𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paid tribute to Star Trek legend Sir Patrick Stewart, who has died aged 86. Mr Burnham served as culture secretary between 2008-9, and the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister was very sad to hear of the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart.

“As a former culture secretary, he knows how much Britain’s greatest actors mean to the country, and Sir Patrick was one of the very best. He never forgot his working-class, Yorkshire roots. He brought joy to millions. He always stood up for what he believed in, including through his campaigning to help those affected by domestic violence, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Sir Patrick, famed for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday following a “brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia”, it was announced on social media.

Sir Patrick, also well-known as Professor Xavier in the X-Men film series, made his professional stage debut in 1959 at the Theatre Royal in Bristol before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1966, appearing in up to 60 productions.

He returned to the RSC as Prospero in a 2006 production of The Tempest, which was followed up with a West End run the following year. His later stage work also included a West End and Broadway run of Waiting For Godot alongside Sir Ian McKellen.

Theatres in London’s West End will dim their lights for two minutes on Tuesday, November 3 at 7pm in honour of the actor and his acclaimed decades-long career. Hannah Essex, co-chief executive of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said: “The theatre industry is mourning the loss of one of the greatest stage actors this country has ever seen.

“Sir Patrick Stewart was an acting giant whose seven-decade career is testament to his extraordinary talent and presence. We are proud to be able to pay tribute to him and extend our condolences to his loved ones.”

Born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, in 1940, Sir Patrick’s career included movies, TV and theatre, including 16 years with the RSC, and acting on stage well into his 60s. He shot to international fame when he originated the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987.

The sci-fi TV series ran for seven years, with films Star Trek: Generations in 1994 and Star Trek: First Contact in 1996. He was also known for appearing in the X-Men franchise and films including Excalibur (1981), Dune (1984) and Jeffrey (1995).

The actor was knighted in 2010 for services to drama and won a number of accolades over the course of his career, including four Emmy nominations and two Olivier Awards for supporting roles in Shakespeare plays – Antony and Cleopatra in 1979 and Hamlet in 2009.