'Star Trek', 'X-Men' star Patrick Stewart dead at 86

British actor Patrick Stewart, who rose from Shakespearean theatre to Hollywood stardom through the “Star Trek” and “X-Men” franchises, has died at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86.
Stewart died on Wednesday following a “brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, according to a statement shared on his social media accounts.
“His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre,” the statement said.
Born in Yorkshire, northern England, Stewart began his career on British stages, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and London’s National Theatre before making his mark on television.
His breakthrough came in his late 40s when he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, a role that made him an international star. He later became equally recognised for portraying Professor Charles Xavier, mentor of the mutant superheroes, in the “X-Men” franchise.
Stewart debuted as Picard in 1987, effectively succeeding William Shatner’s Captain Kirk. His portrayal became a defining part of the science-fiction series, with catchphrases such as “Make it so” and “Engage!” becoming widely recognised.
His move to American television was initially met with scepticism, with the Los Angeles Times describing him as an “unknown British Shakespearean actor”. Stewart, however, later said his classical theatre experience had prepared him for the role.
In 2000, he made his debut as Professor Xavier in the first “X-Men” film, earning a new generation of fans. Marvel Studios praised his more than 25 years in the role, highlighting the depth and authority he brought to the character.
His longtime co-star Hugh Jackman, who portrayed Wolverine, remembered him as one of the greatest actors of stage and screen and a tremendous friend.
Stewart is also set to make his final on-screen appearance as Professor Xavier in “Avengers: Doomsday”, scheduled for release in December.
Despite his Hollywood success, theatre remained central to his career. He returned to the stage between film projects and won two Olivier Awards. The RSC described him as “a colossus of both stage and screen” and one of the finest classical Shakespearean actors of his generation.
Born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, Stewart was the third of three brothers in a working-class family. He left school at 15 and enrolled at Bristol Old Vic Drama School in 1957, making his professional acting debut two years later.
He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, remaining with it until 1982. His career later earned him four Emmy nominations, although he never won. He also received a spoken-word Grammy for narrating “Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf”.
Stewart was knighted in 2010 and married three times. He had two children with his first wife, Sheila Falconer, later briefly married “Star Trek” producer Wendy Neuss, and most recently married American singer Sunny Ozell. -AFP