“Seize the time… Live now. Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.”
Today, we learnt of the sad passing of Sir Patrick Stewart, at the age of 86.
Known to many as Captain Jean Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise D since 1987 (170 episodes, 4 feature films and, of course, Star Trek: Picard), he was also Professor X (Charles Xavier) to so many of us in the Fox (and later Marvel) movies since the year 2000, with his appearance in Avengers: Doomsday soon to release.
We mustn’t forget his role as Gurney Halleck, the troubadour in David Lynch’s 80s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune (where he was apparently under the impression that Sting was a police officer, being less than familiar with 80s pop), or his role in 1981’s “Excalibur”.
Patrick was a renowned thespian before his time on the Enterprise, a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. For all we had become used to his calm, authoritative ‘English’ accent, he originally hailed from the small town of Mirfield, Yorkshire, in the North of England.
His time on the Enterprise was a far journey from his first ever TV role, as a fireman on Coronation Street in 1967! He made a number of close friendships from his time in theatre, including Sir Ian McKellan and the inimitable Sir Brian Blessed.
Born in 1940, his life spanned a large amount of change, both technological and societal, and he was well known as a patron of the Humanist Society, and a loud voice for change in the matter of domestic violence and veterans’ mental health, following his experiences with his parents in his childhood. He also championed animal welfare, and was known to foster pit bulls (Remembering “Number One” from ST:Picard). Speaking to the Guardian, he said that the stage offered him an “escape”.
He apparently had been suffering from Alzheimer’s, as well as Lewy Body Dementia. When discussing his upcoming role in Doomsday, he said he had no intention of retiring from acting.
“As any actor my age will tell you, there are fewer and fewer available roles as we get older,” he said. “I can’t imagine ever officially ‘retiring.’ I’ll always and forever be an actor.”
Our sympathies and thoughts are with his wife, Sunny, and the rest of his family and friends at this difficult time. He was much loved, and tributes are pouring in from the Royal Shakespeare Company, costars including Wil Wheaton, Hugh Jackman and many others, and the various organisations and causes he championed and supported.
He leaves a large hole in popular culture, as well as the memories and hearts of millions across the world, both in the theatre and popular culture. Truly he was one of the best of us.
Coming in the same week as the passing of Walter Koenig, this has been a tough week for fans of Star Trek. It is a time for quiet reflection, with maybe a hot drink and dare we suggest “Tea, Earl Grey, hot”?
I’ll finish with a quote stolen from his (Much recommended) memoir:
“Like me, Jean-Luc has lived an unusual life that has taken him far beyond the bounds of normal human experience. But he is also someone who has remained true to his earthbound roots, for they are what gave him his identity. In the end, he feels the call of home, as do I.”
