James McAvoy has paid tribute to his X-Men co-star Sir Patrick Stewart after his death at the age of 86, saying he was “always lovely to me”.
Sir Patrick, famed for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, it was announced on social media. The pair both portrayed Charles Xavier in X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014), with McAvoy playing the character as a young man.
McAvoy's tribute
The Scottish actor shared several photos of himself and Sir Patrick together on Instagram and wrote: “Wherever you’re going I know you’ll go boldly…I was lucky enough to work with Sir Patrick a number of times and he was always lovely to me.
“First as a fan and then as a colleague I count myself lucky to have gone with you for a short time.”
Suchet and Doran remember their friend
Hercule Poirot star Sir David Suchet, a close friend of Sir Patrick’s, also paid tribute to him, saying he would be “so much missed”. Sir David told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s a great loss but he leaves the most fantastic legacy in all his work in radio, film, television and theatre.
“He covered all bases and has done great performances in each of the media. He will be so much missed.” He added: “I was on stage yesterday all afternoon and evening and I heard of his death in the interval and it came as a huge shock.”
Former artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company Sir Gregory Doran also paid tribute, after he worked with Sir Patrick on a production of Antony And Cleopatra in 2006 and Hamlet in 2013. He said: “I think it’s something about the very firm classical foundations that he had that gave him the ability to, whether it was X-Men or Shakespeare on stage, that just gave him that grounding.
“He was a magnificent Antony in Antony And Cleopatra, a part many people don’t want to play because they think it’s Cleopatra’s play. He brought an intense forensic analysis to the role.” Sir Gregory added: “He was really democratic, no airs and graces, real fun. It was always fun in rehearsals with Patrick.”
Further tributes from colleagues
Minnie Driver, who worked with Sir Patrick in the 2017 romantic comedy The Wilde Wedding, posted a photo of them together. She wrote: “Is this year some kind of portal to a much, much better place that all the greatest people know about and so have gently made their exits?
“Dearest Patrick. Who always had the best advice, the funniest story, the patience to listen. I’m just bereft. All love to your family, and you, in my heart forever.”
Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane praised Sir Patrick’s acting abilities and said he was “as humble as they come”. He wrote on Instagram: “I remember exchanging emails with him a number of years ago when he was beginning day 1 of a new film.
“He commented to me that he always walked onto a new set feeling like the biggest novice there. My stunned reaction was the same as anyone’s would be. I said, ‘Patrick, if you feel that way, the rest of us are screwed.’ We have lost a legendary actor today, and for many of us, a good friend. He will be deeply missed by the entire planet.”
Actress Rebecca Romijn, who starred as Mystique in the X-Men films alongside Sir Patrick, posted a video paying tribute to him. She said: “I feel so grateful to have known him for the last 25 years.
“He was positively delicious, hilarious, naughty, incredible sense of humour. I want to send my condolences to his family, and I’ll miss my friend dearly.” Singer Patti Smith posted a photo of herself giving Sir Patrick a kiss on the cheek and referenced his Star Trek character Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s phrase “make it so”.
Born in Yorkshire, Sir Patrick became a member of the RSC in 1966 and found international fame in Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was also known for appearing in the X-Men franchise and films including Excalibur (1981), Dune (1984) and Jeffrey (1995). He was knighted in 2010 for services to drama.
