Patrick Stewart, a giant of the theatre and an icon of cinema thanks to his appearances in series such as ‘Star Trek’ and films like ‘X-Men’, has died at the age of 86 after a brief and heartbreaking struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
The celebrated actor, knighted in 2010 by Queen Elizabeth II, passed away at his home in Los Angeles “surrounded by live music, prayers, tears, laughter, and the profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to all of us.”
Stewart’s career began when he was 18, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s. However, it was the broader public that came to know him later, at 47, after he weighed whether to accept the role offered in a television series named ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’.
The actor Ian McKellen, Stewart’s close friend and fellow performer, was the one who advised him not to take the part. Portrayed as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Stewart left a lasting imprint on popular culture after seven seasons. Even if the series isn’t widely watched by everyone, younger generations will recognize him from memes.
As with Star Trek, Stewart also harbored serious doubts about taking the role of Professor X in the X‑Men franchise, at a time when superhero cinema was not as popular. Once again, he became one of the key figures in Marvel’s history, appearing in several films. He was also set to be part of the forthcoming ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’ The studio issued a statement: “He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator and a true gentleman.”
Patrick Stewart was born on July 13, 1940 in Mirfield, Yorkshire, into a poor family. The actor has recalled on numerous occasions that his father had returned from World War II as an alcoholic and that he physically mistreated his mother. Acting provided him with a “safe space” amid his troubled family circumstances.
