Actor Patrick Stewart dies at 86, remembered for his friendship with Ian McKellen

Patrick Stewart, the Shakespearean actor best known for his role in the 'Star Trek' franchise, died on October 28, 2026, at age 86, CBS News reported.

Stewart and fellow actor Ian McKellen shared a deep friendship that spanned decades, forged both on stage and on the set of the 'X-Men' series, according to CBS News and NBC News.

The two actors first met at England's Royal Shakespeare Company, with Stewart joining in 1966 and McKellen in 1974, NBC News detailed. Although they were not initially close, they later collaborated on several projects including Broadway productions of Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' and Harold Pinter's 'No Man's Land,' CBS News noted.

McKellen described Stewart as 'the most respected and beloved actor of his generation' and said Stewart 'wore his heart on his sleeve,' making him someone to rely on and admire, NBC News reported.

Stewart had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia prior to his death, NBC News stated.