Sir Patrick Stewart, the celebrated stage and screen star best known for his iconic role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, has died at the age of 86. The news of his passing was first reported by The New York Times.
Born in Mirfield, England, in 1940, Stewart attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and launched his professional career with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966. He remained a member of the company until 1982, during which time he performed many of William Shakespeare's most famous roles and became a staple of British television.
In 1987, Stewart assumed the career-defining role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Serving as the second major captain of the USS Enterprise, he became synonymous with the franchise for seven seasons and reprised the character in four films. In his later years, he returned to the role in the three-season series Star Trek: Picard, which explored an older version of the character.
Stewart also achieved significant fame in the X-Men franchise as Professor Charles Xavier. He first portrayed the leader of the mutant superhero team in Bryan Singer's 2000 film X-Men and continued the role throughout his life across seven films produced by 20th Century Fox. Following Disney's acquisition of the intellectual property, Stewart brought the character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Due to multiverse storylines allowing for returns despite numerous onscreen deaths, he is scheduled to appear next in Avengers: Doomsday this December.
Despite his success in film and television, Stewart maintained an active presence on stage, leading various Shakespearean and contemporary productions in New York and London until the end of his life. He was also a prolific voice actor, lending his signature baritone to 122 episodes of American Dad, alongside numerous other animated projects and video games.
Throughout his career, Stewart received two Olivier Awards and a Grammy, along with three Primetime Emmy nominations and one Tony Award nomination. He is survived by his wife, Sunny Ozell, and their two children.
Sources: IndieWire.