adminLOS ANGELES: Veteran British actor Sir Patrick Stewart, best known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film franchise, has died at the age of 86.
Stewart, who received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his contributions to the performing arts, breathed his last at his home here on Wednesday.
According to a statement uploaded through his official X account, the actor breathed his last in the care of his wife, Sunny Ozell, after battling Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home in Los Angeles, in the loving care of his wife, Sunny, after a short but meaningful journey battling Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia,” the statement said.
Born on July 13, 1940 in Mirfield, Yorkshire, England, Stewart began his acting career at the age of 18 and gained recognition as a stage actor through the Royal Shakespeare Company since the 1960s.
However, his name became known worldwide when he was chosen to play the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation at the age of 47.
The series aired between 1987 and 1994 as a continuation of the original Star Trek series which was popular in the 1960s.
As Picard, Stewart is known for iconic phrases like “Make it so” and “Engage”, which have become some of the most memorable dialogues for fans of the science fiction franchise.
Although he was initially reluctant to accept the offer after his friend and famous Shakespearean actor Sir Ian McKellen advised him to stay on the stage, his decision to join Star Trek ultimately changed the course of his career.
Stewart starred in 176 episodes across seven seasons of the series before returning to play Picard in several Star Trek films and the streaming series Star Trek: Picard, which began airing in 2020 when he was 79 years old.
Apart from his success in the Star Trek franchise, Stewart also created a huge impact through his role as Professor X in the X-Men film series starting in 2000.
He was initially hesitant to accept the role of the wheelchair-bound mutant leader because he felt it was still in the fantasy and science fiction genres that he had explored before.
However, the character of Professor X eventually became another iconic role that solidified his status as one of the most influential actors in the global entertainment world.
Despite his glorious success, Stewart once revealed that his childhood was filled with challenges.
He grew up in a poor family and often witnessed his mother being physically abused by his father who suffered from post-traumatic stress after World War II.
The deceased often placed himself between his two parents in an effort to protect his mother from the violence.
Stewart once described the world of acting as a “safe space” that allowed him to escape the harsh realities of life after being introduced to Shakespeare’s works at the age of 12.
In 2010, he received the title of “Sir” in an award ceremony at Buckingham Palace, a recognition he described as the most meaningful professional achievement of his life.
Throughout his life, Stewart was married three times and had two children.
He married Sunny Ozell in 2013.
Stewart’s passing brings to a close the curtain on the journey of an extraordinary actor who successfully connected the world of Shakespeare’s theatre with modern popular culture, leaving a legacy that continues to be remembered by fans around the world.
– Agency
