Patrick Stewart, ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men’ actor, dies aged 86

(CNN) — Patrick Stewart, the gentlemanly British actor best known for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek” and later as the erudite mutant mentor Professor X in “X-Men,” has died at the age of 86, according to his spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak. Stewart died in his Los Angeles home Wednesday night, after a “short and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia,” read a statement shared by Novak. “We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invisible grace,” it said. Stewart was most famed for his role in the hugely popular science fiction series “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” which ran from 1987 to 1994 and charted the adventures of the crew of the Starship Enterprise as it battled against evil forces in the galaxy. The franchise yielded several spin-off movies. Stewart’s most recent turn as Picard came in the series “Star Trek: Picard,” which ran from 2020 to 2023. William Shatner, w