Patrick Stewart hailed as among the greats

Patrick Stewart, the British Shakespearean actor who became a Hollywood megastar through roles in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, died at his home in Los Angeles.

His death on Wednesday came after a “brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, according to an official statement on his social media accounts. “His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre,” the statement said.

The actor, who hailed from the northern English region of Yorkshire, trod the boards in Britain with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre in London and worked on British television.