Ian McKellen's Heartbreaking Tribute to Patrick Stewart Reveals the Advice He Ignored

Sir Ian McKellen has paid an emotional tribute to his close friend Sir Patrick Stewart following his death aged 86, revealing how he once tried to discourage the actor from accepting the Star Trek role that would make him internationally famous.

Stewart died at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday 28 October after living with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. McKellen, who shared a friendship with the actor spanning more than five decades, remembered him as a proud Yorkshireman whose honesty and warmth made him deeply loved by those closest to him.

Writing on Instagram on Thursday, McKellen described Stewart as someone who never forgot his roots in West Yorkshire, despite becoming one of Hollywood's most recognisable actors.

"He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love," he wrote.

Ian McKellen reveals the Star Trek advice Patrick Stewart ignored

McKellen recalled first meeting Stewart when they were young actors working with the Royal Shakespeare Company, before encountering him again in London when Stewart revealed he had been offered a leading role in Star Trek.

Concerned that the opportunity might damage his friend's theatre career, McKellen questioned whether moving to Hollywood was worth the risk of spending years away from the British stage.

Stewart ignored the warning and went on to become internationally famous as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, a decision McKellen later celebrated as one that benefited audiences around the world.

The pair subsequently appeared together in the X-Men films as Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto, while also sharing the stage in acclaimed productions of Waiting for Godot and No Man's Land.

Their friendship extended beyond their professional lives, with McKellen officiating Stewart's wedding to singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell in 2013.

Patrick Stewart never forgot his Yorkshire roots

McKellen also praised Stewart's commitment to his birthplace, remembering how the actor maintained a strong connection to Yorkshire throughout his career.

He highlighted Stewart's appointment as Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield as a particularly meaningful achievement, describing his friend as one of the most respected performers of his generation.

McKellen's tribute concluded by acknowledging Sunny, who had supported Stewart through his final years, while remembering a friendship that continued long after their first meeting in the theatre.

Stewart will make a final posthumous screen appearance as Professor Charles Xavier in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in December 2026.

Read more about Sir Patrick Stewart's death and his remarkable career.

Image credits: Mike Marsland/WireImage