Star Trek and X-Men star Patrick Stewart dead at 86

Patrick Stewart has died at 86, passing away at his home in LA yesterday (28 October).

A statement on the actor's Instagram has called for donations to be made to Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund and Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources in lieu of flowers.

The X-Men and Star Trek star was one of the most beloved actors of his generation, appearing in some of the biggest franchises in TV and film history whilst also regularly appearing on the stage.

He has been married to American singer/songwriter Sunny Ozell since 2013 and leaves behind two children. His death was announced by The Hollywood Reporter via a representative for the late actor.

Stewart's final on-screen role will be his return to playing Charles Xavier for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, his ninth time in the role.

A statement posted to his Instagram said: "We announce with great sorrow the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home in Los Angeles, in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.

"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. A son of Mirfield in the West Riding of Yorkshire, he travelled from the Royal Shakespeare Company to an equally acclaimed career spanning six decades on Broadway, the silver screen and television.

"His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre. He explored the human condition in all its poetic complexity and brought hope not only to the far reaches of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but into science fiction’s most iconic final frontier aboard the Starship Enterprise.

"His professional accomplishments were humbly matched by his philanthropy and activism on behalf of human rights, survivors of domestic violence, global refugees, veterans’ mental health services, and animal welfare, particularly his cherished foster pitties.

"He was a Knight, Chancellor, motor sport enthusiast, and lifelong Huddersfield Football fan. He will be remembered for the dignity, compassion and humanity he brought to every role - in his art and life."

The statement ended with a quote from his memoir, saying: "Like me, Jean-Luc [Picard] has lived an unusual life that has taken him far beyond the bounds of normal human experience. But he is also someone who has remained true to his earthbound roots, for they are what gave him his identity. In the end, he feels the call of home, as do I.”

A statement from Marvel announcing his death also said: "Sir Patrick Stewart leaves behind an indelible cultural footprint and legacy. Marvel Studios extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends, and fans around the world."

A difficult childhood to a sci-fi legend

Patrick Stewart was born in 1940 in Mirfield, West Yorkshire. His father was a sergeant major and his mother was a weaver.

He had a turbulent childhood, writing in The Guardian that his father was 'an angry, unhappy and frustrated man who was not able to control his emotions or his hands'.

He added: "As a child I witnessed his repeated violence against my mother, and the terror and misery he caused was such that, if I felt I could have succeeded, I would have killed him."

As a teenager, he showed an early aptitude for acting in local amateur dramatic productions, before landing his professional role in a stage production of Treasure Island aged 19 in 1959, according to the BBC.

While enjoying a successful stage career, his breakthrough film role came with Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, turning him into a household name.

In 2000, he starred in X-Men, with the role of Professor X also going on to define his career.

Stewart married fellow actress Sheila Falconer from 1966 to 1990. They share two children: Daniel, 59, and Sophie, 54.

His second wife was TV producer Wendy Neuss. They wed in 2000 and divorced three years later.

He married his third wife, singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell, in 2013.

Stewart told People: "I've never met anyone like her before. She is so smart and so informed. And her intellectual accomplishments are extraordinary. She remembers everything."

The actor has been nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, including for the TV version of the RSC's Hamlet in 2010, a guest role in Extras in 2006, and for playing Capt Ahab in a miniseries adaptation of Moby Dick.

He was awarded an OBE in 2001 and a Knighthood in 2010.

Of the latter, he told Conan: "It's a big deal for me because it was totally unexpected. It almost didn't happen because the invitation to accept or not this honour came in a brown envelope, and it was put into a plastic shopping bag with a whole lot of other mail. I put it in the closet and found it 10 days later."