Veteran actor Patrick Stewart said he could never imagine retiring from acting in what became his final interview before his death at 86.
Stewart, best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. His longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, said he had experienced a “brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.”
In an interview with TV Insider in July, published to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Star Trek, Stewart discussed his upcoming projects and explained why he had no plans to officially retire.
Although he acknowledged that acting opportunities become less frequent with age, the Emmy-nominated star said he continued to receive interesting offers and welcomed opportunities to challenge himself.
“I can’t imagine ever officially ‘retiring.’ I’ll always and forever be an actor,” Stewart said.
At the time, his upcoming work included narrating Shakespeare’s sonnets for an audiobook and returning as Professor Charles Xavier in Avengers: Doomsday. He also mentioned voicing a pig’s head in Riz Ahmed’s series Bait as an example of the unusual roles he still enjoyed taking on.
Patrick Stewart Reflects on His Star Trek Legacy
During the same interview, Stewart reflected on the lasting impact of his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
“Without question, Jean-Luc is the most significant role of my career,” he said, expressing gratitude for being part of a franchise that had become a major part of television history.
Stewart’s portrayal of Picard helped establish him as one of science fiction’s most respected performers. His later role as Professor Xavier introduced him to another generation of fans through the X-Men films.
Co-Stars Pay Tribute to Patrick Stewart
Following news of Stewart’s death, tributes came from colleagues and fellow actors, including William Shatner, Hugh Jackman, Kevin Feige, Seth MacFarlane, Minnie Driver, Rebecca Romijn and Famke Janssen.
His spokesperson said Stewart spent his final moments surrounded by family and friends, with music, prayer, laughter and tears.
Stewart leaves behind a remarkable career spanning theatre, television and film. His final interview offered a fitting reflection of his enduring commitment to acting and the characters that made him an icon.