Noor Nanji
Culture correspondent

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Sir Patrick Stewart had a long and hugely successful career.

It was at school where his love of drama developed, when one of his teachers introduced him to Shakespeare and encouraged him to perform.

His first public performance was in a local church production of Cinderella. Speaking many years later to the Guardian, he said that he realised early that on stage, he could "escape".

"And my dream became more of a dream. Not just of having a different life. But, for the few minutes I had on stage, actually living it.”

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

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George Takei, who played Mr Sulu in Star Trek, has also paid tribute to his former co-star.

"Fans across the world mourn the passing of a true and irreplaceable legend," he writes on Instagram.

"As Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Patrick Stewart took the starship Enterprise to places it had never gone before, and he inspired a whole next generation of star-gazers who looked longingly ahead to a brighter future for all humanity."

"Our hearts are heavy, indeed. Rest in the heavens, Captain."

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The veteran actor is survived by his wife Sunny Ozell, who was with him when he passed away at home according to a statement sent to the BBC by his spokesperson.

He is also survived by two adult children from his first marriage: Daniel Stewart and Sophie Stewart.

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Speaking in 2011, Patrick Stewart recalls when he was told he would "never be a leading man" and how he broke through into acting in the first place.

You can watch that moment here.

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Hugh Jackman has paid tribute to his former X-Men co-star, describing Sir Patrick Stewart as a "tremendous friend and man".

The actor says in a post on Instagram: "We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today."

"I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days," he adds.

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William Shatner, who portrayed Captain Kirk on Star Trek, remembers his former co-star as "a magnificent colleague".

"What a heartbreaking week it has been. Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor," he says.

"From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did.

"Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work.

"My heart goes out to Sunny and his family. He will be deeply missed."

Noor Nanji
Culture correspondent

Sir Patrick Stewart's appeal crossed generations, thanks to his roles in multi-generational franchises.

Younger sci-fi and comic book fans will have discovered his work on streaming platforms.

In 2019, he starred as a modern-day Merlin, bringing the famous tale to new audiences.

And one of the things he'll be remembered for is his encouragement for young artists, urging them to "be brave" and trust others.

"If I had done that earlier in my life, maybe everything would have changed," he told Esquire a few years ago.

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Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

BBC Radio 6 and Desert Island Discs presenter Lauren Laverne, who interviewed the Star Trek star years ago, writes simply on Instagram:

"What a life. I was lucky enough to interview him and will never forget it. Thinking of his family and friends today."

Emma Saunders
Culture reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As we just mentioned, the veteran star won a new legion of fans with his portrayal of Professor Charles Xavier in blockbuster films such as X-Men and Avengers: Doomsday.

Marvel posted on X shortly after the news of Sir Patrick's death was confirmed.

"All of us at Marvel Studios are deeply saddened by the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart. Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from X-Men to Logan to Avengers: Doomsday.

"He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman. Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends, and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art."

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Patrick Stewart's career included a number of starring roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company, alongside appearances on the big screen in films such as X-Men, and his famous depiction of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek.

He played the space captain in over 170 episodes of the sci-fi television series between 1987 and 1994, and in four feature films before returning in Star Trek: Picard from 2020 to 2023.

The actor's career spans seven decades, having been born and raised in Mirfield and appearing in the town's pantomime as a boy.

He was also due to reprise his role as Professor Charles Xavier, from the X-Men films, in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday releasing in December.

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Patrick Hewes Stewart was born in Mirfield in the West Riding of Yorkshire on 13 July 1940.

His mother Gladys was a textile worker. She was active in amateur dramatics and encouraged her three sons to take part.

His father was a former Sergeant Major in the Parachute Regiment whose experience during the wartime evacuation of Dunkirk had shredded his mental health.

"My father was a very potent individual," Stewart later recalled, "it was said that when he strode on to the parade ground, birds stopped singing."

But Alfred Stewart had become a quick-tempered man, suffering from what would now be called post traumatic stress.

He was prone to drink and often took out his frustrations on his family - although Patrick himself was never the target of his fists.

Young Patrick's love of drama came at school when one of his teachers introduced him to Shakespeare and encouraged him to perform.

His first public performance was in a local church production of Cinderella.

He left school at 15 and eventually got a job as a reporter and obituary writer on the Dewsbury Reporter.

He also threw himself enthusiastically into the flourishing local theatre. "I used to recite Shakespeare from memory," he said. "I just learned all these big speeches."

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While many actors are typecast, Sir Patrick Stewart moved effortlessly from Shakespeare and Dickens to the command of the USS Enterprise and his famous wheelchair in X-Men.

In a career that spanned seven decades, Sir Patrick won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.

One of the world's most versatile actors, he mastered both comedy and tragedy, science-fiction and historical drama - despite an entertainment industry's traditional prejudice against shiny, bald heads.

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Patrick Stewart's death was announced in a post shared on his Instagram account:

“We announce with great sorrow the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home in Los Angeles, in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.

“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayers, tears, laughter and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to all of us.

“We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”

“A son of Mirfield in the West Riding of Yorkshire, he travelled from the Royal Shakespeare Company to an equally acclaimed career spanning six decades on Broadway, the silver screen and television.

“His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre. He explored the human condition in all its poetic complexity and brought hope not only to the far reaches of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but into science fiction’s most iconic final frontier aboard the Starship Enterprise.

“His professional accomplishments were humbly matched by his philanthropy and activism on behalf of human rights, survivors of domestic violence, global refugees, veterans’ mental health services, and animal welfare, particularly his cherished foster pitties. He was a Knight, Chancellor, motor sport enthusiast, and lifelong Huddersfield Football fan. He will be remembered for the dignity, compassion and humanity he brought to every role – in his art and life."

The statement finishes with a quote from his memoir: “Like me, Jean-Luc has lived an unusual life that has taken him far beyond the bounds of normal human experience. But he is also someone who has remained true to his earthbound roots, for they are what gave him his identity. In the end, he feels the call of home, as do I.”

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Sir Patrick Stewart died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday after suffering with Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia, the actor's Instagram account announced on Thursday.

He was said to be "in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny".

The post adds: "He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all.

"We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.

"A son of Mirfield in the West Riding of Yorkshire, he travelled from the Royal Shakespeare Company to an equally acclaimed career spanning six decades on Broadway, the silver screen and television."