Patrick Stewart, the actor known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" series and films, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles at age 86.2,4,5
His family announced the death Thursday in a statement shared on his social media channels, saying he died after "a brief and poignant journey" with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. Spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak gave the same account, saying Stewart died Wednesday in Los Angeles after the illness. He was best known for those screen roles and for a prolific award-winning stage career.1,4,5
Stewart died at his Los Angeles home, with his wife Sunny at his side, according to the post announcing his death. The post said he was in the "loving care" of his wife, Sunny Ozell, at the time of his passing. His spokesperson confirmed the death, and the post said he died at home on Wednesday.2,4,5
Stewart was an actor known for his roles in "Star Trek" and the "X-Men" film franchise. While best known as Professor Charles Xavier and Captain Jean-Luc Picard from the "X-Men" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation" series and films, respectively, he spent more of his career onstage than in the X-Mansion or on the USS Enterprise.1,5
In those screen roles, Picard belonged to "Star Trek" and Xavier belonged to "X-Men." Picard was with "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in its series and film forms, and Xavier was with the "X-Men" series and films.5
Beyond the screen, Stewart was a classically trained stage actor who worked through the Shakespearean canon. The stage work accounted for the larger share of his career, more than his time in the X-Mansion or on the USS Enterprise.5
His stage credits included roles ranging from Claudius to Macbeth, and he often performed a one-man rendition of "A Christmas Carol." He also did West End and Broadway runs of Harold Pinter's "No Man's Land" and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" in repertoire with Ian McKellen. Those productions placed him alongside McKellen, described as his buddy, in two plays presented together.5
He was described as legendary actor Sir Patrick Stewart, best known for his work in the "Star Trek" and "X-Men" franchises and his prolific award-winning stage career. His spokesperson confirmed the death. The title Sir appeared in the announcement of his death at 86.4
The statement was shared on his social media channels, where it said he died Wednesday with his wife Sunny at his side. The family announcement followed Thursday, and the death was dated to Wednesday in the accounts.1,2,4,5
The accounts described the illness as brief, using the words brief battle and "a brief and poignant journey" to characterize its length. They named Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia as the conditions he faced.1,2,5
The story was still developing Thursday.1
