Patrick Stewart has died: As Picard he became a Star Trek legend
The actor passed away at the age of 86
Patrick Stewart has died. The actor, who became a legend for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," died at his home in Los Angeles after "a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia", according to his spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak. Stewart was 86 years old.
In moving words, Bush Novak also stated:
"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. We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace."
Stewart became world-famous as Captain Picard
Stewart was born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Over the course of his decades-long career, he made a name for himself, among other things, as a Shakespearean actor on stage. But he won the hearts of audiences worldwide above all as the captain of the starship Enterprise. Between 1987 and 1994, he portrayed Captain Picard for seven seasons in the science fiction series "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He also reprised the role in several feature films that followed after the series ended.
Starting in 2020, he reprised the iconic role. In the series "Star Trek: Picard," he played the aging space hero for three more seasons. As Picard, he personified the ideals of a future, peaceful humanity like almost no other character in the "Star Trek" universe. The actor embodied, with tremendous charisma, a captain who always remains true to his principles and acts with level-headedness. Stewart's Picard is a humanist whose strongest weapon is likely the power of the argument.
Unforgettable as Professor X as well
In addition to "Star Trek," Stewart could be seen in numerous other films and series. Among other roles, he appeared in David Lynch's "Dune" (1984) and in the remake of "Charlie's Angels" (2019). One of his greatest film roles is undoubtedly that of another iconic character: "X-Men" founder Charles Xavier, alias Professor X. Alongside Picard, this was likely his best-known role.
He portrayed the powerful telepath – who, much like Picard, is characterized by his unwavering idealism – in several "X-Men" films, among others. In the upcoming Marvel blockbuster "Avengers: Doomsday," Stewart will be seen once again in the role of Charles Xavier. It's a small consolation for his many fans, who will sorely miss the actor.