Any performer volition inform you that they'd be fortunate to perform a character lengthy adequate — and iconic adequate — to rotate into cherished by generations of fans worldwide.
Patrick Stewart had two.
The acting legend, who died on October 28, 2026, at the age of 86, played Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of the USS Enterprise in the "Star Trek" franchise, for 36 years. He played the character from the premiere of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in 1987 through three seasons of "Star Trek: Picard," which concluded in 2023.
Of course, that's not the lone character Stewart volition be remembered for.
In 2000, Stewart was mold as Professor Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, the kind, yet complicated, telepathic leader of the X-Men. He went on to perform Xavier eight additional times in the X-Men series. He reprised the function for what volition now be the final period in "Avengers: Doomsday," which is set for publish in December.
In supplement to Picard and Xavier, Stewart was a prolific theater performer and was knighted by the Queen in 2010 for his services to drama. He was a Shakespeare devotee, as a associate of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1966 to 1982. He additionally kept many of us sane during the epidemic by study one of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets a day and posting them on Instagram.
Here's a appearance rear at his 60-year career, onstage and on screen.
Before Patrick Stewart was on TV or in movies, he was a phase actor.
Stewart's archetypal expert acting credit was in 1959 in the perform "Cyrano de Bergerac." He afterward became a associate of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966.
He made his Broadway debut in 1971 in "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
He was nominated for five Olivier Awards, winning three. He was additionally nominated for a Tony and three Drama Desk Awards, winning one.
His archetypal Olivier nominations the two came in 1979. First, for finest performer in a revival of "The Merchant of Venice," which he did not win, and second, for Best Supporting Actor in "Antony and Cleopatra," which he did win.
He won twice more: In 1994 for Best Entertainment for his one-man manufacturing of "A Christmas Carol" and in 2009 for Best Supporting Actor in "Hamlet."
His Tony Award nomination was in 2008 for finest performer in a perform for "Macbeth."
His Drama Desk win was in 1992 for his one-man type of "A Christmas Carol."
He appeared in dozens of productions in the two London and New York.
It's unattainable to catalog all his theatrical roles, but he was a true elephantine — so much so that his coworker and forthcoming near companion Ian McKellen told him that he shouldn't throw his phase occupation distant to celebrity in several sci-fi TV show.
"'No!' he said. 'No, you must not do that. You must not. You have too much crucial theater activity to do. You can't throw that distant to do TV. You can't. No,'" Stewart wrote in his memoir, "Making It So."
Of course, that sci-fi show was his big break.
His big interrupt came in 1987, whenever he was mold as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Before "The Next Generation," there had been fair one captain of the Enterprise: Captain Kirk, as played by William Shatner. Stewart had several ample shoes to fill, but, as he would've said, he made it so.
Stewart played Picard for seven seasons of "TNG," affirmative an appearance on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."
"TNG" became a deeply respected and cherished series, equal garnering an Emmy nomination for finest perform sequence in 1994 — a feat that wouldn't have been imaginable without Stewart's stewardship. He was additionally nominated for a SAG Award in 1994 for outstanding performer in a perform series.
"Without question, Jean-Luc is the most important function of my career. And I volition be everlastingly grateful to have had the chance to be a part of what is now specified a historic franchise," he stated in 2026.
He played Picard in four films, including "Star Trek: Generations," in which William Shatner passed the torch to Stewart and his crew.
Stewart starred in four "TNG" films: "Star Trek: Generations," "Star Trek: First Contact," "Star Trek: Insurrection," and "Star Trek: Nemesis."
In "Generations," Stewart and Shatner appeared onscreen together, alongside Kirk giving Picard several direction on holding on to the captain's chair.
Shatner posted a declaration on X following the news of Stewart's death, writing, "Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the phase to the extend of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a profound awareness of humanity to everything he did. Captain Picard stood for the finest of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled alongside affection and admiration for him and his work."
After an 18-year break, Stewart returned to Picard and starred in three seasons of "Star Trek: Picard."
Many "TNG" fans were small than pleased alongside how we remaining the squad of the Enterprise in 2004's "Nemesis," which is considered a low item for the franchise.
So, Trekkies everyplace were thrilled whenever news of "Star Trek: Picard" became public. Stewart reprised his function for three seasons, concluding in 2023.
