Patrick Stewart is being honored by fellow X-Men film stars Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Romijn, as well as Star Trek stars William Shatner and George Takei, following the announcement on Thursday of the screen and stage star’s death.
Stewart’s longtime publicist, Kelly Bush Novak, announced on Stewart’s Instagram page on Thursday that the actor died at his home in Los Angeles, “in the loving care of his beloved wife, Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.”
Stewart was 86.
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The statement also noted of the prolific actor, “He has been held in the warm embrace of his 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.”
In a length post on his X account, Stewart’s close friend and fellow X-Men star Ian McKellen noted how the actor “wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.”
SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 20: Actors Hugh Jackman (L) and Patrick Stewart speak at the 20th Century Fox “X-Men: Days of Future Past” panel during Comic-Con International 2013 at San Diego Convention Center on July 20, 2013 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
In addition to being a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as a stage actor on Broadway and regional theater in the U.S., Stewart amassed more than 150 screen roles during his career.
Among the roles, of course, were Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in two Star Trek series and four Star Trek films, as well as Professor Charles Xavier — aka Professor X — in seven films in the X-Men franchise. Stewart also appeared in a cameo as Professor X in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and is set to star in the next Avengers MCU film, Avengers: Doomsday, in December.
Hugh Jackman, who starred as Logan/Wolverine opposite Stewart’s Professor X in the X-Men movie franchise, wrote on Instagram, “We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”
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Romijn, who plays Mystique in the X-Men films, posted a video on her Instagram page, saying, that Stewart was “positively delicious, hilarious, naughty” and had an “incredible sense of humor,” and praised his “booming voice of his that always spoke to the back of the room.”
Romijn also wrote on her Instagram page, “What a gift to have been your friend. Rest in peace, dear Patrick.”
Stewart was also the subject of a tribute by Marvel Studios, which reads in part, “Stewart made his debut as Professor X in 2000’s X-Men, where he embodied the composure, class, and wisdom of the beloved telepathic mutant and mentor of the X-Men. For more than 25 years, he brought a gravitas and profundity to the role, earning fans across the globe and helping to transform Super Hero storytelling forever.”
Patrick Stewart and William Shatner during Creation Entertainment Presents The 2005 Official Star Trek Convention – Day Four at The Las Vegas Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/WireImage)
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Original Star Trek series star William Shatner, who starred opposite Patrick Stewart in Star Trek Generations, was among the film and television franchise’s stars to pay tribute to the acting great on Thursday.
Alluding to the loss of original Star Trek cast member Walter Koenig, who died on Sunday, Shatner wrote in a post on X, “What a heartbreaking week it has been. Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did. Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work.”
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Original Star Trek television and film cast member George Takei also honored Stewart, writing in a Threads post, “Fans across the world mourn the passing of a true and irreplaceable legend. As Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Patrick Stewart took the starship Enterprise to places it had never gone before, and he inspired a whole next generation of star-gazers who looked longingly ahead to a brighter future for all humanity. Our hearts are heavy, indeed. Rest in the heavens, Captain.”
In addition to the accolades he received over his stage and screen career, Patrick Stewart was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 to recognize his contributions to the arts.
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This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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