British actor Sir Patrick Stewart dies in Los Angeles aged 86

LOS ANGELES: British actor Sir Patrick Stewart, who rose to fame through Star Trek and the X-Men films, died at his home on Wednesday 28 October at the age of 86.

His death was confirmed by his representative and family. It was said that he had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Family members and close friends were with him in his final days, including his wife, Sunny Ozell.

Patrick Stewart was born in West Yorkshire in 1940. He began acting in the theatre and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. He gained worldwide fame in 1987 when he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. He later appeared in the role in films and in the series Star Trek: Picard.

In 2000, he took on the role of Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men series and played the part in several films. His other films include Excalibur, Dune, Logan and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. He was also due to appear in Marvel’s upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday.

During his career, he won three Olivier Awards and one Grammy Award. In 2010, Queen Elizabeth II knighted him for services to drama. He also supported charitable causes such as the prevention of domestic violence, the mental health of former soldiers and animal welfare.

Fellow artists paid tribute to him after his death. Sir Ian McKellen described him as the most respected and beloved actor of his generation. William Shatner called him a wonderful actor who brought intelligence and humanity to his roles, while Hugh Jackman said the world of acting had lost a great artist. Marvel Studios also paid tribute to him.

Patrick Stewart is survived by his wife, Sunny Ozell, and two children, Daniel and Sophie.