Patrick Stewart, Shakespearean actor turned 'Star Trek' and 'X-Men' star, dies at 86

Newswire reports that Patrick Stewart, the British actor and director, died at 86 on Thursday, while Sri Lanka Mirror reports that he died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. Lankadeepa, Newsfirst (සිංහල), Ada Derana (සිංහල), Ada Derana, Hiru News, Hiru News (සිංහල) and Hiru News (தமிழ்) also report his death; Lankadeepa and Newsfirst (සිංහල) give his age as 86.

Newswire and Sri Lanka Mirror report that Stewart became internationally known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’. Newswire says he took the role at 47 and returned to it in the spin-off ‘Star Trek: Picard’, which ended in 2023. Daily Mirror and Newsfirst (සිංහල) also identify his association with the ‘Star Trek’ franchise.

Daily Mirror, Newsfirst (සිංහල), Hiru News and Ada Derana report his connection to the ‘X-Men’ films, where he played Professor Charles Xavier. Sri Lanka Mirror reports that he was cast as Professor X in 2000. Newswire and Sri Lanka Mirror also describe his longstanding ties to the Royal Shakespeare Company; Sri Lanka Mirror dates his first professional acting work with the company to 1966.

Newswire reports that an official statement on Stewart’s social media accounts attributed his death to a brief period living with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Sri Lanka Mirror also says his Instagram account announced that he had Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, while Newsfirst (සිංහල) reports that he had Alzheimer’s and dementia-related conditions. Newswire says he was born in Mirfield, England; Sri Lanka Mirror reports that tributes followed the news, including one from ‘X-Men’ co-star Hugh Jackman.