Mckellen Pays Tribute to Close Friend Patrick Stewart, Who Wore His Heart on His Sleeve

Stewart’s death and McKellen’s tribute

Stewart died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles, aged 86. His longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, said he had experienced a brief journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

McKellen shared his tribute on social media Thursday. He recalled Stewart’s Yorkshire upbringing and directness, saying, “He wore his heart on his sleeve,” and calling him someone to rely on, admire and love.

A friendship across decades

The actors first met as young performers with the Royal Shakespeare Company, though they did not appear in the same productions. McKellen’s strongest early memory came from a later meeting in central London, when Stewart told him about an offer to take a leading role in Star Trek.

McKellen said he had urged Stewart to consider the risks to his U.K. stage career. Stewart accepted the opportunity, going on to reach audiences through television, film and theatre.

Shared work on stage and screen

McKellen and Stewart led the original X-Men franchise for 20th Century Fox. McKellen played Magneto, also known as Erik Lehnsherr, while Stewart portrayed Professor Charles Xavier; their characters were rivals who developed a friendship.

The two actors also appeared together in West End and Broadway productions. McKellen noted Stewart’s work in classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett.

Yorkshire roots and final film

Stewart and McKellen are set to reprise their X-Men roles in Marvel’s upcoming Avengers: Doomsday this December. McKellen said Stewart’s farewell performance in the film has yet to be seen.