Patrick Stewart, the legendary actor known for playing Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies and Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, has died at the age of 86.

According to the Associated Press, Stewart died Wednesday, October 28, in Los Angeles following a brief battle with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia.

For Marvel fans, Stewart was Professor X, the powerful telepath who led the X-Men. He first appeared in the role in 2000 and continued portraying the character for more than two decades, including appearances in Logan and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Long before joining the Marvel universe, Stewart became a household name as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation, which ran from 1987 to 1994. He later returned to the role in several movies and the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Picard, which concluded in 2023.

Beyond his work in television and film, Stewart had an extensive theater career, performing Shakespeare on stages in London and on Broadway. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his contributions to drama.

Stewart also became known for his longtime friendship with fellow X-Men actor Ian McKellen, who played Magneto in the franchise.

He is survived by his wife, Sunny Ozell, and two children.

His career spanned more than six decades, with roles that made him a familiar face to generations of movie and television fans.