RIP Sir Patrick Stewart

I first saw Sir Patrick Stewart when he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation.  He made an impression.  His captain was totally different from James T. Kirk, and his performances led me to automatically look at other television programs and films that he appeared in. 

When he was cast as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movie franchise, it seemed absolutely perfect. Stewart brought gravitas, dignity, empathy and humor to the role.

Weirdly, Sir Patrick was a well known Shakespearean actor before he became a sci-fi icon. And after becoming a household name in Star Trek and X-Men, he would still perform on the stage. His one man presentation of A Christmas Carol and, later on, King Lear, are well regarded to this day.

Sir Patrick passed away on October 28, 2026.  He is survived by his wife, Sonny Ozell, and two adult children, Daniel and Sophie Stewart.