Patrick Stewart, the legendary actor known for his roles in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and the "X-Men" film franchise, has died at the age of 86, his representative announced Thursday.
Stewart died "in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny" after a "brief and poignant journey" with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, according to a statement shared on his social media by his longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak.
"He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all," the statement continued. "We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace."
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, the loss of memory, problem-solving and thinking abilities. It is a progressive disease that begins with mild memory loss and ultimately has no cure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Lewy body dementia is a type of dementia that can cause complications with movement, behavior, thinking and mood, according to the CDC.
It is unclear when Stewart was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia.
Known for his commanding presence and voice, Stewart's career spanned six decades across Broadway, film and television.
Born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, a town in England, Stewart's love for the theater began at an early age, thanks to one of his English teachers, who he said "put a copy of Shakespeare in my hand [and] said, 'Now get up on your feet and perform,'" according to the BBC.
Stewart went on to study drama at Mirfield Secondary Modern School but dropped out at 15 to pursue local theater, according to a biography published on the official Hollywood Walk of Fame website.
In 1966, Stewart became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and stayed with them until 1982.
He made his television debut in 1967, appearing on "Coronation Street," a British soap opera, which followed the everyday lives of working-class people in the fictional England town of Weatherfield.
He went on to land more television roles, appearing in the TV movie adaptation of Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra" in 1974 and the 1975 TV mini series "North & South."
In 1987, Stewart was cast as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," which is widely considered his most famous and iconic role.
Stewart played the starship captain for seven seasons, spanning 1987 to 1994, and also played the character in multiple feature films. He later reprised the role for the series "Star Trek: Picard."
Speaking with NPR in 2022, Stewart opened up on his initial apprehension about taking the role.
"I was unprepared for what being cast in an American TV series meant because I'd never done that before," Stewart said. "I'd done, you know, a mini-series in the U.K. and so forth."
He continued, "It was terrifying to me because what it meant was that I was going to have to shut down my career, which actually -- and I don't know whether there is any connection here -- but actually had started to take off in a way that I was very pleased with."
"I'd been playing leading Shakespearean roles for a number of years, and now I was getting leading roles on television, and I was being offered transfers into the West End and transfers to Broadway. And the idea that I would have to shut that down for six years was horrifying," he added.
In his 2023 book, "Making It So: A Memoir," Stewart further reflected on playing Capt. Picard, writing, "Like me, Jean-Luc has lived an unusual life that has taken him far beyond the bounds of normal human experience. But he is also someone who has remained true to his earthbound roots, for they are what gave him his identity. In the end, he feels the call of home, as do I."
His success on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" led to more blockbuster and voice-acting roles, including the 1998 television adaptation of "Moby Dick," in which he voiced Capt. Ahab, and more.
In 2000, he was cast as Professor Charles Xavier -- Professor X -- in the "X-Men" film franchise, ultimately portraying the character in eight films over more than two decades.
Leading up to his death, Stewart returned as Professor X in "Avengers: Doomsday," which will be released in theaters Dec. 18, 2026.
Stewart was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996. He was also immortalized outside the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood in January 2020, just days ahead of the premiere of "Star Trek: Picard."
Outside of acting, Stewart was also a philanthropist and activist for survivors of domestic violence, LGBTQ+ equality, human rights, global refugees, veterans' mental health and animal welfare.
Stewart is survived by his wife Sunny Ozell and his two children, Daniel Stewart and Sophie Alexandra Stewart, whom he shared with his first wife, Sheila Falcolner.
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