Patrick Stewart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
Patrick Stewart
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Stewart in July 2019
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| Born | 13 July 1940 Mirfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Alma mater | Bristol Old Vic Theatre School |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–present |
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Works
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Full list |
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| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Sir Patrick Stewart (born 13 July 1940) is a famous English actor. He has been acting for over 70 years on stage and in movies and TV shows. He has won many awards, including two Laurence Olivier Awards for theatre and a Grammy Award for his voice work. He was also nominated for a Tony Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and four Emmy Awards.
In 1996, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2010, Queen Elizabeth II made him a "Sir" (a Knight Bachelor) for his amazing contributions to acting.
Patrick Stewart is best known for two big roles: Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies. He has also voiced many characters in animated films and video games.
Early Life and Education
Patrick Stewart was born in Mirfield, England, on 13 July 1940. His mother, Gladys, worked in textiles, and his father, Alfred, was a soldier during World War II. His father later worked as a laborer and postman. Patrick has two older brothers, Geoffrey and Trevor.
Growing up, his family faced challenges. His father had PTSD from the war, which affected their home life. Patrick later shared that this experience made him want to help others.
Patrick went to Crowlees Junior and Infant School. His English teacher, Cecil Dormand, greatly influenced him. This teacher gave him a Shakespeare book and encouraged him to perform. Patrick continued to study drama at Mirfield Secondary Modern School. When he was 15, he left school to focus on acting. He worked briefly as a newspaper reporter and then in a furniture store. These jobs helped him attend theatre rehearsals. He also trained in boxing.
Patrick and his friend, fellow actor Brian Blessed, later received grants to attend the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Patrick was the first person from his area to get such a grant without going to Oxford or Cambridge.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting Out in Theatre and TV (1959–1987)
Patrick Stewart's first professional acting job was in 1959 at the Theatre Royal, Bristol. In 1966, he joined the famous Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). He stayed with them until 1982, performing alongside actors like Ben Kingsley.
His first TV appearance was in 1967 on Coronation Street. He also played Vladimir Lenin in Fall of Eagles and Sejanus in I, Claudius. He appeared in films like Excalibur (1981) and Dune (1984). Even though he was in many TV shows, he wasn't a household name yet. He preferred classical theatre to other types of acting.
In 1987, he got an offer to work in Hollywood on a new Star Trek show. He didn't know much about Star Trek at the time. He was hesitant to sign a long contract because he thought the show might not last. However, he took the chance, even though his friend Ian McKellen advised him to stick to theatre.
Becoming a Star in Star Trek (1987–Present)
When Patrick Stewart was chosen to play Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), he was called an "unknown British Shakespearean actor." He wasn't used to the long hours of TV filming. He sometimes found it hard to get along with his co-stars at first because he was so serious about acting. He even once told them, "We're not here... to have fun!"
He also found it challenging to say all the scientific-sounding words, called "technobabble," in the scripts. But he eventually got used to it and became good friends with his castmates. His co-star Marina Sirtis said he was a big reason for the show's success.
Patrick Stewart became very famous because of Star Trek. He once said that all his years playing kings and heroes in Shakespeare plays were just practice for sitting in the captain's chair of the USS Enterprise. He is very proud of how the show shared positive messages and taught young viewers.
He continued to play Captain Picard in four Star Trek movies from 1994 to 2002. In 2018, it was announced that he would return as Picard in a new TV series called Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023).
Joining the X-Men Films
After Star Trek, it was sometimes hard for Patrick Stewart to get other roles because everyone knew him as Captain Picard. However, in the late 1990s, he took on another big role: Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies. This role was similar to Picard in many ways.
He was hesitant to join another movie series, but he wanted to work with director Bryan Singer. His friend Ian McKellen joined him in the X-Men films, playing Magneto. Patrick Stewart played Professor X in seven movies, including X-Men, X2, and Logan. In 2022, he appeared as Professor Xavier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Other Film and TV Roles
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Patrick Stewart has played many other memorable characters. He was King Henry II in The Lion in Winter (2003), for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. He also played Captain Ahab in Moby Dick (1998) and Scrooge in a 1999 TV film of A Christmas Carol.
