At 75, Patrick Stewart Wrote and Performed His Humor-Fueled Eulogy 11 Years Ago at Just for Laughs, TVLine Reports
A comic farewell in Montreal
Stewart hosted a gala at Montreal’s Just for Laughs festival in 2015, after a series of comedians performed. He ended the evening by imagining his own death and delivering a humorous, risqué eulogy.
He referred to himself in the third person and joked about having sexual relationships with inanimate objects. The routine included a gag about the seats in the venue, which he said he had rubbed his unwashed genitals on.
Comedy beyond dramatic roles
Although many viewers knew Stewart for dramatic characters such as Jean-Luc Picard and Charles Xavier, his comedy work spanned film and television. His credits included Mel Brooks’ Robin Hood: Men in Tights, narration for Ted and Ted 2, and appearances in American Dad, Family Guy, The Simpsons and The Emoji Movie.
He also played himself on Ricky Gervais’ satirical series Extras, and voiced a talking pig’s head in the dark comedy Bait. Blunt Talk, produced by Seth MacFarlane, was the only sitcom in which Stewart had a lead role.
Stewart valued comedy’s freedom
In Blunt Talk, Stewart played a British newscaster who moves to the United States to pursue success, but is hindered by his own incompetence and that of his colleagues. The series ran for two seasons and received negative reviews.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in 2015, Stewart said comedy had proved liberating as a performer. He said people had questioned whether comedy suited him, but that it was not difficult despite the long hours.
Key points
- Stewart delivered his self-written eulogy at a Montreal comedy gala in 2015.
- The routine featured provocative jokes about his fictional relationships with objects.
- His comedy credits included films, voice roles, Extras and the sitcom Blunt Talk.
- Stewart said comedy was a liberating experience for him.