Sir Patrick Stewart’s friends and colleagues from the world of Star Trek have taken to social media to share their tributes to the late Jean-Luc Picard actor, who died this week at the age of 86 from Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
The official Star Trek Instagram account posted: “A voice. A presence. A captain unlike any other. Sir Patrick Stewart gave generations of fans an icon who inspired us to look toward the stars. Today, we celebrate an extraordinary life and an enduring legacy. Thank you, Sir Patrick.”
William Shatner, the iconic actor who portrayed Captain James T. Kirk in the original series, posted the following message on Facebook.
“What a heartbreaking week it has been,” Shatner wrote, referring to the death of Chekov actor Walter Koenig on Monday. “Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did. Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work. My heart goes out to Sunny and his family. He will be deeply missed.”
George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu in the TV series and films featuring the original crew of the USS Enterprise, posted on Bluesky:
“Fans across the world mourn the passing of a true and irreplaceable legend. As Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Patrick Stewart took the starship Enterprise to places it had never gone before. He inspired a whole next generation of star-gazers who looked longingly ahead to a brighter future for all humanity. Our hearts are heavy, indeed. Rest in the heavens, Captain.”
Stewart’s TNG co-stars Jonathan Frakes (Will Riker) and Will Wheaton (Wesley Crusher) also posted tributes online. Frakes wrote in an Instagram story, “Rest in peace, my friend.” Wheaton posted a photo of himself with Stewart, writing: “Godspeed, Captain.”
Gates McFadden, who played Dr. Beverly Crusher on The Next Generation, wrote: “Great memories, unforgetable [sic] man. Rest in Peace.”
LeVar Burton, who played Geordi La Forge, said, “He was family. There is no other context in which to hold him that makes sense. I am lucky to have known and loved so many of the facets of a soul so rich in talent and generous of heart. Of all the Dames and Knights I’ve known he was deep down-the silliest.”
TNG co-star Denise Crosby, who played Tasha Yar, posted on X: “Try as I might, my words don’t suffice. I am so blessed to have worked with one of the greatest as he purred my name, “Tasha” with such grace. My colleague, my Captain, ‘no good-byes, just good memories…’
Akiva Goldsman, co-showrunner and co-creator on Star Trek: Picard, posted on X: “Safe Journey Dear Friend.”
Goldsman elaborated in a statement provided to Variety: “Patrick was not only a true lion of the profession, he was the rarest of alchemists, one who could literally turn the written word into flesh and blood. Patrick was kind, strong, fiercely intelligent, collaborative, vulnerable and wise. His Captain Jean-Luc Picard permanently expanded the universe of Star Trek without measure. He will be deeply missed by this one fan and by so many more.”
Stewart’s Picard co-star Jeri Ryan posted on Threads: “Ouch. This hurts, (heart emoji) Rest well, Patrick. (Vulcan hand salute emoji).”
Picard showrunner Terry Matalas posted a photo of Stewart smiling, with the caption: “Oh Captain, my Captain. This is how I’ll always remember you…”
Picard series co-creator and first season showrunner Michael Chabon posted: “I know I have crazy eyes in this picture. It’s because I was crazy about him. I have so much more to say, about the thrill and joy of working with him, how much he taught me about his craft and my own, the sheer dumbfounding wonder—unforgettable!—of hearing words I’d written issuing not just from the magnificent instrument that was the voice of Sir Patrick Stewart, but from the heart and the soul of Jean-Luc Picard. For now I’ll just share my first thought, just now, when I heard the news: Oh, I loved him so much!”
Picard co-star Michelle Hurd posted: “What to say? How can words describe this feeling? Thank you, Pstew, for being my friend, for being so kind and generous with your heart, for being so funny and vulnerable, and for being so talented and inspiring. Getting cast as Raffi on Star Trek Picard has been a gift that keeps on giving, but the best part was meeting YOU, working with you, and becoming your friend. I am, and always will be, grateful for this amazing experience and adventure we shared. I love you and will miss you, my dear sweet friend. The world lost a great one today… Rest now, Captain, my captain.”
