Any actor will tell you that they’d be lucky to play a character long enough — and iconic enough — to become beloved 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 only character Stewart will be remembered for.
In 2000, Stewart was cast as Professor Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, the kind, yet complicated, telepathic leader of the X-Men. He went on to play Xavier eight more times in the X-Men series. He reprised the role for what will now be the final time in “Avengers: Doomsday,” which is set for release in December.
In addition to Picard and Xavier, Stewart was a prolific theater actor and was knighted by the Queen in 2010 for his services to drama. He was a Shakespeare devotee, as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1966 to 1982. He also kept many of us sane during the pandemic by reading one of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets a day and posting them on Instagram.
Here’s a look back at his 60-year career, onstage and on screen.
Before Patrick Stewart was on TV or in movies, he was a stage actor.
Stewart’s first professional acting credit was in 1959 in the play “Cyrano de Bergerac.” He then became a member 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 also nominated for a Tony and three Drama Desk Awards, winning one.
His first Olivier nominations both came in 1979. First, for best actor 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 production of “A Christmas Carol” and in 2009 for Best Supporting Actor in “Hamlet.”
His Tony Award nomination was in 2008 for best actor in a play for “Macbeth.”
His Drama Desk win was in 1992 for his one-man version of “A Christmas Carol.”
He appeared in dozens of productions in both London and New York.
It’s impossible to list all his theatrical roles, but he was a true giant — so much so that his colleague and future close friend Ian McKellen told him that he shouldn’t throw his stage career away to star in some sci-fi TV show.
“‘No!’ he said. ‘No, you must not do that. You must not. You have too much important theater work to do. You can’t throw that away 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 break came in 1987, when he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”
Before “The Next Generation,” there had been just one captain of the Enterprise: Captain Kirk, as played by William Shatner. Stewart had some large shoes to fill, but, as he would’ve said, he made it so.
Stewart played Picard for seven seasons of “TNG,” plus an appearance on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
“TNG” became a deeply respected and beloved series, even garnering an Emmy nomination for best drama series in 1994 — a feat that wouldn’t have been possible without Stewart’s stewardship. He was also nominated for a SAG Award in 1994 for outstanding actor in a drama series.
“Without question, Jean-Luc is the most significant role of my career. And I will be forever grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of what is now such a historic franchise,” he said 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, with Kirk giving Picard some advice on holding on to the captain’s chair.
Shatner posted a statement on X after the news of Stewart’s death, writing, “Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did. Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with 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 less than pleased with how we left the crew of the Enterprise in 2004’s “Nemesis,” which is considered a low point for the franchise.
So, Trekkies everywhere were thrilled when news of “Star Trek: Picard” became public. Stewart reprised his role for three seasons, concluding in 2023.
In 2000, Stewart began playing Professor Charles Xavier in the “X-Men” film series.
The only other role that could rival Captain Jean-Luc Picard is Professor Charles Xavier, the leader 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 fellow legend, Ian McKellen. The two became fast friends.
The two were so close that McKellen officiated Stewart’s wedding to his wife, Sunny Ozell, in 2013.
In addition to playing Xavier and Magneto, the two also acted together onstage in productions of “Waiting for Godot” and “No Man’s Land.”
Stewart and his costar Hugh Jackman also had a close bond, which was on display when they reunited for the 2017 film “Logan.”
Xavier and Logan (aka Wolverine) had a particular bond throughout all the “X-Men” films, and it seemed that continued offscreen.
The two reunited for “Logan,” which, at the time, was thought to be their final hurrah as the two mutants. It became one of the best comic-book films of all time, with Stewart even getting Oscar buzz, though he lost out on the nomination.
“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today,” Jackman wrote on Instagram after Stewart’s death. “And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”
One of Stewart’s other longest-running roles was in “American Dad!” He appeared in over 120 episodes across 22 seasons.
MacFarlane, the creator of “Family Guy,” “American Dad,” and Ted,” among other shows, is famously a huge Trekkie. His shows constantly reference “Star Trek,” and he frequently got members of the cast to voice themselves on “Family Guy.”
But with Stewart, he took it a step further, casting him as Avery Bullock, the unhinged deputy director of the CIA, on “American Dad.”
He also narrated the two “Ted” films.
Patrick was one of those icons who we somehow all took for granted would always be with us.” MacFarlane wrote on X. “We have lost a legendary actor today, and for many of us, a good friend. He will be deeply missed by the entire planet.
Stewart was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his services to drama, solidifying his status as a British national treasure.
“The knights of the theatre represented to me not only the pinnacle of the profession but the esteem in which the profession was held,” he said at the time, per the BBC. “To find myself, to my astonishment, in that company is the grandest thing that has professionally happened to me.”
He is one of 95 actors who have been bestowed the honor, according to People.
He was also a torchbearer at the 2012 London Olympics.
Being a torchbearer is a huge honor, especially when the games are in your home country.
“I have attended world premieres of big movies that have not had the excitement, and the sense of pleasure and pride that people are exhibiting today,” Stewart said. “It was thrilling. I shall never forget today.”
In July, Stewart said, “I can’t imagine ever officially ‘retiring.’ I’ll always and forever be an actor.”
One of Stewart’s final interviews was with TV Insider in July 2026, which he did to promote his new audiobook, a recording of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
When asked whether he would ever retire, Stewart said no, though he noted that parts for people his age were few and far between. But he did shout out one of his final voiceover roles — and he had quite a varied voiceover career — in the series “Bait,” in which he voiced a pig’s head.
His final role will be this December in “Avengers: Doomsday.”
After playing an alternate version of Xavier in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” Marvel confirmed back in March 2025 that Stewart would be reprising the original Xavier in “Avengers: Doomsday.”
“It was a true privilege to know him and to work with him. His legacy lives on not only in decades of extraordinary work, but in the many, many people he mentored. He will be deeply missed,” Marvel head Kevin Feige said in a statement.
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