Patrick Stewart Tributes: Ian McKellen, William Shatner and the Star Trek Family Remember 'One of the Greats'

A day after the death of Sir Patrick Stewart was announced, tributes kept arriving from the people who knew him best: his longtime friend and X-Men co-star Ian McKellen, fellow Starfleet captain William Shatner, and the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” cast he led as Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Stewart died Wednesday, Oct. 28, at his home in Los Angeles at age 86. His family’s statement said he died after “a brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, according to the Associated Press. His wife, Sunny Ozell, was with him.

What did Ian McKellen say about Patrick Stewart?

McKellen, who played Magneto opposite Stewart’s Professor Charles Xavier and appeared with him on stage in a 2009 production of “Waiting for Godot,” posted one of the most personal tributes.

“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 on Instagram, as quoted by AP and TV Insider. “You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt.”

He added: “He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.”

McKellen also recalled advising Stewart against taking the “Star Trek” job and telling him to “think of his stage career,” the BBC reported. “Well, he took the risk, and thank goodness for us all that he did,” McKellen wrote. The BBC noted that McKellen officiated Stewart’s wedding to Ozell in 2013.

McKellen said Stewart’s proudest achievement was being named chancellor of the University of Huddersfield in Yorkshire, and he closed by noting that Stewart’s “farewell performance in Avengers: Doomsday is yet to be seen.”

How did William Shatner and the Star Trek cast react?

Shatner, the original Captain Kirk, posted on Facebook: “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,” Variety reported.

Jonathan Frakes, who played Cmdr. William Riker and directed many episodes and films in the franchise, said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times: “There’s 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.”

Other “Next Generation” colleagues also paid tribute:

• Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher) posted a photo of the two with the caption “Godspeed, Captain,” per Variety.
• Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher) wrote, “Great memories, unforgettable man. Rest in Peace,” TV Insider reported.
• George Takei, Sulu in the original series, called Stewart an “irreplaceable legend,” according to the BBC.

What did Hugh Jackman and Marvel say?

Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine alongside Stewart’s Professor X across the X-Men films, said “we lost one of the greats of stage and screen,” the BBC reported. Marvel Studios and its president, Kevin Feige, also posted tributes, according to AP and TV Insider.

The Royal Shakespeare Company, where Stewart spent his early career, called him a “colossus,” and fans gathered at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, the BBC said.

What was Patrick Stewart’s cause of death?

The family statement cited Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. AP reported that the diagnoses had not been made public before his death, and no further medical details have been released. Lewy body dementia is a progressive brain disease that can occur alongside Alzheimer’s. This is general background, not medical advice.

What comes next?

Stewart’s final film role is Professor Xavier in Marvel’s “Avengers: Doomsday,” which McKellen and earlier reporting noted is still to be released. No public memorial plans had been announced as of early Friday.

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Earlier coverage: Patrick Stewart, Star Trek's Captain Picard and X-Men's Professor X, Dies at 86 (Oct 29)