'X-Men' Professor X Dies... Patrick Stewart Passes Away at 86

Passed away after battling Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia
Also beloved as Captain Picard in "Star Trek"

British actor Patrick Stewart, beloved around the world for his roles as Professor X in the X-Men film series and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek series, has died at the age of 86.

On October 30, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing foreign media outlets including The New York Times (NYT) and Reuters, that Stewart died the previous day at his home in Los Angeles, California. His representative said that Stewart had suffered from Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, and that he passed away with the care of his wife, Sunny Ozell, by his side.

British actor Patrick Stewart, beloved around the world for his roles as Professor X in the X-Men film series and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek series. Reuters-Yonhap News

Born in Yorkshire, England, in 1940, Stewart spent his childhood marked by poverty and domestic violence. Acting was a source of comfort for him. He began acting with a local theater group around the age of 12 and later pursued acting professionally. In his youth, he built his career on the stage, focusing primarily on Shakespeare's works. He performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company in classics such as Hamlet and Macbeth, earning recognition for his acting talent and his distinctive, resonant voice and commanding presence.

Patrick Stewart rose to international stardom with his convincing portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, commander of the starship Enterprise, in the American sci-fi drama "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Picard was known for his cool judgment and human leadership. AP-Yonhap News

The work that changed his life was the American science fiction drama Star Trek: The Next Generation, which began airing in 1987. He played Captain Jean-Luc Picard, commander of the starship Enterprise, and rose to international stardom with his convincing portrayal of a character known for his cool judgment and humane leadership. Picard's signature line, "Make it so," became an iconic catchphrase associated with the series. Star Trek: The Next Generation aired for seven seasons through 1994. Stewart later reprised the role in related films and the television series Star Trek: Picard, remaining an iconic figure in the franchise for many years.

In 2000, he entered a new peak in his career when he appeared in the film X-Men as Professor Charles Xavier, also known as Professor X, who leads the mutants. Seated in a wheelchair and endowed with powerful mental abilities, Professor X seeks coexistence between mutants and humans. Stewart added depth to the character with his signature performance, at once gentle and authoritative.

He went on to appear in several X-Men films, and made a deep impression in the 2017 film Logan, in which he portrayed an aging Charles Xavier. He continued acting into his later years, appearing in the 2026 Marvel film Avengers: Doomsday. Active across a wide range of genres, including theater, comedy, and animation, as well as science fiction and superhero films, Stewart was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010.

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