Yesterday, many of us felt a pang of loss as we got the news that Patrick Stewart, an actor who played roles as diverse as MacBeth, Gurney Halleck (you know, from Dune), Lenin, that mind-reading school headmaster from the X-Men, and, of course, Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise, died on Wednesday. Stewart was one of those people who seemed to have the need to act encoded into his DNA from his days as a zygote, and the amount of joy he brought to people via his work as an actor can’t be measured.
Stewart died after a “a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia,” according to his spokesperson. He was 86.
There will, of course, be many more comprehensive obituaries out there, but from our perspective, it’s worth noting that Stewart was also something of a gearhead, a lifelong lover of cars, despite – or, really, maybe enhanced by – growing up in a poor Yorkshire family without a car, and a car history that started with an MG TF. When he started making real money from Star Trek: The Next Generation, instead of going out and buying a Porsche or something flashy, he got a 1989 Honda Prelude Si. Honestly, good choice.
Stewart described his early car life and his love of Jaguars when he was on Top Gear:
He also happily boasted about how he has a “wire wheel cleaning man,” which may be one of the best trappings of success I can imagine. He also wrung that Suzuki Liana around the Top Gear track at a very respectable 1:50, putting him in a three-way tie for fourth place with Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey.
Stewart has done a bit of racing himself, and has been a lifelong follower of motorsport despite once saying
“Speed is not a particularly big passion of mine,”
… but I feel like I understand that, and believe that you can certainly love cars and racing even if you’re not so interested in being fast. You won’t win much, sure, but you can still have fun.
Stewart raced at the Silverstone Classic in Morgans in 2012, and in a tiny Austin A35 in 2017. Stewart has an A35 in his personal car collection, alongside such (allegedly) quicker cars as a McLaren 650S, a Porsche 911, his beloved Jaguar XJ12, and, at least one car possibly slower than the A35, a 1939 Ford Popular.
His love of motorsport can also be seen as he hosted the above documentary about Sir Sterling Moss, which includes a scene of Stewart and Moss driving together in a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing.
Stewart also loaned his resonant voice to at least two carmakers, both starting with P, as in Picard or Pterodactyl, but beyond that coincidence, wildly different: Pontiac and Porsche. Here, listen:
It’s fantastic to hear him say “a turbocharged intercooled V6 engine” and “dent-resistant composite body panels” in that authoritative Starfleet Captain voice.
His Porsche voiceover work has a somewhat more introspective tone, but, as usual, Stewart makes it, um, so.
Patrick Stewart was clearly someone who reveled in the joys of cars, like you or I, and seemed to be a generous and kind man as well, supporting a wide array of human rights causes, with perhaps a special emphasis on LGBTQ+ rights, often by the side of one of his best friends, Sir Ian McKellan.
For someone known for playing roles of such authoritative figures, it’s especially delightful to realize that Stewart was a funny, and by many reports, even silly, person. His sense of humor and willingness to poke fun at himself are wonderfully shown when he played (a very twisted version of) himself on the Ricky Gervais’ BBC/HBO series Extras:
Yes, he’s seen everything.
Patrick Stewart – gearhead, actor, and good person – will be missed. I’ll leave us with this remarkable image of Stewart in his role in David Lynch’s Dune, in mid defiant scream, leaping into battle while cradling a pug:
Rest in peace, Patrick Stewart. May your wire wheels be clean forevermore.
Top graphic images: Paramount; Motorsports.com
I still have the Nine Worlds CDs where Sir Patrick hosted and narrated. Back in the Nineties video on a PC was a big deal.
The original ST was just a couple of years before my time, but I watched it in reruns quite a bit and thought it was pretty good. But the improvement in acting, direction, and writing that came with TNG was astounding, particularly after they hit their stride in seasons 3 and beyond. To me, Stewart was the center of the show that everyone else revolved around. He turned the captain from a swashbuckling comic strip character (not that that doesn’t have its charms) into a thoughtful, complex, academic-but-strong leader. He did so much else, but there’s good reason that TNG watchers will likely always be his strongest fans.
And goddammit, Olivier never drank champagne from Danny Ricciardo’s shoe on an F1 podium!