He has made funny appearances on TV shows like Frasier and Extras. He also voices Avery Bullock in the animated series American Dad! and has appeared in Family Guy and The Simpsons.
Returning to the Theatre
Even with his success in Hollywood, Patrick Stewart missed acting on stage. He started performing one-man shows, including a version of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. In this show, he played all 40 characters himself! He performed it on Broadway and in London, winning awards for his performance.
He continued to play famous Shakespeare roles like Prospero in The Tempest and Othello. In 2007, he played Antony in Antony and Cleopatra and Macbeth to great reviews. In 2008, he won a Laurence Olivier Award for playing King Claudius in Hamlet.
In 2009, he performed with his friend Ian McKellen in the play Waiting for Godot. They later brought this play and another, No Man's Land, to Broadway in 2014. To promote the plays, they took funny pictures of themselves wearing their characters' hats around New York City. This campaign was a big hit and showed off Patrick Stewart's sense of humor.
Voice Acting Work
Patrick Stewart is known for his strong and clear voice. He has narrated many projects, including Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, which won him a Grammy Award. He also narrated C. S. Lewis's The Last Battle from The Chronicles of Narnia.
He has voiced characters in animated films like The Prince of Egypt, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Chicken Little, and The Emoji Movie. He also voiced the Great Prince in Disney's Bambi II.
His voice is also in many video games, including Star Trek: Armada and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, where he won an award for his role as Emperor Uriel Septim. You might also hear his voice in commercials for cars and other products.
Awards and Recognition
In 2004, Patrick Stewart became the chancellor of the University of Huddersfield in England. He taught classes and attended graduation ceremonies. In 2016, a building at the university was named the "Sir Patrick Stewart Building" in his honor.
In 1996, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2001, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2010, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming "Sir Patrick Stewart." He also carried the Olympic torch in 2012 for the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
Charity Work and Activism
Patrick Stewart is a strong supporter of charities. In 2006, he made a video for Amnesty International against domestic violence. He shared his own childhood experiences to help others. He is a patron of Refuge, a UK charity that helps abused women. He also supports Combat Stress, a charity for armed forces veterans, after learning about his father's PTSD.
He is also a patron of the United Nations Association – UK. He has spoken about his father's experiences in World War II and how he believes the UN helps create peace.
Patrick Stewart is a big fan of pit bull dogs. He has fostered many rescue dogs and works with the ASPCA to promote pit bull adoption and fight dog fighting. He often shares pictures of his foster dogs on social media.
Personal Life
Family and Relationships
Patrick Stewart married his first wife, Sheila Falconer, in 1966. They had two children, Daniel and Sophia, before divorcing in 1990. His son, Daniel, is also an actor and has appeared with his father in a Star Trek episode.
In 1997, he got engaged to Wendy Neuss, a producer from Star Trek: The Next Generation. They married in 2000 and divorced three years later.
In 2008, Patrick Stewart started dating American singer Sunny Ozell. They met while he was performing in a play. They married in September 2013, with his friend Ian McKellen officiating the ceremony.
Interests and Beliefs
Patrick Stewart believes in "fairness" and "equality." He is a member of the Labour Party in the UK. He has spoken out against the Iraq War and supports civil liberties. He is an atheist and a patron of Humanists UK. He also identifies as a feminist.
He is a lifelong fan of his local football team, Huddersfield Town A.F.C.. He is also a big car enthusiast and has even raced cars on a track.
Acting Credits
Audiobooks
- 2005: The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis
- 2006: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Audible)
- 2023: Making It So: A Memoir by himself
Images for kids
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Stewart in July 2019
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Patrick Stewart's signature
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Stewart with Star Trek co-star Brent Spiner in 2010
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Stewart with co-star Hugh Jackman at the 2017 world premiere of Logan
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Stewart in 2023
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Stewart with actors Ian McKellen and Billy Crudup at a September 2013 press event at Sardi's restaurant for Waiting for Godot and No Man's Land
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Stewart at the 2012 Peabody Awards
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Waxwork of Stewart at Madame Tussauds, London
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Stewart at the 2010 Metropolitan Opera's opening night of Das Rheingold
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See also
In Spanish: Patrick Stewart para niños
