British actor Patrick Stewart, known for his work in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and the X-Men film franchise has died, according to a statement on his X account on Thursday (October 29).

The "Star Trek" and "X-Men" actor was born in Mirfield, west Yorkshire in northern England in 1940.

Stewart won worldwide fame with much-loved character Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship USS Enterprise in "Star Trek".

His history playing Picard dates back to 1987 when he portrayed the character in the TV series "Star Trek: The Next Generation", as well as in four feature films, the last of which was released in 2002.

Stewart had repeatedly refused efforts to lure him back to the sci-fi series.

However, the writers of its latest chapter, "Star Trek: Picard", helped change his mind, with his character back on small screens this year after a two-decade break.

"I came back because it was irresistible," Stewart said on the red carpet on January 15 ahead of a screening at a cinema in London's Leicester Square.

Stewart also portrays mind-reading Professor Charles Xavier in the blockbuster superhero "X-Men" franchise from Marvel Comics. His archenemy Magneto is played by fellow British thespian Ian McKellan.

Scottish actor James McAvoy joined the cast of "X-Men: First Class" in 2010, a prequel to Fox's superhero trilogy, to star as the younger wheelchair-bound Professor X, opposite Irish-German actor Michael Fassbender as the youthful Magneto. Once close friends, an eternal war rages between Professor X's X-Men and Magneto's Brotherhood.

Stewart's Professor X also features in the "Wolverine" films, where Australian actor Hugh Jackman plays the title mutant role who possesses animal-keen senses and capabilities, as well as powerful self-healing powers.

Distinguished Shakespearean actor Stewart was knighted in 2009, age 69, by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama.

He was won the Laurence Olivier award for best supporting actor in 2009 for "Hamlet" and in 1979 for "Anthony and Cleopatra". He also scooped a Grammy in 1996 for best spoken word album for children for "Peter and the Wolf".

Stewart, a long-time Amnesty International supporter, called for the release of jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in December 2010. Liu, who was sentenced in China for "inciting subversion of state power" was recognised only hours earlier during the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway.

Stewart made reference to China's refusal to allow Liu Xiaobo to travel to Oslo to receive his prize.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (FILE - MARCH 10, 2024) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. ACTOR, PATRICK STEWART (L) AND WIFE, AMERICAN SINGER-SONGWRITER SUNNY OZELL POSING FOR PHOTOS ON THE POST-OSCARS VANITY FAIR RED CARPET

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - FEBRUARY 19, 2023) (REUTERS - Access all)

2. PATRICK STEWART AND WIFE POSING FOR PHOTOS AT THE BAFTA AWARDS

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - SEPTEMBER 19, 2021) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Access all)

3. PATRICK STEWART POSING FOR PHOTOS AT THE EMMY AWARDS

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - JANUARY 15, 2020) (REUTERS - Access all)

4. VARIOUS OF PATRICK STEWART AND WIFE SUNNY OZELL ARRIVING ON RED CARPET AND POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE "STAR TREK: PICARD" PREMIERE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, PATRICK STEWART, ON WHY HE RETURNED TO THE ROLE, SAYING:

"I listened to them for a second time and I was intrigued. And that intrigue grew into something very exciting which is why I'm back. (REPORTER ASKING OFF CAMERA "What conditions did you set, what did you ask them, was there anything specific you wanted this time around?") Don't put me in a uniform."

6. STEWART AND CAST MEMBERS ARRIVING ON RED CARPET / STEWART HUGGING ACTOR JASON ISAACS / STEWART AND CAST MEMBERS LINING UP FOR PHOTOCALL

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - JANUARY 5, 2020) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. PATRICK STEWART AND WIFE POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS ON THE RED CARPET

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 26, 2019) (REUTERS - Access all)

8. CAPITOL RECORDS BUILDING / EVENT CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEATLES' ABBEY ROAD ALBUM WITH BRITISH ACTOR SIR PATRICK STEWART

9. VARIOUS OF SIGN

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH ACTOR, SIR PATRICK STEWART, SAYING:

"The door opened and standing in the frame of the door was Paul McCartney, who said, 'Jane (Asher) tells me you like Aston Martins, here, drive this.' And he tossed a set of keys across the room to me. Well, I did drive it. In fact, I drove Paul and Jane who sat in the back all scrunched up. And we drove from Bristol to Bath and back. And all the way Paul kept saying, 'come on put your foot down overtake, overtake.' And all I could think was, if I killed Paul McCartney."

11. STEWART POSING FOR PICTURES, WALKING ACROSS CROSSWALK

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - 1994) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - Access all)

12. PATRICK STEWART SPEAKING TO REPORTER AT THE PREMIERE FOR "DESPERADO", WITH EX-WIFE, AMERICAN TV PRODUCER WENDY NEUSS

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - NOVEMBER 17, 1994) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - Access all)

13. PREMIERE OF "STAR TREK: GENERATIONS" PREMIERE IN PROGRESS

14. PATRICK STEWART, ACTOR WHO PLAYS CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PICARD, SPEAKING TO REPORTER ABOUT HOW EXCITED HE IS TO SEE THE FILM AGAIN

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - FEBRUARY 3, 1995) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - Access all)

15. ACTOR, WILLIAM SHATNER WHO PLAYS 'CAPTAIN KIRK' ARRIVING IN LONDON'S LEICESTER SQUARE FOR THE PREMIERE OF "STAR TREK: GENERATIONS"

16. PATRICK STEWART ARRIVING

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - DECEMBER 10, 1996) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (POOL - Access all)

17. VARIOUS OF BRITAIN'S PRINCE CHARLES MEETING MEMBERS OF "STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT" CAST AND DIRECTOR, WITH STEWART INTRODUCING THEM TO THE DUKE OF WALES

SLOUGH, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - 1996) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - Part music not cleared for use. Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings.)

