Patrick Stewart, ‘Star Trek' and ‘XMen’ actor, dies at 86

Patrick Stewart, the beloved English actor known for his roles in the "Star Trek" and "X-Men" franchises, has died. 

He was 86 years old.

Patrick Stewart's death

What we know:

His death was confirmed by a post on his official social media page. 

It said Stewart died of Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body Dementia. 

What they're saying:

"He has been held in warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayers, tears, laughter, and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all," his social media page wrote. "We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection of his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace."

In lieu of flowers, his account asked that memorial contributions be made to Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund and Alzheimer's Foundation of America Caregiver Resources.

Reaction pours in

William Shatner, who starred as Captain James T. Kirk in the "Star Trek" franchise, wrote Thursday, "What a heartbreaking week it has been. 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. My heart goes out to Sunny and his family. He will be deeply missed."

George Takei, an actor known for his role in the "Star Trek" franchise, wrote, "Fans across the world mourn the passing of a true and irreplaceable legend. As Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Patrick Stewart took the starship Enterprise to places it had never gone before, and he inspired a whole next generation of star-gazers who looked longingly ahead to a brighter future for all humanity. Our hearts are heavy, indeed. Rest in the heavens, Captain."

Marvel Studios wrote, "All of us at Marvel Studios are deeply saddened by the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart. Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from "X-Men" to "Logan" to "Avengers: Doomsday." He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman. Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends, and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art."

Patrick Stewart’s legacy

The backstory:

Stewart’s legacy spanned theater, television and film. Born in 1940, Stewart left school at 15 to pursue acting after an English teacher introduced him to Shakespeare, according to the Hollywood Walk of Fame biography.

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Stewart joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and remained with the company for 16 years, performing alongside actors including Ben Kingsley and Ian Richardson. He later appeared with the Royal National Theatre and made his Broadway debut as Snout in Peter Brook’s production of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream."

Before achieving international fame, Stewart built a reputation through television roles, including Lenin in "Fall of Eagles," Sejanus in "I, Claudius," Karla in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and Claudius in a BBC adaptation of "Hamlet." 

But Stewart became best known to global audiences as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and its related films and series. He also portrayed Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" films. 

Stewart was chancellor emeritus of the University of Huddersfield, where a scholarship in his name supported postgraduate research into children and domestic violence.

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