Patrick Stewart, the beloved actor who brought Captain Jean-Luc Picard to life across“Star Trek: The Next Generation,”four feature films, and“Star Trek: Picard,”died Wednesday at 86. His family announced Thursday that Stewart had been living with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. The news sent shockwaves through the“Star Trek”universe and beyond.
William Shatner, the original Captain James T. Kirk, led the tributes. In a heartfelt Instagram post, the 95-year-old called Stewart“a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor”who brought“intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity”to everything he did. The two captains famously shared the screen in 1994’s“Star Trek: Generations,”and Shatner also sent condolences to Stewart’s wife, Sunny Ozell.
Fellow“Star Trek”alumni George Takei and Jonathan Frakes added their own heartfelt tributes, with Takei calling Stewart an irreplaceable legend who inspired a new generation of star-gazers. Beyond“Star Trek,”Stewart was also known to millions as Professor Charles Xavier in the“X-Men”films, with“Avengers: Doomsday”noted as his final on-screen appearance. Which Patrick Stewart role meant the most to you? Tell us in the comments.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.