BREAKING: Sir Patrick Stewart has died at 86, the legend who warned America about Donald Trump when he didn’t have to
Sir Patrick Stewart is gone. And he used his voice to stand up to Donald Trump long before it was safe.
According to TV Insider, Stewart died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles after a brief, private battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. His death was announced Thursday on his official Instagram account. He was 86.
Tributes poured in from across Hollywood. According to ABC News, Sir Ian McKellen said he would miss Stewart all of his days. Hugh Jackman said the same. William Shatner called him a friend, a colleague and a magnificent actor. George Takei called him a true and irreplaceable legend.
But Stewart was more than Captain Picard and Professor X. Back in 2017, he looked straight into a camera and made clear why a British actor was speaking out about American politics.
He said you might ask what it has to do with him, since he’s not an American. Then he gave the answer: when America sneezes, the world catches a cold. He said America was on the edge of a very bad flu infection, and it was because of the man in the White House.
Stewart had nothing to gain by saying it. He had a beloved career, a global fanbase and plenty of reasons to stay quiet.
He said it anyway.
Stewart played captains and leaders on screen who stood for reason, decency and moral clarity. In 2017, he showed he meant it off screen, too.
Rest in peace, Sir Patrick.