Sir Patrick Stewart, star of Star Trek and X-Men, dies aged 86

Sir Patrick Stewart, the English actor best known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in the X-Men films, has died at the age of 86.

His spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, said he died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, in the care of his wife, the singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell, after what a family statement described as a brief journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

Born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, in 1940, Stewart built his career on the stage, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company, before Star Trek made him a global star.

He had more than 160 credits and continued to work into his 80s, most recently voicing Avery Bullock on the animated comedy American Dad!.

He is due to appear posthumously as Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday in December.

His close friend Ian McKellen, his co-star in the X-Men films, officiated at Stewart’s 2013 wedding to Ozell.

Hugh Jackman, who also starred alongside him, paid tribute on Instagram, calling Stewart one of the greats of stage and screen. Marvel Studios said it was deeply saddened by his death.

Sources: CNN, 29 October; NBC News; NPR; Yahoo Entertainment.