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Patrick Stewart dies aged 86 after stage and screen career

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 16:18 · Archive

Actor Patrick Stewart, who found fame as Captain Picard in Star Trek whilst maintaining a distinguished stage career, has died aged 86.

Patrick Stewart, the actor who captained the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation and went on to star in the X-Men films, died on Wednesday in Los Angeles, aged 86.

Before achieving Hollywood stardom, Stewart spent fifteen years with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Gregory Doran, the company's former artistic director, remembered him as 'a true Shakespearean' and 'a theater actor in his bones'. Throughout his career spanning six decades, Stewart performed in plays by major modern playwrights including Edward Albee, Arthur Miller, Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter, returning repeatedly to the stage even after his screen fame.

Stewart's friend Ian McKellen, with whom he later formed what Doran described as 'a memorable double act', called him 'the most respected and beloved actor of his generation'. McKellen had warned Stewart against taking the Star Trek role in 1987, urging him to 'think of your stage career' rather than risk 'getting lost in Hollywood for years and years'. After Stewart's death, McKellen said: 'Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did'.

London's West End theatres plan to dim their lights on Tuesday evening in his memory.

Patrick Stewart dies aged 86 after stage and screen career
Image: Clickorlando

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In this story: Patrick Stewart · Ian McKellen · Royal Shakespeare Company · Gregory Doran · Los Angeles · London

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