REST IN PEACE Patrick Stewart, the actor best known for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek series and as Professor Charles
After his longtime spokeswoman, Kelly Bush Novak, officially announced his death, tributes poured in from around the world. Fans and former colleagues remembered his legendary roles and marveled at how easily he switched between commercial cinema and classic Shakespearean theater.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine in the X-Men films, called Stewart a “great friend” and praised his contribution to the entertainment industry. “We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my opinion, a great friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all my life,” he wrote on Instagram.
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) October 29, 2026
Another former co-star, English actor Ian McKellen, also mourned Stewart’s death, describing him as a proud Yorkshireman and one of the most respected and beloved actors of his generation. In a long, heartfelt message on Instagram, McKellen said Stewart was “a man to rely on, admire, and in my case, love.”
Star Trek co-star William Shatner also remembered Stewart fondly, calling him “a friend, a colleague and a great actor.” In a social media post, Shatner wrote, “What a heartbreaking week this has been,” an apparent reference to the death of Walter Koenig earlier in the week. Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov on Star Trek, died on October 25 at the age of 90.
Shatner praised Stewart’s diverse body of work, saying, “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 represented the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was full of affection and admiration for him and his work… He will be greatly missed.”
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) October 29, 2026
Stewart was born in Mirfield, England, in 1940. His career received a boost when he joined the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966. He appeared in the long-running British soap Coronation Street in 1967 and made his Broadway debut in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1971.
In the decades that followed, Stewart starred in a number of successful films and television shows, including Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (1999), which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge. He also played Captain Ahab in the miniseries Moby Dick (1998) and King Henry II in the film The Lion in Winter (2003), for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.
Stewart appeared in the role of Frasier in the series’ 11th and final season in 2003, playing a gay socialite and Seattle opera director who mistakes Kelsey Grammer’s title character for a potential love interest. He also appeared on Top Gear and lent his voice to several characters on the Fox animated sitcom Family Guy.
His career has received accolades from both critics and peers. He won three Laurence Olivier Awards between 1979 and 2008, as well as a Grammy in 1996 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children for his recording of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. He has also been nominated for a Tony Award, three Golden Globes, four Emmys and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Queen Elizabeth II knighted Stewart in 2010 for his services to drama. He was also an ambassador for the International Rescue Committee. His final on-screen appearance will be a return as Professor Charles Xavier in the upcoming film “Avengers: Doomsday,” which hits theaters in December.