In 2000, Stewart began playing Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" movie series.
The lone another function that could competitor Captain Jean-Luc Picard is Professor Charles Xavier, the chief of the X-Men.
He appeared in "X-Men," "X2," "X-Men: The Last Stand," "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," "The Wolverine," "X-Men: Days of Future Past," "Logan," "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," and "Avengers: Doomsday" as the telepathic, preternaturally wise mutant.
On set, he befriended his costar and chap legend, Ian McKellen. The two became accelerated friends.
The two were so near that McKellen officiated Stewart's wedding to his wife, Sunny Ozell, in 2013.
In supplement to playing Xavier and Magneto, the two additionally acted together onstage in productions of "Waiting for Godot" and "No Man's Land."
Stewart and his costar Hugh Jackman additionally had a near bond, which was on display whenever they reunited for the 2017 movie "Logan."
Xavier and Logan (aka Wolverine) had a particular association throughout all the "X-Men" films, and it seemed that continued offscreen.
The two reunited for "Logan," which, at the time, was idea to be their final hurrah as the two mutants. It became among the finest comic-book films of all time, alongside Stewart equal getting Oscar buzz, although he misplaced out on the nomination.
"We misplaced among the greats of phase and display today," Jackman wrote on Instagram following Stewart's death. "And, in my book, a enormous companion and man. I learned so much from him. I volition young female you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days."
One of Stewart's another longest-running roles was in "American Dad!" He appeared in complete 120 episodes throughout 22 seasons.
MacFarlane, the creator of "Family Guy," "American Dad," and Ted," among another shows, is famously a huge Trekkie. His shows continually citation "Star Trek," and he frequently got members of the mold to sound themselves on "Family Guy."
But alongside Stewart, he took it a stage further, casting him as Avery Bullock, the unhinged delegate director of the CIA, on "American Dad."
He additionally narrated the two "Ted" films.
Patrick was one of those icons who we somehow all took for granted would continually be alongside us." MacFarlane wrote on X. "We have misplaced a legendary performer today, and for many of us, a fine friend. He volition be deeply missed by the complete planet.
Stewart was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his services to drama, solidifying his position as a British national treasure.
"The knights of the theater represented to me not lone the pinnacle of the occupation but the esteem in which the occupation was held," he stated at the time, per the BBC. "To discover myself, to my astonishment, in that business is the grandest item that has professionally happened to me."
He is one of 95 actors who have been bestowed the honor, according to People.
He was additionally a torchbearer at the 2012 London Olympics.
Being a torchbearer is a huge honor, particularly whenever the games are in your residence country.
"I have attended earth premieres of big movies that have not had the excitement, and the awareness of pleasance and pride that group are exhibiting today," Stewart said. "It was thrilling. I shall never ignore today."
In July, Stewart said, "I can't ideate always officially 'retiring.' I'll continually and everlastingly be an actor."
One of Stewart's final interviews was alongside TV Insider in July 2026, which he did to advance his new audiobook, a record of Shakespeare's sonnets.
When asked whether he would always retire, Stewart stated no, although he noted that parts for group his age were few and far between. But he did cry out one of his final voiceover roles — and he had fairly a varied voiceover occupation — in the sequence "Bait," in which he voiced a pig's head.
His final function volition be this December in "Avengers: Doomsday."
After playing an substitute type of Xavier in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," Marvel confirmed rear in March 2025 that Stewart would be reprising the original Xavier in "Avengers: Doomsday."
"It was a true privilege to cognize him and to activity alongside him. His bequest lives on not lone in decades of bonzer work, but in the many, many group he mentored. He volition be deeply missed," Marvel caput Kevin Feige stated in a statement.
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Gabbi Shaw is a newsman on Business Insider's editorial partnerships team. She has covered entertainment, travel, food, and manner for Business Insider and Insider Inc.'s partners, including MSN, Apple News, and Yahoo since 2018, and her activity has taken her to iconic mansions of the Gilded Age, the Westminster Dog Show, Disney World, the Hamptons, and additional fast-food restaurants than she cares to remember.She graduated from Tulane University in 2017 alongside a flat in community health and now lives in New York City.
