Patrick Stewart, ‘Star Trek’ Captain Picard and ‘X-Men’ actor, dies at 86

What the report says

Patrick Stewart, the British actor celebrated for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" films, has died at age 86, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing a statement from spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak. The report said Stewart died in Los Angeles on Wednesday after living with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

Al Jazeera reported that Stewart’s career stretched well beyond those signature screen roles. He spent years with the Royal Shakespeare Company and performed in major stage works by Shakespeare and other playwrights, including roles such as Macbeth, Claudius and Shylock. His theater work also included productions on London’s West End and Broadway, and he received strong reviews for his 2007 Macbeth performance, which brought him his only Tony Award nomination.

Born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, Stewart rose from a working-class background to become one of Britain’s best-known actors. The article said he joined an amateur drama group as a child, later trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and had a long association with classical theater before moving into film and television. He also became a patron of Refuge, a charity supporting survivors of domestic abuse.

Stewart’s portrayal of Picard made him a global pop-culture figure, while his long-running role in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" helped define a major era of the franchise. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 and also served as an ambassador for the International Rescue Committee, underscoring his influence beyond entertainment.