Patrick Stewart, Picard and Professor X, dies at 86
Sir Patrick Stewart, the stage actor who became Captain Jean-Luc Picard on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and Professor Charles Xavier in the 'X-Men' films, died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. He was 86.
Bias breakdown and outlet coverageon the RUSH story page →What happened
Sir Patrick Stewart died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at his home in Los Angeles. Straight Arrow News, MS NOW and Breitbart reported the Star Trek and X-Men star died at 86. His death followed a brief journey with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, his spokesperson said, as carried across those outlets.
His career
Stewart trained as a Shakespearean actor and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966. He was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in 1987 and played the role for seven seasons and four films, then returned for "Star Trek: Picard." He played Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" films and was knighted in 2010, The Daily Wire and Newsweek reported.
How he is being remembered
NBC News focused on Stewart's friendship with Sir Ian McKellen. ABC News, HuffPost, The Blaze and The Guardian collected tributes from friends, co-workers and fans across film and television.
Why it matters
Stewart's career ran more than six decades, from classical theater to two major film and TV franchises. Outlets note audiences will see him on screen again as Professor X in "Avengers: Doomsday," due in December 2026.