Sir Ian McKellen Leads Tributes to Sir Patrick Stewart After His Death at 86
Sir Ian McKellen called Sir Patrick Stewart “the most respected and beloved actor of his generation” as peers mourned the star’s passing.
Sir Ian McKellen has led tributes to Sir Patrick Stewart following his death at the age of 86, calling him “the most respected and beloved actor of his generation”.
Stewart died at his Los Angeles home after “a brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia, a fact announced on Thursday.
“He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and, in my case, love,” Sir Ian, Stewart’s X‑Men co‑star, said.
Stewart, famed for his portrayal of Captain Jean‑Luc Picard in Star Trek, was a versatile actor who earned multiple awards while balancing Hollywood roles and a career in classical theatre.
William Shatner, who also captained the USS Enterprise, said Stewart brought “intelligence, grace and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did”. He added, “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.”
Stewart depicted Picard in more than 170 episodes of the hit sci‑fi series between 1987 and 1994, appeared in four feature films, and returned to the role for Star Trek: Picard in 2020.
Dame Judi Dench said she was “shocked” and “very sad” to hear of Stewart’s death, noting, “He’s never been one of those actors who never felt like it that night, he was always very, very committed… He’ll be much missed and he was much admired.”
George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu, said the actor “inspired a whole next generation of star‑gazers who looked longingly ahead to a brighter future for all humanity”.
Beyond Star Trek, Stewart was celebrated for his portrayal of Professor Charles Xavier—commonly known as Professor X—in the X‑Men film franchise.
Hugh Jackman, who starred alongside him in that franchise, called Stewart a “tremendous friend and man”, adding, “We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today.”
Stewart’s death marks the loss of a figure who moved effortlessly between blockbuster sci‑fi, Shakespearean theatre and the broader cultural imagination.
