Sir Patrick Stewart, Star Trek captain, dies at 86

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 10:54 · Archive

Sir Patrick Stewart, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, has died aged 86 after a battle with dementia.

Sir Patrick Stewart, the British actor best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, has died aged 86. The New York Post reports he died following a brief battle with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body dementia.

Stewart was born near Huddersfield and reportedly considered a career in journalism before an editor encouraged him to choose between writing and acting. He worked extensively in Shakespeare and appeared in television programmes including Coronation Street, I, Claudius and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy before being cast in Star Trek.

When Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered on 28 September 1987, Stewart took on the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, a departure from the character of Captain James T. Kirk played by William Shatner in the original series. At 46 years old, Stewart was relatively unknown in America, but his portrayal proved defining. Unlike Shatner's rule-breaking adventurer, Stewart's Picard was characterised by erudition, raw authority and a distinctive baritone voice.

Beyond acting, Stewart was a long-time campaigner for the Labour Party and supported causes including medicinal cannabis and the Remain campaign in the Brexit referendum. He maintained close ties to his hometown, serving as chancellor of Huddersfield University and remaining a supporter of Huddersfield Town football club. He formed a close friendship with fellow actor Sir Ian McKellen.

Stewart was married three times and had children. HuffPost UK reports that despite starring in one of the biggest television shows of the 1980s and 1990s, Stewart rarely watched Star Trek himself, though he recalled once becoming engrossed in an episode while watching it on a hotel television. He initially declined to return to the role of Picard for Star Trek's latest television series, having publicly stated the character's story was complete.

How it is being reported

• Patrick Stewart Admits He Once Watched Himself In Star Trek On A Hotel TV... But Things Did Not End WellAs Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Sir Patrick Stewart won a legion of fans the world over. But despite being in one of the biggest TV shows of the 80s and 90s, the British actor has admitted it wasn’t something he went out of his way to watch. However, ahead of Amazon Prime’s Star Trek: Picard arriving on our screens, the star recalled one of the times he did actually catch himself in the iconic role. Sir Patrick Stewart on The Graham Norton Show During an appearance on Friday’s edition of The Graham Norton Show, the 79-year-old reveals he was “hooked” when he…HuffPost UK · 30 Oct, 10:36
• Brilliant Patrick Stewart was ‘Star Trek’s all-time greatest captainAs Capt. Jean-Luc Picard on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," Stewart, who died Wednesday at 86, was perfect — dashing, funny, powerful and paternal in ways both warm and scary.New York Post · 29 Oct, 22:37
• In Pictures: Star Trek reboot pushed Sir Patrick Stewart’s career into orbitOnce a cub journalist, he reached new levels of fame as Captain Jean-Luc Picard after a successful but more low-key start in acting.Evening Standard · 29 Oct, 20:53

In this story: Patrick Stewart · Star Trek: The Next Generation · Huddersfield · Labour Party · Ian McKellen · William Shatner

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