William Shatner and ‘Star Trek’ Family Mourn Patrick Stewart With Picard Tributes: ‘Godspeed, Captain’

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Tributes from across the “Star Trek” franchise are pouring in for Patrick Stewart following the news of his death at 86.

Fellow USS Enterprise captain William Shatner posted a statement on Stewart to his Facebook page, writing, “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.”

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Stewart’s “Next Generation” cast members also paid tribute to the actor, with Wil Wheaton (aka Wesley Crusher) posting a photograph of the two with the caption, “Godspeed, Captain.” Likewise, Cmdr. Will Riker actor Jonathan Frakes released a statement that read, “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.”

George Takei, who starred in “Star Trek: The Original Series” with Shatner, wrote 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.”

Alex Kurtzman, who co-created “Star Trek: Picard” with Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon and Kirsten Beyer, wrote:

“It’s hard, impossible really, to express how grateful I am to have shared this moment with him. Grateful in a ‘once in a career’ kind of way. Right from our first meeting, he made it known that the only reason to play Picard again was to break new ground. His challenge was clear: Picard needed to be the man we knew and loved, but also entirely different, just as Patrick himself was 30 years after last wearing the uniform. The world of the Federation had to feel fresh and mirror many of the big issues the world faces today, issues that he wanted to face as a human and an artist, which meant interrogating an ideal to expose something more honest. He demanded truth. And in perhaps the trickiest high wire act, he wanted to reward fans with the nostalgia they would rightly demand, while subverting their expectations.”

“More than anything, he wanted to be proud of the work because he knew that Jean-Luc Picard would be his legacy,” Kurtzman continued. “I am heartbroken, and also deeply proud, to know that legacy lives on as of today. A legacy that also includes being fearless when it came to speaking out about the things he believed in. A legacy that includes the way he loved his wife and cared for his family. A legacy that was so beautifully evident in the way he’d snuggle up to any pitbull he saw, and the way these supposedly fearsome creatures simply snuggled back. He was magic. He was my colleague. He was my friend. He taught me what ‘Star Trek’ was really about. And in the end, he was and always will be, my captain.”

Goldsman, co-showrunner and co-creator on “Star Trek: Picard,” said in his own statement:

“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 originated the role of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” beginning in 1987. He then went on to play the character in four “Star Trek” films between 1994 and 2002 before returning to the role in the Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Picard” in 2020 for three seasons.

LeVar Burton, who played Geordi La Forge on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Picard”, along with four Star Trek films, said, “He was family. There is no other context in which to hold him that makes sense. I am lucky to have known and loved so many of the facets of a soul so rich in talent and generous of heart. Of all the Dames and Knights I’ve known he was deep down-the silliest.”

“Star Trek: Picard” EP and co-showrunner Terry Matalas said, “Patrick Stewart was a singular talent, a passionate artist with an infectious sense of humor. He had a warmth felt by everyone around him. Patrick could quite literally command a room simply by being in it. We were all so fortunate to have him in our lives, and the world feels a little less bright without him.”

Stewart died Oct. 28 following what was described as “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.”