Patrick Stewart Dies at 86: Ian McKellen, William Shatner and Hugh Jackman Pay Tribute
Ian McKellen, William Shatner, Hugh Jackman and Stewart's Star Trek and X-Men families remembered the actor in tributes published after his death on Oct. 28, and his son Daniel shared a stage photo from their work together.
The tributes to Sir Patrick Stewart kept coming after his death on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at his Los Angeles home at 86. Ian McKellen, his longtime friend and X-Men collaborator, paid tribute on Instagram, reflecting on a friendship that began nearly half a century earlier when they were young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company, USA TODAY reported. "He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love," McKellen, 87, wrote. McKellen recalled once worrying Hollywood would draw Stewart away from British theater when Stewart told him about the Star Trek opportunity, and concluded by telling fans: "His farewell performance in 'Avengers: Doomsday' is yet to be seen."
William Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk opposite Stewart's Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the 1994 film "Star Trek Generations," wrote on Instagram: "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." Jonathan Frakes, Stewart's Next Generation co-star, told USA TODAY: "There is 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." LeVar Burton told USA TODAY: "He was family. There is no other context in which to hold him that makes sense."
From the X-Men films, Hugh Jackman wrote on Instagram: "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." Famke Janssen told USA TODAY Stewart was "a legend. One of the greats," and said he would be missed but never forgotten. Stewart's son Daniel Stewart, 59, took to X hours after the news broke, sharing an image from the father-son pair's performance in J.B. Priestley's "Johnson Over Jordan," in which Daniel carries his father on his back. Stewart is survived by his third wife, musician Sunny Ozell, and his two children, Daniel and Sophie, USA TODAY reported.
