Ian McKellen has paid an emotional tribute to his close friend Patrick Stewart, who died Thursday at age 86 after suffering from Alzheimer’s and Lewy Body Dementia. The Lord of the Rings star shared the moving message on Instagram, reflecting on the Yorkshireman he knew and loved for decades.
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart (Credits: Variety)
Ian McKellen’s Tribute to Patrick Stewart
“Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end,” McKellen wrote. “You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt.”
He continued: “Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.”
Remembering Patrick Stewart’s Legacy
Stewart, beloved as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, passed away this week, prompting tributes from across the entertainment world — including from William Shatner and Bethesda, for whom Stewart voiced the Emperor in Oblivion.
McKellen and Stewart’s friendship was one of Hollywood’s most cherished: the two shared the stage and screen for decades, from X-Men’s Xavier and Magneto to their joint theatre work, delighting fans with their warmth and humor whenever they appeared together.
Also Read: Patrick Stewart Dies at 86: Star Trek and X-Men Legend Passes Away After Dementia Battle
Also Read: William Shatner Leads Star Trek Tributes to Patrick Stewart After His Death at 86: ‘Godspeed, Captain’
Source: Variety — read the full story there.