Let’s not forget the wonderful TV-Movie version of “A Christmas Carol”. A must-watch every holiday season.
At one time he was doing tours in which he read the book with different voices for each character. Would have loved to have seen it.
The new one with Johnny Depp looks kinda scary.
I grew up watching TNG during its run. I used to think Picard was really old, even back then.
You made it so, Captain.
Star Trek:TNG was on quite often in my house growing up. I still hear that ambient noise of the ship in the background.
I saw a clip of Sir Patrick Stewart on Sesame Street using his famous “make it so number 1” to bring a series of number in order for the Count.
Thank you for the years of entertainment
Damn, I just re-watched First Contact and Generations. I might have to do it again now.
It is so rare for an actor to become iconic in one role and then do it again later in their career. Harrison Ford is probably the best example, but Patrick Stewart is right there with him. He is Captain Picard and Professor X.
I wonder if they’ll ever even attempt to recast the TNG crew. Shatner certainly brought his unique style to the role, but almost nobody has the gravitas of Patrick Stewart, and most of the actors who do are too pretentious to stoop to starring in a pop sci-fi reboot. They broke the mold when they made Sir Patrick.
I was too young for TNG, but saw Stewart in X-men and knew about Picard. I always enjoyed his work and how he held his characters. Then I saw him on Family guy playing a crazy version of himself and I couldn’t get enough. Once he became a recurring character on American Dad (the character was named Bulloch but it was Stewart through and through) I really appreciated him. He is one of the only actors I have seen that can successfully go back and forth between batsh*t silly and hilarious to completely engrossing serious acting, both to highly engaging and entertaining effect, along with the aforementioned facts from Jason that he seemed like an honestly decent human (very rare for actors) and car enthusiast. This one hurts.
Great post Torch.
Also, RIP Elke Sommer.
And Walter Koenig.
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts
Thou know’st ’tis common; all that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity
That was almost a Rush quote!
Also pour one out for Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov).
I was absolutely gutted Star Trek Next Generation came out about when I was finishing high school and going to college and ran through my graduate school. To have a roll model who was smart, competent, authoritative, and Bald was of immense value to me as a young man.
In no way making light of this but as a middle aged bald man, I say we cannot overstate his impact on the perception of bald men in our culture. There is definitively difference before and after him being Jean-Luc Picard.
I’m bald and comfortable with it. I keep a short cropped ring, sideburns and goatee – if I let it grow out I would look like Larry Fine.
I am also, I was just saying that Jean-Luc helped. I full skull shave every other day. Works perfectly.
I’m less particular – see a barber regularly to trim the ring, burns and neck hair. Catch the few strays on top. I’m fine with it – and have been for years. Skull shaving is a task I’m too lazy for on the regular – since Covid and work at home I’m lucky I shave my face twice a week.
Think Larry David or George Costanza
I get it. the skull shave only takes 1-2 minutes every other day. I am too lazy to have someone else cut my hair.
And he was voted sexiest man alive! He’s definitely the reason I’ve never considered a combover.
My wife always said combover=divorce also I had a prof in college with a spiral combover, in the wind he would unfurl into a windsock.
You must embrace it fully, not try to hide it. Go big or go home.
As a guy who had a “high hairline” in my 20’s, I think you’re right on about this.
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot.
Make it so.
Engage.
I was 12 when TNG came out. I drink Earl Grey daily. I think that line every day when I pour it. I did so today and found I had something in my eye causing it to tear up a bit.
Of all the outpouring of feelings and obituaries and fond remembrances, why is this the one that made tears well up in my eyes?
Celebrity deaths usually don’t register differently from other deaths for me. Obviously Patrick Stewart lived a good long life and left us as an actor beloved around the world. But damn, losing him hurts. I will miss that incredible voice.
Same. I’m deeply affected by this one and I’m not usually touched by celebrity deaths.
Having watched TNG endlessly through my childhood and teenage years, I feel like I lost someone very close to me.
I still feel the same way about David Bowie.
Damn. Patrick Stewart was one of those legends that seemed as if they never aged and would simply always be there. And much more than an actor.
Felt the same way about Robert Redford passing a year ago.
This following Walter Koenig the same week is a rough time for Star Trek friends.
