Sir Patrick Stewart dies at 86

Sir Patrick Stewart, the British actor famous for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, has died. He was 86. His wife, Sunny Ozell, was with him when he passed away at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 28, according to a statement from his family.

Stewart was born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, England. He spent decades working on the British stage before moving to Hollywood. As a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he performed in plays by Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett. His work in theater earned him critical praise and helped build the stage presence that defined his later screen roles.

His global fame began in 1987 when he took the lead role in Star Trek: The Next Generation. He played Picard for all seven seasons of that series. He later returned to the character in several movies and the Star Trek: Picard spin-off. Stewart also played Professor X in the X-Men film franchise, a role he held for more than two decades. He is scheduled to reprise that part in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters in December 2026.

A family statement released on social media described his final days. The statement said Stewart suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. It noted that he was surrounded by family and friends during his last moments. The family described the atmosphere as one of live music, prayer, tears, and laughter. They said his face showed a peaceful ease and reflection at the end.

Stewart received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his services to drama. He also worked in comedy, appearing in projects like American Dad! and Blunt Talk. He was an advocate for social causes and animal welfare throughout his career.

He is survived by his wife, Sunny Ozell, and two children from his first marriage. The family asked for memorial contributions to be directed to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources instead of flowers.