Sir Patrick Stewart, the Yorkshire-born actor who became one of the most recognisable faces in science fiction while earning acclaim for his Shakespearean performances, has died aged 86. Stewart died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, 28 October, following a period with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak.

His family said he was surrounded by loved ones, with music, prayer, tears and laughter during his final hours.  For millions of viewers, Stewart will always be Captain Jean-Luc Picard, the thoughtful commander of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Others knew him as Professor Charles Xavier, the wheelchair-using leader of the X-Men. Yet those famous screen roles came after years of building a reputation as a serious stage actor.

From Yorkshire to the Royal Shakespeare Company

Born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, on 13 July 1940, Stewart grew up in a working-class family. He discovered Shakespeare at the age of 12, when a teacher introduced him to The Merchant of Venice. Acting became an important part of his life, and he went on to train at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, spending years performing in classical theatre and taking on roles including Macbeth and Claudius. His work on stage remained central to his career even after television and film brought him worldwide fame. 

The role that changed everything

Stewart was 47 when he was cast as Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, which first aired in 1987. The decision transformed his career, introducing him to audiences far beyond the theatre world. Picard was known for his measured authority, intelligence and preference for diplomacy over violence. Stewart played the character for seven television seasons and returned to the role in several films before reprising it in Star Trek: Picard.

He initially had reservations about joining the franchise, concerned that television science fiction might take him away from his established stage career. Instead, the role became one of the defining performances of his life. In 2000, he took on another major franchise as Professor Charles Xavier in the first X-Men film. The character gave him a new audience and established him as a familiar presence in superhero cinema. He continued playing Xavier in subsequent films, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 2022. 

A difficult childhood and a life beyond acting

Stewart spoke openly about growing up in poverty and living with the effects of his father’s alcoholism and abusive behaviour. He later described acting as a refuge during his childhood. He also used his public profile to support charitable causes and campaigns, including efforts to help survivors of domestic abuse. His career brought major recognition, including two Laurence Olivier Awards and a Grammy. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 2010 for services to drama. 

Stewart married singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell in 2013. He had two children from his earlier marriage to Sheila Falconer. His death marks the end of a career spanning more than six decades, moving between Shakespearean theatre, television and major Hollywood productions. While Picard and Xavier introduced him to generations of fans, his standing as an actor had been established long before either character appeared on screen.

Hollywood filmmaker Peter Jackson made his surprise appearance on Saturday, October 10, together with legendary special-effects make-up artist Rick Baker. The pair addressed crowds from the terrace of the Centre Cultural Miramar, helping launch the traditional Zombie Walk, which sees horror fans take to Sitges’ streets dressed as the living dead.

The appearance came ahead of an evening dedicated to Jackson’s career, when he received the festival’s Gran Premi Honorífic, or Grand Honorary Award. The audience rose to its feet to give the filmmaker a lengthy standing ovation, while fans gathered outside hoping to catch a glimpse of the director.

Director returns to the film that started it all

Jackson’s connection with Sitges dates back to 1992, when he attended the festival to present Braindead, his blood-soaked zombie comedy starring Spanish actress Diana Peñalver. Released in Spain under the unusual title Tu madre se ha comido a mi perro, the film became a cult favourite among horror fans.

This year’s festival screened a newly restored 4K version of the film, bringing Jackson and Peñalver together again more than three decades after its original appearance. Accepting the award from festival director Ángel Sala and Peñalver, Jackson said Sitges was his favourite film festival and thanked the organisers and the town for welcoming him back.

The trophy features King Kong, a fitting tribute to the director’s affection for the giant ape. Jackson has often spoken of his love for the original 1933 King Kong, before directing his own version in 2005.

Hollywood stars join Peter Jackson at Sitges

Jackson is not the only big name visiting the Catalan coast for the 59th Sitges Film Festival. Batman Returns and Matilda star Danny DeVito is among the headline guests, together with Footloose actor Kevin Bacon and his wife, actress Kyra Sedgwick, who are presenting their horror comedy Family Movie. Carrie star Amy Irving is also being honoured, while Japanese actress Meiko Kaji and The Fog actress Adrienne Barbeau are receiving special recognition. Spanish actress Bárbara Rey is due to receive the festival’s Nosferatu Award, while director Alejandro Amenábar and horror filmmaker Robert Eggers are also among the names featured in this year’s programme. The festival runs until October 18, with screenings, premieres and special events celebrating horror, fantasy and science-fiction cinema.

Ha sido impresionante el pase de #Braindead en el Auditori de @sitgesfestival con Peter Jackson. Todo el mundo en pie aplaudiendo por el maestro. Emocionante. https://t.co/pyYRoMC4di

— Pablo Gagis (@pgarcia_gir) October 11, 2026

From cult horror to Hollywood success

Jackson began his filmmaking career in New Zealand with low-budget horror and comedy films, including Bad Taste and Braindead, before moving into larger productions. His international breakthrough came with Heavenly Creatures in 1994, but it was his adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings that turned him into one of the world’s best-known directors.

The three films won 17 Academy Awards in total, including Best Picture for The Return of the King and Best Director for Jackson. The Academy’s official 2004 Oscars ceremony results record the trilogy’s final film winning all 11 awards for which it was nominated. He later returned to Middle-earth for The Hobbit trilogy.

At Sitges, the director looked back fondly on his first visit and joked that he hoped to return again in another 34 years. The 59th Sitges Film Festival runs until October 18, bringing international filmmakers, horror classics and fantasy cinema to the Catalan coastal town.