And yet Shatner persists…
Well he’s damn well not going to let George Takei outlive him!
Stewart is a loss, arguably the third most important ST actor behind only Nimoy and Shatner.
I’m putting Brent Spiner in my top 3, but I may be biased.
Overall top five, but without Nimoy and Shatner – Star Trek does not exist. Stewart and Spiner led and nailed the reboot as it was about to die. Also Kelley – McCoy.
I don’t even want to write these words but that is going to *hurt*. I have a picture with him and Jonathan Frakes. I actually put it up in the discord some time ago – the photo op was a surprise to me and I was actually wearing Autopian swag when I met them.
Once read a wonderful anecdote where Takaei and Stewart were seated next to each other in First Class early in the TNG run. Takei expressed only congratulations and no ill will, said he was doing well enough on the movies that the series was boosting.
I think he was referring to the feud between Shatner and Takei.
I think it was early Takaei biography. Mentioned an overseas flight where the airline (intentionally) sat him next to Stewart. He mentioned how defferential Patrick was, and how he feared screwing up the franchise George had helped build.
He has to finish his new metal album.
Got to sell that Rasin Bran, right?
Chekov is the only character we’ve had the misfortune of losing twice. So far.
Kyiptin…
Where are the nuclear weesels?
As a major fan of his, I have all the Star Trek movies and most of the X-Men movies. He will be missed.
I polished off a bottle of Beaujolais-Villages while binging the “Inner Light”, “Tapestry” and “All Good Things” episodes last night. As an 80s kid, I remember the consternation that surrounded Stewart when they cast him in the role and how he proved all the haters wrong by showing the fandom that there was more than one way to captain a starship.
I’ve been introducing my teens to TNG to show them that scifi/fantasty fiction can be so much more edifying and meaningful than the junkfood Marvel universe. The costumes and special effects are badly dated at this point and difficult for them, but Patrick Stewart’s acting quality really helps.
The banter between Stewart and John DeLancie as Q is genuinely fantastic.
There are so many great Picard moments throughout TNG to just choose one, but for a truly powerhouse performance just watch the last 15 minutes or so of TNG story Sarek as he portrays the emotional outbursts of the Vulcan ambassador suffering from Bendii syndrome.
If there’s another bottle left, you could continue with “Darmok”, “Who Watches the Watchers” and both “Best of Both Worlds” episodes tonight. What a brilliant actor and what a great man.
One can’t watch “Best of Both Worlds” without watching “Family” after. The Picard boys drunk and muddy in the living room after the brawl is one of my favorite scenes.
Absolutely. Especially given the Beaujolais-Villages connection.
hearing this really hit hard for me, he was a legend and I have consumed countless hours thoroughly enjoying his work over my entire life, he will be greatly missed and remembered by many for years to come.
I was never really a fan of TNG, but I’ve seen enough of it to know Stewart was a formidable presence.
That scene in Dune always makes me chuckle just a little bit. I still want to know what happened to the pug. I like to imagine he bit a bunch of Harkonnens in the crotch before being taken back to Caladan.
The entire Argo (dune buggy) sequence was written into Star Trek Nemesis for Sir Patrick Stewart. It’s a tough week for Star Trek with the passing of Walter Koenig as well.
You know how I felt when I read this? Engaged.
“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not weakness; that is life”
I say this to myself at least 3 times a week. Stewart will be deeply missed
This one hurt. We lost a legend. Picard to Enterprise, one to beam up.
Shaka, when the walls fell
My lord, your username is fantastic!
Don’t tell Scotty!
Scotty: Computer. Computer?
Taking the mouse from Dr. McCoy: Ah, hello, Computer.
Dr. Nichols: Just us the keyboard.
Scotty: Keyboard, how quaint.
Oh, are we not talking about this Scotty in a Star Trek article?
Kiazi’s children. Their faces wet.
multiple fandoms, their faces wet.
Those are exactly the words I thought of when I heard the news . I’m glad the Next Gen fans got Picard season 3 to give that crew a proper sendoff which the awful Nemesis movie failed to do . RIP Captain .
Very sad, but so glad that he graced this earth during my lifetime.
Thank you, Patrick Stewart.