William Shatner, Hugh Jackman and More Stars Pay Tribute to Patrick Stewart After Death
Sir Patrick Stewart kept a low profile before his death.
In the two years before his Oct. 28 death at the age of 86, which followed what his family described as a “brief and poignant” battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, the Star Trek legend didn’t make any public appearances.
However, his last public outing was one for the books.
Indeed, Stewart was last photographed attending the November 2024 soccer matchup between Crawley Town F.C. and his hometown of Yorkshire’s team Huddersfield Town A.F.C. For the game, he sported a Huddersfield blue-and-white scarf as he waved to the crowd and smiled.
Just three weeks prior, the X-Men actor—who is set to reprise his role as Professor Charles Xavier in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday in December—attended a special screening in Los Angeles for The Piano Lesson, a movie directed by Denzel Washington’s son Malcolm Washington and starring his other son John David Washington, who all took pictures with Stewart at the event.
And the night before the screening, he chatted it up with Paul Mescal and the cast of Gladiator II at viewing of the film.
Since those final outings, Stewart was not photographed at any public events, though his family shared he was surrounded by love in his final days.
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“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all,” read their statement, shared to Instagram Oct. 29. “We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”
Stewart’s longtime friend Sir Ian McKellen also shared how he will remember his fellow Royal Shakespeare Company member.
“He wore his heart on his sleeve,” McKellen wrote on Instagram, “which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.”
Read on to see how other stars, including his fellow X-Men stars Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Romijn, paid tribute to Stewart.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Ian McKellan
“We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions. My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in Star Trek. ‘But Patrick think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk—getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?’ Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did for not just his devoted Trekkies but film and theatre audiences, who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes (X-Men of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway.”
Hugh Jackman/Instagram
Hugh Jackman
“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”
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Seth MacFarlane
“Patrick was one of those icons who we somehow all took for granted would always be with us. I grew up as a fan, and was later gifted the privilege of becoming a colleague and friend, working with him for many years on American Dad!, Family Guy, and Ted. He was that rare actor who could take any bit of dialogue and elevate it, making a good writer sound great, and a great writer sound masterful. He was also as humble as they come. 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.”
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
William Shatner
“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.”
PASCAL GUYOT/AFP via Getty Images
Rebecca Romijn
“I feel so grateful to have known him for the last 25 years and to have been in his orbit for the last 25 years, both as a fellow ‘mutant’ and as a fellow member of Starfleet. He was positively delicious, hilarious, naughty, incredible sense of humor, and that booming voice of his that always spoke to the very back of the room—as every classically trained Shakespearean great needs to master—has always been an Inspiration. I’m gonna send my condolences to his family, and I’ll miss my friend dearly. Rest in peace, Patrick.”
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Kyle MacLachlan
“My friend, we shared some memorable times…from the deserts of Arrakis to the mysterious jungles of Thailand and onto the New York stage. I already miss you. You will always be my Gurney Halleck and I, your young pup.”
Elizabeth Banks/Instagram
Elizabeth Banks
“Patrick Stewart is a legend. His acting talent was not only innate but built from his professionalism, his dedication to craft, his enthusiasm, his generosity, his gentlemanly way of being. He was mischievous and game, always made me laugh and always made a day better. He leaves a treasure trove of work behind and I’m so grateful he came to play w me on Charlie’s Angels. Rest peacefully Patrick. Sending love.”
Peter Facinelli/X
Peter Facinelli
“Patrick Stewart was one of the greats, not just because of his extraordinary talent, but because of the man he was. It was a privilege to work alongside him and an even greater pleasure to know him personally. He was loved by all and will be deeply missed. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.”
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Wil Wheaton
“Godspeed, Captain.”
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Kim Cattrall
“Dearest Patrick. Such sad news and a huge loss for us all. RIP.”
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Isa Briones
“PStew, lover of fresh produce and classic american western songs. a man who even at 80 could recite every work of shakespear[e] he’s ever done. a man who once handed me his drink so he could do five pull ups on the branch of a tree. a man with so much love and respect for his craft and fellow artists. one of the first people in this business to take a chance on me. so grateful to have witnessed his greatness on and off the stage and screen. rest in peace.”
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Jonathan Frakes
“Rest in peace my friend.”
Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Paramount+
Jeri Ryan
“Ouch. This one hurts. Rest well, Patrick.”
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George Takei
“Fans across the world mourn the passing of a true and irreplaceable legend. As Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Patrick Stewart took the starship Enterprise to places it had never gone before, and he inspired a whole next generation of star-gazers who looked longingly ahead to a brighter future for all humanity. Our hearts are heavy, indeed. Rest in the heavens, Captain.”
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