Prolific screen and stage actor Sir Patrick Stewart has died.
Of all of his many memorable roles, few stand out quite as much as Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Before his passing, Stewart was able to celebrate the Star Trek 60th Anniversary and talk about the impact the character of Picard had on his life.
“Without question, Jean-Luc is the most significant role of my career. And I will be forever grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of what is now such a historic franchise,” the actor told TV Insider back in July ahead of the 60th Anniversary. The Next Generation will celebrate its own 40th anniversary next year.
“All of these anniversaries are wildly surreal for me, but the 40th anniversary of The Next Generation is particularly remarkable. I still remember my first day driving onto the Paramount lot like it was yesterday,” he said.
In his later years, Stewart spoke fondly of the franchise and his character, even reprising his role in a three-season run of Star Trek: Picard, which shows the captain’s life 14 years after retirement.
Stewart had some conditions on returning to the show. Co-creator Alex Kurtzman told the Los Angeles Times, “The mandate was to make it a more psychological show, a character study about this man in his emeritus years. There are so few shows that allow a significantly older protagonist to be the driver.”
His first condition was that the show was not just a chance to bring back old characters as a Star Trek: The Next Generation reunion. He wrote in Making It So that “I simply felt it was essential to place Picard in entirely new settings with entirely new characters.”
Eventually, he did change his mind. He told TV Insider, “I’m so glad I listened to the writers and producers of Picard. Having the whole cast involved in that final season made for an absolutely joyous and satisfying experience. They’re all such dear friends, but also exceptionally talented artists.”
Ultimately, fans loved what Picard delivered. The final season has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In the end, Picard gets the chance to resolve past issues and has a peaceful ending, passing the torch to his Starfleet family and embracing fatherhood.
“The final scene of The Next Generation [the episode “All Good Things…”] has always felt like such a beautiful send-off, but of course we then filmed multiple movies after the series wrapped. I truly thought Nemesis was my last time playing Jean-Luc, but then along came Picard — and I’m delighted with how that series ended,” Stewart said.
In an interview with NPR, Stewart explained how much of an effect Star Trek had not just on him but also on the fans who watched it. “Its impact on so many people has been extraordinary.”
When asked if playing Picard made Stewart a better person, he replied, “It gave me an idea of how I might become a better person, yes. I was able to absorb that and make those feelings a strong and firm part of my life.”
“I was proud of it and what we did…And it’s a glorious feeling ’cause we’re just having a good time. We love our jobs. I love acting,” Stewart continued.
He explained to TV Insider, “As any actor my age will tell you, there are fewer and fewer available roles as we get older… I can’t imagine ever officially ‘retiring.'”
Stewart reprised his role as Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday, which is set to release later this year.
“I’ll always and forever be an actor.”
Stewart died on Wednesday at the age of 86 in his Los Angeles home. Reportedly, he died from Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
He is survived by his children, Daniel and Sophie, and his wife, Sunny Ozell.
