Patrick Stewart, Star of 'X-Men' and 'Star Trek,' Dies (3 Photos)
British actor Patrick Stewart, best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek" and Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" franchise, has died at the age of 86. 
Stewart passed away Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles following "a brief and agonizing battle with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia," representative Kelly Bush Novak announced.
"He was surrounded by the warmth of family and friends, live music, prayers, tears, laughter, and that deep emotion that only he could evoke," the statement read. 
Stewart was born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, Yorkshire. At age 15, he began working for a local newspaper, but quickly realized journalism wasn't his calling. At 18, he earned a scholarship to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and by 26, he had joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. He performed with the National Theatre and appeared in British films and television series before making his American film debut in John Boorman's "Excalibur" (1981), later starring in David Lynch's "Dune" (1984).
In the late 1980s, Stewart landed the role of Captain Picard in the series "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Franchise creator Gene Roddenberry was initially reluctant to cast a bald Brit in the lead role, but Stewart won him over during auditions. The show ran from 1987 to 1994, catapulting Stewart to global fame. He also went on to star in four feature films in the franchise.
In 2000, Stewart took on the role of Professor Xavier in "X-Men," which ushered in a new era of superhero cinema. He reprised the role in several subsequent films, including "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (2014) and "Logan" (2017). In 2020, he returned as Picard in the series "Star Trek: Picard."
Over the course of his career, Stewart received several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, including for his roles in the miniseries "Moby Dick" and "The Lion in Winter." In 2010, Queen Elizabeth II knighted him. The actor was married three times and had two children. 
