LOS ANGELES — Patrick Stewart, the British actor whose 60-year career spanned the stage to the final frontier, has died. He was 86.

Stewart died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles from Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, his longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, said in a statement.

A classically trained stage actor, Stewart was relatively unknown to American audiences when he was cast to lead a revival of “Star Trek.” In addition to portraying Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and numerous follow-ups, he is known for playing Professor Charles Xavier in the “X-Men” franchise and voicing Avery Bullock in the animated “American Dad!”

“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all,” Novak’s statement continued. “We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.

“His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre. He explored the human condition in all its poetic complexity and brought hope not only to the far reaches of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but into science fiction’s most iconic final frontier aboard the Starship Enterprise.”

The Los Angeles Times famously described Stewart as “an unknown British Shakespearean actor” in a 1987 article announcing his casting as Picard, the starship’s captain. Stewart never let fans — or this publication — forget it.

The article “said the Captain will be played by an unknown British Shakespearean actor,” Stewart recalled during a 2015 interview with The Times. “I was a little disappointed by that. Then my friend Brent Spiner, who was in the series, had a sign made that he had somebody stick on the front door of my trailer which said, ‘Beware. Unknown British Shakespearean actor.’”

The original “Star Trek” series, created by Gene Roddenberry, was canceled after three seasons in 1969 but gained a cult following in syndication that led to an animated show and a series of films starring the original cast. “Star Trek: The Next Generation” would be the first to follow a whole new Enterprise and crew.

Stewart was initially hesitant to take the part because of the number of years he would be required to commit for the TV role, but he was assured by confidants that “The Next Generation” wouldn’t last a year. The series ran for seven seasons, and Picard became one of Stewart’s signature roles. He also portrayed him in four feature films — “Star Trek Generations” (1994), “Star Trek: First Contact” (1996), “Star Trek: Insurrection” (1998) and “Star Trek: Nemesis” (2002) — and, after a 20-year break, for three seasons of “Star Trek: Picard.”

Stewart initially turned down “Picard.” He eventually agreed on two conditions: that he wouldn’t have to wear a uniform and that the show wouldn’t just be a nostalgic reunion of “The Next Generation.”

“I think it was (producer) Alex Kurtzman who said, ‘Look, 20 years have passed, and in those 20 years, surely a lot has happened to you, Patrick. I know enough about your life to know there have been upheavals and changes. Surely, the same has happened to Jean-Luc Picard. What might those things be?’” Patrick recalled in 2023 when asked to reflect upon his return.

In a statement, “Picard” co-creator Kurtzman said it was “impossible” to express how grateful he is to have had the “once in a career” opportunity to “have shared this moment with him.”

“Right from our first meeting, he made it known that the only reason to play Picard again was to break new ground,” Kurtzman said. “Picard needed to be the man we knew and loved, but also entirely different, just as Patrick himself was (20) 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.”

LeVar Burton, who appeared alongside Stewart in numerous “Star Trek” installments, described him as “family,”

“He was family. There is no other context in which to hold him that makes sense,” Burton said in a statement. “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.”

Stewart was born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, England, a small town in West Yorkshire. He began working with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, where he was involved in productions of “Hamlet,” “Henry V,” “King Lear,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and other works of the Bard. His early screen credits include the 1981 film “Excalibur” and the 1984 adaptation of “Dune.” He also appeared on the shows “Coronation Street,” “I, Claudius” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.”

Besides the distinguished Starfleet officer, Stewart is known for his portrayal of Professor Xavier in the “X-Men” franchise. A powerful mutant with telepathic abilities, Xavier founded the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, a boarding school where young mutants get a chance to thrive. He’s also the leader of the mutant superhero team the X-Men.

In addition to five films in Fox’s “X-Men” franchise, Stewart portrayed a version of the character in Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (2022) and will appear in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” — in theaters Dec. 18.

“I’ll never forget the first time I saw Sir Patrick Stewart on the set of the first 'X-Men',” Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said in a statement. “After years of knowing him as the inimitable Captain Picard, I was in awe — and he turned out to be everything I had seen on screen and more: brilliant, charming, warm, generous, with a quiet strength and gravitas. Away from the cameras, he was even more remarkable, with a wonderfully sharp sense of humor.”

In its statement, Marvel Studios described Stewart as a “a singular talent, a generous collaborator and a true gentleman.”

“Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from ‘X-Men’ to ‘Logan’ to ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’” the studio said. “Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art.”

Stewart is survived by his wife, Sunny, and children, Daniel and Sophie Alexandra Stewart.

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