Patrick Stewart Remembered by Hugh Jackman, William Shatner, Marvel Studios, and His STAR TREK Family

Hollywood has lost a legend, and the tributes pouring in for Patrick Stewart show just how much the actor meant to the people who knew and worked with him. From his Star Trek family to his fellow X-Men stars, friends and colleagues are sharing memories of the man who brought Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Charles Xavier to life.

Stewart died on Wednesday, October 28, at the age of 86, following what his family described as “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.” His death was announced Thursday, bringing an outpouring of love from across the entertainment industry.

William Shatner, who famously commanded the USS Enterprise as Captain James T. Kirk, shared a heartfelt tribute to his fellow Star Trek captain on Facebook.

“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.”

Fellow Star Trek veteran George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek: The Original Series, also honored Stewart with a message on Bluesky.

“Fans across the world mourn the passing of a true and irreplaceable legend. As Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Patrick Stewart took the starship Enterprise to places it had never gone before. He inspired a whole next generation of star-gazers who looked longingly ahead to a brighter future for all humanity. Our hearts are heavy, indeed. Rest in the heavens, Captain.”

For the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the loss is especially personal. Stewart spent seven seasons playing Picard alongside a group of actors who became lifelong friends.

Wil Wheaton, who played Wesley Crusher, posted a photo of himself with Stewart on Instagram, accompanied by the simple message, “Godspeed, Captain.”

Jonathan Frakes, who played Commander William Riker and directed Stewart numerous times over the years, remembered his longtime friend with these words: “There’s no one on this planet that I have acted with or directed more often than my late great friend Patrick Stewart. He will be with me forever. May he rest in Peace.”

Stewart first took command of the Enterprise in 1987 with Star Trek: The Next Generation. He went on to play Picard in four feature films released between 1994 and 2002 before returning to the character in 2020 for the three-season Paramount+ series Star Trek: Picard.

Akiva Goldsman, co-creator and co-showrunner of Star Trek: Picard, praised Stewart's talent and the tremendous influence he had on the franchise.

“Patrick was not only a true lion of the profession, he was the rarest of alchemists, one who could literally turn the written word into flesh and blood. Patrick was kind, strong, fiercely intelligent, collaborative, vulnerable and wise. His Captain Jean-Luc Picard permanently expanded the universe of Star Trek without measure. He will be deeply missed by this one fan and by so many more.”

Stewart's influence extended well beyond the Enterprise. For Marvel fans, he was Professor Charles Xavier, the powerful telepath and mentor who helped launch the modern superhero movie era with 2000's X-Men.

Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine opposite Stewart across several X-Men films, shared a touching message about losing his friend. “We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today, and, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”

Their characters shared one of the most memorable relationships in the X-Men franchise, culminating in 2017's Logan. The film gave both actors a chance to explore very different versions of Wolverine and Xavier, and Stewart previously described it as a particularly rewarding experience.

“Hugh and I were so thrilled when the last thing we did for X-Men was Logan,” Stewart previously said: “It was the best X-Men experience we both had, because we were the same characters but their world had been blown apart.”

Stewart portrayed Professor X in nine films, including X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, who first encountered Stewart while working on the original X-Men, remembered being starstruck when he met the actor.

“I’ll never forget the first time I saw Sir Patrick Stewart on the set of the first X-Men. After years of knowing him as the inimitable Captain Picard, I was in awe — and he turned out to be everything I had seen on screen and more: brilliant, charming, warm, generous, with a quiet strength and gravitas.”

Feige continued: “Away from the cameras, he was even more remarkable, with a wonderfully sharp sense of humor. It was a true privilege to know him and to work with him. His legacy lives on not only in decades of extraordinary work, but in the many, many people he mentored. He will be deeply missed.”

Marvel Studios also released a statement celebrating Stewart for bringing Charles Xavier to life with “extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity” and “defining the character for generations of fans.”

“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.”

Stewart will make one final appearance as Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday. The film will reunite him with his longtime friend Ian McKellen, who returns as Magneto, making the upcoming Marvel movie an especially meaningful farewell for fans of the original X-Men cast.

Over a career spanning more than 60 years, Stewart built an incredible body of work in theater, television, and film. He could command a starship, lead a team of mutants, or deliver Shakespeare with the same incredible presence that made him one of the most respected actors of his generation.

What stands out in these tributes, though, isn't simply the admiration for his performances. It's how consistently his friends describe his kindness, generosity, humor, and friendship.

Rest in peace, Sir Patrick Stewart. You'll always be our captain.