LOS ANGELES, United States.- Sir Patrick Stewart, the British actor who commanded the Starship Enterprise as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and led Marvel's mutants as Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" films, has died at his home in Los Angeles. He was 86.
Stewart died on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, his family announced a day later through his official accounts. His longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, said the actor passed away following "a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia," in the care of his wife, the singer Sunny Ozell.
From Mirfield to the captain's chair
Born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, Stewart built a classical stage career with the Royal Shakespeare Company before becoming a global star in his late forties. Cast in 1987 as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, he anchored "Star Trek: The Next Generation" for seven seasons and four films, and returned decades later to headline "Star Trek: Picard."
In 2000 he stepped into a second iconic role: Professor Charles Xavier, the telepathic founder of the X-Men. Stewart played Xavier across the "X-Men" saga — including "X2," "Days of Future Past" and a widely praised final turn in "Logan" (2017) — and again in Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" (2022). Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for services to drama, he never left the stage, moving between Shakespeare, Broadway and film for more than six decades.
One last appearance still to come
Stewart's final screen performance has not been seen yet: he reprised Professor Xavier for Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Doomsday," which is scheduled to reach theaters on December 18, 2026. His appearance will now arrive as a posthumous farewell to the character he defined for more than 25 years.
Tributes from two universes
Marvel Studios said it was "deeply saddened" by his passing, adding that Stewart "brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans," and calling him "a singular talent, a generous collaborator and a true gentleman." Hugh Jackman, his Wolverine co-star, remembered him as "one of the greats of stage and screen" and "a tremendous friend and man." Tributes also came from his "Star Trek" family, including William Shatner and George Takei.
Stewart's death is the second loss for the "Star Trek" universe in a matter of days, following the death of Walter Koenig, the original series' Chekov.
Cover photo: Patrick Stewart at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. Photo by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fuentes: El País, 29 de octubre de 2026; The Hollywood Reporter, citado por Mathrubhumi y Borneo Post, 30 de octubre de 2026; comunicado oficial de Marvel Studios, 29 de octubre de 2026; comunicado de la familia de Patrick Stewart en sus cuentas oficiales, 29 de octubre de 2026.