The Star Trek family is saying goodbye to its captain. Tributes are pouring in for Sir Patrick Stewart following the news of his death at 86, with fellow USS Enterprise captain William Shatner leading the farewells: “Godspeed, Captain.”
Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard (Credits: Variety)
William Shatner’s Tribute to Patrick Stewart
Shatner posted a lengthy statement 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.”
How Patrick Stewart Died and Who Is Mourning Him
According to a statement from his longtime spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak, Stewart passed away Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles after “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.” The family asked that memorial contributions be made to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund in lieu of flowers.
The grief has spread far beyond the final frontier. Marvel Studios mourned the loss of their Professor Charles Xavier, with president Kevin Feige remembering Stewart as “brilliant, charming, warm, generous, with a quiet strength and gravitas.” Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas posted “Oh Captain, my Captain,” while Stewart’s Enterprise crew spoke up too — Jonathan Frakes wrote “Rest in peace my friend,” and Wil Wheaton shared a photo of the two together. A24, James Mangold, and the TCL Chinese Theatres also paid their respects.
A Career From the Royal Shakespeare Company to the Enterprise
Born July 13, 1940, Stewart spent 16 years with the Royal Shakespeare Company (1966-1982) before taking command as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987 — a role he played for seven seasons and over 170 episodes, four feature films, and three seasons of the revival Star Trek: Picard. His loss comes just days after fellow Star Trek legend Walter Koenig, who passed at 90 on October 25.
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Source: Variety — read the full story there.
