Sir Patrick Stewart, the celebrated British actor known around the world for Star Trek and X-Men, has died aged 86. Stewart died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday following what his family described as a brief journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. His death was announced on Thursday, with his wife Sunny by his side.

A statement shared following his death said: “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. We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”

Born in Mirfield in the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1940, Stewart began his career on stage and became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966. He went on to appear in more than 60 productions with the company and became one of Britain’s most respected stage actors, winning three Olivier Awards across his career.

For millions of viewers, however, he will forever be Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Stewart first took command of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, playing Picard across seven seasons before continuing the character’s story through several films. Decades later, he returned to the role for Paramount+ series Star Trek: Picard, which concluded in 2023.

Another generation came to know him as Professor Charles Xavier in 2000’s X-Men. Stewart went on to return as Professor X throughout the franchise, including X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Logan, becoming inseparable from the character for audiences over more than two decades.

His final appearance as Charles Xavier is still to come. Stewart reprised the role for Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, joining several returning X-Men stars including Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn and Kelsey Grammer. The film arrives in cinemas this December and will now mark Stewart’s final on-screen performance.

Away from Star Trek and X-Men, Stewart’s screen career included Dune, Excalibur, Green Room, L.A. Story, The Kid Who Would Be King and Extras, alongside memorable voice roles in Family Guy, American Dad! and The Prince of Egypt. He was knighted in 2010 for services to drama.

For CultureCues, this is such sad news. Sir Patrick Stewart was one of those actors whose work reached across generations, whether you knew him first as Captain Picard, Professor X or through his incredible stage career. For me, Professor X will always be one of the roles I associate with him most, and knowing we still have one final performance from him to see in Avengers: Doomsday now makes that return feel incredibly poignant. An extraordinary actor, an amazing career and someone who gave us characters that will be loved for a very long time.

Sir Patrick Stewart was 86.