Patrick Stewart, Iconic 'X-Men' Actor, Honored by Marvel Stars After His Death at 86
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Hugh Jackman and more Marvel stars paid tribute to Patrick Stewart after his heartbreaking death at 86.
“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today,” Jackman wrote in his Instagram tribute Thursday shortly after the news.
“And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days,” the actor concluded alongside photos of him and Stewart embracing.
In the beloved Marvel franchise, Stewart played Professor Charles Xavier, while Jackman portrayed Wolverine. The two men starred alongside each other in several films together across the film series, first in 2000’s “X-Men” and most recently in 2017’s “Logan.”
Famke Janssen, who played Jean Grey in the “X-Men” franchise, called the late actor a “legend” in a statement to Page Six.
“Patrick was a legend. One of the greats. I had the pleasure and honor of working with him over several decades. First as Kamala opposite him as Captain Picard in ‘Startrek: The Next Generation’ and later on as Jean Grey with Patrick embodying Professor X in the ‘X-Men’ movies. You will be missed, Patrick, but never forgotten.”
Marvel Studios executive Kevin Feige also shared a sweet remembrance of his time knowing Stewart in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
“I’ll never forget the first time I saw Sir Patrick Stewart on the set of the first ‘X-Men.’ After years of knowing him as the inimitable Captain Picard, I was in awe — and he turned out to be everything I had seen on screen and more: brilliant, charming, warm, generous, with a quiet strength and gravitas,” Feige recalled.
“Away from the cameras, he was even more remarkable, with a wonderfully sharp sense of humor. It was a true privilege to know him and to work with him,” he added. “His legacy lives on not only in decades of extraordinary work, but in the many, many people he mentored. He will be deeply missed.”
Feige’s comments followed a statement from Marvel Studios’ via X, which noted that “all of us” are “deeply saddened” by the legendary actor’s death.
“Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from ‘X-Men’ to ‘Logan’ to ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’” the statement read.
“He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman. Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends, and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art.”
Stewart’s portrayal of Professor Charles Xavier became one of the defining performances of the “X-Men” franchise, bringing emotional depth to the powerful telepath who founded a school for mutants and championed peaceful coexistence with humans.
Across the original trilogy, “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and “Logan,” Stewart helped establish Xavier as the franchise’s moral center, elevating the superhero films into a broader exploration of discrimination, humanity and hope.
Additionally, several of Stewart’s co-stars from his other iconic projects have paid tribute to the beloved actor.
His “Star Trek” franchise co-star William Shatner called Stewart “a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor” in his heartbreaking tribute.
As Page Six previously reported, Stewart’s family announced Thursday via Instagram that he died Wednesday “following a brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
In his final interview, just three months before his passing, the “Dune” (1984) actor sadly declared there were “fewer and fewer available roles” for actors as they age.
“As any actor my age will tell you, there are fewer and fewer available roles as we get older,” the “Star Trek” icon told TV Insider in July.
However, the setback didn’t discourage Stewart from actively pursuing more roles.
“I still continue to receive interesting offers and I love being challenged by new work,” he said. “I can’t imagine ever officially ‘retiring.’ I’ll always and forever be an actor.”
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