Sir Patrick Stewart dies aged 86
Sir Patrick Stewart, the British actor known around the world for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, has died at the age of 86.
A statement released on Thursday 29 October 2026 said that Stewart died at his home in Los Angeles on the day before, Wednesday 28 October. ABC7 Chicago reported that his family announced the death. The statement said he was in the care of his wife, Sunny, when he died.
The family said Stewart's death followed a brief illness with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. Both are progressive conditions that affect the brain and memory. The statement did not give further details about his health.
Stewart began his career on the stage in Britain and spent many years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the national theatre company based in Stratford-upon-Avon. WhatsOnStage reported that the company's artistic directors, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, issued a tribute on his death. Stewart was an honorary associate artist of the RSC, a title given to artists with a long connection to the company.
Tributes came quickly from across film and television. Associated Press reported that William Shatner, who starred alongside Stewart's generation of Star Trek actors, paid tribute, and that Marvel Studios did too. Hugh Jackman, who appeared with Stewart in the X-Men films, and George Takei, a fellow Star Trek actor, also shared their thoughts after the announcement.
Stewart's career stretched across decades and many kinds of work. He played a range of Shakespeare roles on stage, including Macbeth and Shylock, and was made a knight in 2010 for services to drama. For many people, though, he will be remembered most for his voice and presence as the calm captain of the starship Enterprise, and for his role as the mentor of the young mutants in the X-Men films.
Anyone who wants to read more about his stage work can find the RSC's and other theatres' archives online. The family has asked for privacy, and the statement made no mention of funeral arrangements.
