Patrick Stewart, Star Trek and X-Men actor, dies at 86 after Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia

Sir Patrick Stewart, the British actor best known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and Professor Charles Xavier in the "X-Men" films, died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles at age 86. Spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak said he died after a brief illness with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, with his wife, Sunny, at his side and family and friends around him. Stewart joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, made his Broadway debut in 1971 in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and won an Olivier Award for supporting actor for "Antony and Cleopatra." Cast as Picard at 47 in 1987, he played the role for seven seasons, in four films, and in three seasons of "Star Trek: Picard" on Paramount+ (2020-2023). He played Xavier from 2000 to 2017 and is due to reprise the role in "Avengers: Doomsday" in December 2026. The news became public Thursday, when Hugh Jackman, his "X-Men" co-star, posted a tribute with two photos on Instagram.

Left-leaning CBS News and The Guardian lead with the death and Novak's statement, quoting its passage about family, music and prayer. CBS adds his wife's presence, the Paramount+ series and the "Avengers" return. The Guardian stresses his Shakespeare-to-sci-fi range, his casting at 47, the Picard catchphrases and the film titles with years. Right-leaning outlets give the same date, place, cause and spokesperson. The New York Post is brief and calls him beloved, noting the news appeared on his social media Thursday afternoon. The Daily Mail puts the dementia diagnosis in its headline and adds timestamps, his Broadway debut, the Olivier Award, three marriages and photo captions. Among alternative outlets, TMZ stands apart by focusing on Jackman's tribute, while Variety runs a standard career obituary.