Dame Harriet Walter has said the world is “going to be very poor” without Sir Patrick Stewart, following the actor's death from Alzheimer's disease. Sir Patrick, known for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in later versions of Star Trek, died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, as announced on social media.
Longtime Friendship
Dame Harriet, a longtime friend of Sir Patrick, met him at Stratford-upon-Avon in the early 1980s. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, she said she “can't really imagine a world without him.”
“It's like a huge giant tree has fallen in the forest,” she said. “I've never heard a bad word against him. And I think the world's going to be very poor without him.”
Tributes from Colleagues
William Shatner, who played Captain James T Kirk in the original 1960s Star Trek TV series, posted on social media: “What a heartbreaking week it has been. Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. 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.”
Sir Patrick's X-Men co-star Hugh Jackman posted two photos of them together on Instagram, saying: “We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”
Political and Club Tributes
Tributes also came from politics. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said: “From Shakespeare to Star Trek, he boldly went where few had gone before, and took millions of us with him. He never forgot his roots, nor did he shy away from using his voice to stand up for others, particularly those affected by domestic violence. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.”
Huddersfield Town football club, whose supporter Sir Patrick was, said it was “deeply saddened” to learn of his death. In a message on X, the Terriers said: “All at Huddersfield Town are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong supporter Sir Patrick Stewart. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this sad time. A titan of his craft and a legend and hero to millions worldwide, his legacy will live on. Fiercely proud of his Yorkshire roots, Sir Patrick was a Terrier in every sense, and we're proud to have counted him as one of our own. Once a Terrier, always a Terrier.”
Marvel Studios' Message
Marvel Studios, which has owned the rights to X-Men since 2019, described the actor as “a true gentleman.” In a social media message, it said: “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.”
