluesky: “Fans across the world mourn the passing of a true and irreplaceable legend.
“As Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Patrick Stewart took the starship Enterprise to places it had never gone before,” he said.
“He inspired a whole next generation of star-gazers who looked longingly ahead to a brighter future for all humanity. Our hearts are heavy, indeed. Rest in the heavens, Captain.”
Patrick Stewart recited Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116 in his final video appearance before his death
Thursday 29 October 2026 20:51 , Ellie MuirStewart, who was a classically trained theater actor before he made his big American screen debut in 1987, spoke of his love of Shakespeare in his final video appearance before his death at 86.
The actor was filmed promoting his recorded album of the Bard’s complete sonnets on his Instagram account in April and May of this year.
He recorded the video on the anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare's sonnets in 1609.
In the video, Stewart delivered lines of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116, one of the most classic wedding poems, in his signature stage finesse.
“I hope it has brought pleasure and curiosity, but more than anything else, I want it to have communicated all the multiple features that love might have,” he told the camera.
' I’ll always and forever be an actor'
Thursday 29 October 2026 20:48 , Carsen HoladayIn one of his final interviews, Patrick Stewart told TV Insider in July that he had no plans to retire.
“As any actor my age will tell you, there are fewer and fewer available roles as we get older,” he told the outlet.
“I still continue to receive interesting offers and I love being challenged by new work,” he said. “I can’t imagine ever officially ‘retiring.’ I’ll always and forever be an actor.”
Hugh Jackman: 'I learned so much from him'
Thursday 29 October 2026 20:44 , Carsen Holaday“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today,” Hugh Jackman wrote on social media with a picture of himself and Patrick Stewart.
“And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”
Jackman and Stewart starred together as Wolverine and Professor Charles Xavier across the X-Men franchise.
William Shatner remembers Captain Picard
Thursday 29 October 2026 20:37 , Carsen HoladayWilliam Shatner, who co-starred with Patrick Stewart in 1994 film Star Trek: Generations, has paid tribute to the actor with a social media post.
“What a heartbreaking week it has been,” Shatner wrote on X. “Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor.”
“From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did,” he said. “Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work.”
“My heart goes out to Sunny and his family. He will be deeply missed.”
What a heartbreaking week it has been. Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did. Captain Picard stood for the best of…
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) October 29, 2026
Patrick Stewart's cause of death revealed
Thursday 29 October 2026 20:28 , Carsen HoladaySir Patrick Stewart died from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, his spokesperson announced Thursday.
He died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. He was 86.