Todd Stashwick, who starred opposite Stewart in Season 3 of Picard, wrote: “We lost an icon today. Rough week for the Star Trek family …and not just Trek, to us in the nerd world, he was a mainstay. Excalibur, Dune, X-men. And that was after he secured his legend in London Theater. His one man Christmas Carol is a gift that is evergreen. A brilliant actor, a generous storyteller, and a dear friend to many. I learned a lot in the very short time I got to work with him. It was a treat to say the least.
There are many more people far more qualified to share about Sir Patrick. People that spent decades of their lives with him. But here we are. We will all carry his impact with us into the future. What a life.
The last picture is one of my favorites, cause it was the day we shared with him the video of William Shatner’s rendition of rocket man. He’d never seen it. It might’ve been one of the coolest geek out moments I have had in a string of cool geek out moments. When you meet a person who has been knighted by the queen, you don’t expect them to be as, dare I say, silly as he was with me. Such a joy. We laughed a lot. He had great stories. We all should strive to live a life as full.”
Picard co-star Alison Pill wrote: “I feel so incredibly grateful that I got to know this most excellent person. He will be missed. Voices of @jonathansfrakes and @realmichellehurd in the background, @evan.evagora losing his mind laughing in a wig cap. When he wasn’t doing lessons in spaceship physicality, he was reciting Shakespeare and looking for mischief. Love to his family, and all the many people whose lives he touched.”
Santiago Cabrera, who played Cristobal “Chris” Rios on the first two seasons of Picard, posted: “Was an honor to share a mission with you Sir. May you rest in peace @sirpatstew Make it so.”
Alex Kurtzman, the current overlord of the Star Trek Universe who brought Stewart back with the series Picard, posted photos of himself and Stewart together with the caption:
“This was the day Patrick announced his return to Star Trek. It’s hard, impossible really, to express how grateful I am to have shared this moment with him. Grateful in a “once in a career” kind of way.
Right from our first meeting, he made it known that the only reason to play Picard again was to break new ground. His challenge was clear: Picard needed to be the man we knew and loved, but also entirely different, just as Patrick himself was 30 years after last wearing the uniform. The world of the Federation had to feel fresh and mirror many of the big issues the world faces today, issues that he wanted to face as a human and an artist, which meant interrogating an ideal to expose something more honest.
He demanded truth. And in perhaps the trickiest high wire act, he wanted to reward fans with the nostalgia they would rightly demand, while subverting their expectations. More than anything, he wanted to be proud of the work because he knew that Jean-Luc Picard would be his legacy.
I am heartbroken, and also deeply proud, to know that legacy lives on as of today. A legacy that also includes being fearless when it came to speaking out about the things he believed in. A legacy that includes the way he loved his wife and cared for his family. A legacy that was so beautifully evident in the way he’d snuggle up to any pitbull he saw, and the way these supposedly fearsome creatures simply snuggled back.
He was magic. He was my colleague. He was my friend. He taught me what Star Trek was really about. And in the end, he was and always will be, my captain.”
Malcolm McDowell, who played the villain Soran in Star Trek: Generations, wrote: “I’ve known Patrick since we were both members of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1965. He was always a massive talent but had to come to the United States to make his talent appreciated by a larger audience. He was wonderful as Picard, which always slightly amused him. But it also granted him the freedom to do work that he wanted to do. Most memorably would be his Macbeth. He will be missed by all his colleagues and fans around the world. It was a pleasure to have known and worked with him. RIP”
Star Trek: Voyager’s Robert Picardo wrote: “Too much tragedy. Rest in peace, captain.”
Fellow Enterprise captain actor Anson Mount wrote in part: “Patrick was a friend. Not a close one, mind you, but it was a friendship, an “acquaintanceship” perhaps, that spanned more than half my life…“
