According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sir Patrick Stewart has passed away at the age of 86. Kelly Bush Novak, his longtime spokesperson, shared with the outlet that he died in his Los Angeles home following “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.”
Stewart is one of the most legendary actors of the modern era, boasting nearly 160 credits on his resume between 1964 and 2026. After a long run on Broadway and in smaller movies and TV appearances (including playing Gurney Halleck in the original Dune from 1984), he gained international fame through his work as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in 1987. He played the Federation starship’s commanding officer over seven seasons, and he even returned to the role for a three-season run on Star Trek: Picard.
Lightning then struck twice for Stewart, as he took on another generation role as Professor Charles Xavier in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men saga three years after Star Trek: The Next Generation ended. He embodied the powerful telepath in seven X-Men movies (including cameos), ending his run with a widely revered performance alongside Hugh Jackman in 2017’s Logan. Stewart then finally got to don Xavier’s classic yellow wheelchair for a short appearance in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as part of the Illuminati.
Looking ahead, Stewart was announced to return to his role as Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday, which will be released on Dec. 18, 2026. Reuniting with longtime friend and collaborator Sir Ian McKellen (Magneto), this posthumous appearance is expected to be Stewart’s final on-screen appearance. Following his death, Marvel Studios offered a touching tribute to his 26 years of work in the mutant saga and the MCU:
“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.’ He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman. Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends, and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art.”
More to come…