18. BARRY UPTON AND WILD AT HEART ON STAGE AS LINE DANCING SEQUENCE IS SHOT/TO PEOPLE LINE DANCING, INCLUDING PATRICK STEWART (ALL IN BLACK)

19. VARIOUS OF PATRICK STEWART LINE DANCING ON SET DURING THE FILMING OF "DAD SAVAGE"

20. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, PATRICK STEWART, ON THIS LATEST PART, SAYING:

"I've been looking for characters that are widely contrasted and stories that are very different, even periods that are very different. Because having spent seven years playing the same role in a television series I was for a time very uneasy about that role becoming an albatross around my neck."

21. VARIOUS OF FILMING OF "DAD SAVAGE", WITH STEWART ACTING ON SET

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - DECEMBER 16, 1996) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - Access all)

22. STAR BEING UNVEILED ON HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME/ PATRICK STEWART SMILING AS STAR IS UNVEILED, PEOPLE CLAPPING

23. STEWART POSING WITH PHOTOGRAPH OF AWARD WHILE STANDING ON STAR

24. STEWART ADDRESSING CROWD

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - JANUARY 19, 1997) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - Access all)

25. PATRICK STEWART SPEAKING TO REPORTERS THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 20, 1997) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - Access all)

26. VARIOUS OF STEWART AUTOGRAPHING FILM POSTERS FOR FANS OF "MASTERMINDS"

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA (FILE - JUNE 15, 2008) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - Access all)

27. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TONY NOMINEE FOR BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY FOR 'MACBETH', PATRICK STEWART, SAYING:

"To be nominated is a huge thrill. I've wanted this for many many years and for it to happen on a production I'm so proud of and to be with such a wonderful company it's worked out perfectly."

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - MAY 10, 2014) (REUTERS - Access all)

28. VARIOUS OF CAST OF "X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST" HAVING GROUP PHOTOGRAPH (STEWART FAR RIGHT, BEHIND CAMERA)

29. SIR PATRICK STEWART ON RED CARPET

30. STEWART SPEAKING TO REPORTER

31. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, PATRICK STEWART, ON PLAYING PROFESSOR X IN 'X-MEN', SAYING:

"I love it, it's great. I don't think you can be a part of too many franchises."

BERLIN, GERMANY (FILE - FEBRUARY 17, 2017) (REUTERS - Access all)

32. VARIOUS OF PATRICK STEWART, WHO PLAYS PROFESSOR X WAVING AND SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS AT "LOGAN" PREMIERE AT BERLINALE

33. 'WOLVERINE' ACTOR, HUGH JACKMAN POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH WITH FAN

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - AUGUST 2, 2017) (REUTERS - Access all)

34. PATRICK STEWART POSING FOR PHOTOS AT THE ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION GRANTS BANQUET

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - SEPTEMBER 3, 2019) (REUTERS - Access all)

35. PATRICK STEWART WITH WIFE SUNNY OZELL POSING FOR PHOTOS AT THE ANNUAL GQ MEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - JANUARY 11, 2018) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Access all)

36. PATRICK STEWART WITH WIFE POSING FOR PHOTOS AT THE CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - DECEMBER 10, 2010) (REUTERS - Access all)

37. PATRICK STEWART (R), AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL U.S.A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LARRY COX (L) AND FORMER AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 'PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE' PROFESSOR SAAD IBRAHIM (C) POSING FOR PHOTOS WITH EMPTY CHAIR

38. STEWART INTRODUCED BY COX

39. STEWART SPEAKING AT PODIUM

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - JANUARY 15, 2020) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

40. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ACTOR PATRICK STEWART ATTENDING THE PREMIERE OF "STAR TREK: PICARD"

41. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF PATRICK STEWART (FOURTH ON THE LEFT) AND OTHER CAST MEMBERS POSING FOR A FAMILY PHOTO

42. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ACTORS PATRICK STEWART AND IAN MCKELLEN LAUGHING

43. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF STEWART

CANNES, FRANCE (FILE - MAY 22, 2006) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

44. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF U.S. DIRECTOR BRETT RATNER (4TH L) POSING WITH MALE CAST MEMBERS DURING A PHOTOCALL FOR HIS OUT OF COMPETITION FILM 'X-MEN: THE LAST

STAND' AT THE 59TH CANNES FILM FESTIVAL. L-R, U.S. ACTOR KELSEY GRAMMER, U.S. ACTOR SHAWN ASHMORE, AUSTRALIAN ACTOR HUGH JACKMAN, BRITISH ACTOR PATRICK STEWART, BRITISH ACTOR IAN MCKELLEN, ACTOR AARON STANFORD AND U.S. ACTOR BEN FOSTER

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - 1994) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

45. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ACTOR PATRICK STEWART POSING AFTER PLACING HIS HANDPRINTS IN CEMENT AT A CEREMONY IN THE FORECOURT OF THE TCL CHINESE THEATRE

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - JULY 23, 2017) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

46. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF PATRICK STEWART ATTENDING THE PREMIERE FOR "THE EMOJI MOVIE" IN LOS ANGELES

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - NOVEMBER 11, 2019) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

47. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF PATRICK STEWART ARRIVING FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE FILM "CHARLIE'S ANGELS" IN LOS ANGELES

TORONTO, CANADA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

48. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF PATRICK STEWART ARRIVING ON THE RED CARPET FOR THE FILM "THE MARTIAN" DURING THE 40TH TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (FILE - MARCH 10, 2024) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

49. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF PATRICK STEWART POSING FOR PHOTOS ON THE POST-OSCARS VANITY FAIR RED CARPET