The veteran actor, Sir Patrick Stewart, who starred in and has died at his home in Los Angeles, aged 86.

His death followed a “brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia”, it has been announced on his social media.

His spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, said in a post on Instagram: “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.”

“We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace,” the post continued.

Stewart was married three times and has a son and daughter as well as grandchildren.

Born in Mirfield, Yorkshire in 1940, Stewart was the son of an Army sergeant-major, who he later revealed subjected his mother to repeated bouts of violence.

At the age of 12, he enrolled in an eight-day drama course and got the acting bug. He quit school at 15 to work as a cub reporter on a local paper but left the day the editor gave him an ultimatum, to choose either acting or journalism.

In his mid-20s, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing alongside the likes of actor Ian Richardson and star Sir Ben Kingsley.

The Shakespearean actor shot to fame when he originated the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987.

The sci-fi TV series ran for seven years, with films in 1994 and in 1996. Stewart later said the success of the show handicapped him because directors did not want to cast the captain of the Starship Enterprise in their films.

He took on his biggest movie role as Marvel superhero Professor Charles Xavier in all the first three blockbusters, which began in 2000.

He would come back to the series in 2014’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past, 2017’s , 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and 2024’s and .

He recently featured in a trailer for the film, set to be released in December, reprising his role of Xavier.

Stewart also landed roles in TV dramas such as , and Fall of Eagles, in which he played the Russian revolutionary Lenin. He also briefly appeared in in the 1960s.

He became an OBE in 2001, won an Olivier for his portrayal of Claudius in the David Tennant on stage and TV, and was knighted in 2009.

Activist record

In recent years he was a vocal supporter of assisted dying and joined the UK’s Dignity in Dying Campaign, telling MSPs in 2022: “Dying people should not be forced to take drastic measures travelling to another country to take their own life. They should have the choice to die at home on their own terms.”

In 2018, he called for medicinal cannabis to be legalised as he gave his support to a young boy hoping to receive the treatment for epilepsy.

He was also a supporter of the Remain campaign during the Brexit referendum and continued to call for a “people’s vote” on Brexit after the 2016 vote.

Tributes paid to ‘grace, intelligence, and humanity’

Marvel Studios posted a tribute on X shortly after the announcement, saying: “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 to to .

“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.”

His Star Trek co-star William Shatner posted: “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.