Sir Patrick Stewart dies at 86 after brief illness
Sir Patrick Stewart died at his Los Angeles home on 29 Oct at age 86 following a brief battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. The actor’s death was announced via a post on his X account, with Marvel Studios and other fans posting tributes online. Stewart, knighted in 2010 for his contributions to drama, was best known for portraying Captain Jean‑Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X‑Men film series.
Key facts
- Stewart joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s, launching a prolific stage career.
- He made his Broadway debut in 1971 in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
- Born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England, he began acting at age 18.
- He appeared in 176 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation over seven seasons.
- Stewart played Professor Charles Xavier in more than six X‑Men films.
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Why it matters
His passing marks the loss of a cultural icon across theatre, television and film.
What changed
First published from NRK, NBC News, The Guardian, The Verge and The Straits Times