LEGENDARY STAGE AND screen actor Patrick Stewart has died at the age of 86.

Stewart was best known for his roles in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises as well as his extensive theatre work throughout his career.

He was due to reprise his role as Professor X in Avengers Doomsday this winter. 

A representative announced the news on social media this evening and said he passed away “in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny”.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund https://t.co/luC5CdcWDy Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources https://t.co/zvNptfyuNd Photo Credit: Tommy Garcia https://t.co/XNncEVq56X

— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) October 29, 2026

They said he passed away following “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia”. 

“He will be remembered for the dignity, compassion and humanity he brought to every role – in his art and life.”

The actor, who hailed from the northern English region of Yorkshire, trod the boards in Britain with the Royal Shakespeare Company before crossing the Atlantic to enjoy an acclaimed career on the US stage and screen.

His best-known Hollywood roles were as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and Professor Charles Xavier in multiple “X-Men” and related Marvel films.

“His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre,” the statement said.

“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.”

Additional reporting by AFP