Veteran British actor Patrick Stewart, best known for his roles in Star Trek and the X-Men film franchise, has passed away at the age of 86.
His passing was announced on Thursday, October 29, by his longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, who revealed that the actor had been battling Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
According to the statement shared on his social media pages, Stewart spent his final moments surrounded by loved ones, including his wife, Sunny Ozell.
“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all,” the statement read.
Born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, England, Stewart enjoyed an acting career spanning more than six decades.
He became a household name after portraying Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation from 1987 to 1994, later reprising the role in several films and the television series Star Trek: Picard.
He also gained worldwide recognition for playing Professor Charles Xavier, popularly known as Professor X, in the X-Men franchise, beginning in 2000.
Stewart was knighted in 2010 for his contributions to drama and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996.
He is survived by his wife, Sunny Ozell, and his two children, Daniel and Sophie, from his first marriage.
