Dame Judi Dench has said she was “shocked” and “very sad” to hear of Sir Patrick Stewart’s death at the age of 86. The Star Trek actor died following a “brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia”, a statement on his social media said.
RSC colleague pays tribute
Dame Judi, 91, was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) alongside Sir Patrick, who joined in 1966 before he shot to international fame for the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987. Speaking to the Press Association during a 50th anniversary event for the National Theatre building and its new outdoor installation, 50 Stories for 50 Years, Dame Judi said: “I was just very, very shocked to hear and very surprised to hear about it.”
“He’s never been one of those actors who never felt like it that night, he was always very, very committed. I’m very sad. He’ll be much missed and he was much admired.” The pair also appeared in the 1982 television masterclass series Playing Shakespeare.
Six decades on stage and screen
Born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire in 1940, Sir Patrick’s career spanned six decades and included movies, TV and the theatre. He first came to prominence as a stage actor, appearing in up to 60 productions with the RSC. He later found global fame starring in the sci-fi TV series, which ran for seven years, along with films Star Trek Generations in 1994 and Star Trek: First Contact in 1996.
Tributes have since poured in from around the world including from Hercule Poirot star Sir David Suchet, actress Dame Harriet Walter, Scottish actor James McAvoy and Sir Ian McKellen. Downing Street remembered the Star Trek actor “never forgot his working-class Yorkshire roots” and was described as being “one of the very best” who brought “joy to millions” of people.
Family statement and legacy
A statement shared on his Instagram page said Sir Patrick died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening. It read: “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. He will be remembered for the dignity, compassion and humanity he brought to every role – in his art and life.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, which damages the brain and affects memory and thinking, according to the Alzheimer’s Society. Around two-thirds of people living with dementia in the UK are thought to have Alzheimer’s disease, while around one in 10 has dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), although it is thought to be under-diagnosed. DLB is caused by tiny clumps of protein, known as Lewy bodies, which appear in the nerve cells of the brain and it can affect thinking, memory, movement, mood and how well the body works, the Alzheimer’s Society says.
Sir Patrick earned four Emmy nominations for various work and two supporting actor Olivier Awards for Shakespeare plays, the first for Antony And Cleopatra in 1979 and the second for Hamlet in 2009. He also earned a Grammy for best spoken word album for children for Prokofiev: Peter And The Wolf in 1996. For a new generation, his Star Trek past was soon forgotten as he took on his biggest role on the big screen as the Marvel superhero Professor Charles Xavier in the first three X-Men blockbusters, which began life in 2000. He would come back to the series in 2014’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past, 2017’s Logan, 2022’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness and 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, with another film due to be released in December.
He received his knighthood for services to drama in 2009 and was knighted by the late Queen in 2010. Sir Patrick, who has been married three times, has a son and a daughter. Fans are being asked not to send flowers but instead make a contribution in his memory to Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centre Fund and Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources.
Final screen role
His fans will still have the chance to see him perform in Avengers Doomsday, which is due for release in mid-December in the UK, and will see him star again as Professor Charles Xavier. In a message posted on social media, Marvel Studios, the film and TV production company behind the film franchise, said it was “deeply saddened” by his death. It said: “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.”
Alzheimer’s Society chief executive officer Michelle Dyson said: “Sir Patrick was an extraordinarily talented and much-loved actor, admired by millions around the world, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who loved him. Both Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia are progressive conditions that can affect memory, thinking and behaviour, gradually changing how a person experiences and interacts with the world around them. His death is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating impact dementia has on people and families across the globe.” Sir Patrick was also remembered for his campaigning on behalf of domestic abuse charity Refuge, which he said he did in honour of his mother.
