Patrick Stewart died on Wednesday at age 86 after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia, according to an Instagram post announcing the news.

Stewart’s career spanned more than six decades, beginning in Shakespearean theatre and UK television before gaining international fame as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films.

His final appearances include work across film and television, with fan interest in streaming his extensive catalogue across various services. Notable credits include Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (1999), John Thornton in North & South (1975), and the ghost of Hamlet’s father in Hamlet (2009). He also appeared as Darcy Banker in Green Room (2015) and as Captain Ahab in Moby Dick (1998).

Stewart’s influence extended to voice work, including the Pharaoh Seti I in The Prince of Egypt (1998). His career highlights encompass Star Trek films and series, the X-Men franchise, and recent projects up to the late 2010s and beyond. His final on-screen presence is noted to be in productions released in the late 2020s.

Fans and colleagues remember Stewart for his commanding stage presence and versatility across genres, from science fiction to drama to animation. Streaming platforms continue to offer access to many of his performances for new generations of viewers.