Hollywood is mourning the death of Patrick Stewart , who passed away on October 29 at the age of 86 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Among those remembering the legendary actor is his close friend and X-Men co-star Ian McKellen , who penned an emotional tribute to him on social media, recalling their decades-long friendship and describing him as a man of honesty, warmth and immense talent.
The two British actors first crossed paths in the 1970s while working with the Royal Shakespeare Company, but it was their collaboration in the 2000 film X-Men that brought them closer. Apart from the first X-Men film in 2000, Ian and Patrick also starred in its sequels, X2 (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). Ian also recalled how they first met as aspiring actors at the Royal Shakespeare Company, although they did not work in the same productions at the time. He went on to acknowledge that Patrick’s decision to take the role had been a risk worth taking, adding, “Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did for not just his devoted Trekkies but film and theatre audiences, who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes (‘X-Men’ of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway. Ian also reflected on Patrick’s life in the US, which became his adopted home, and his relationship with wife Sunny Ozell. He wrote, “She (Sunny) has cared for him through sickness and health, through thick and thin. But he never forsook his origins, and the proudest achievement of the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic was his appointment as Chancellor of Huddersfield University in Yorkshire. His farewell performance in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is yet to be seen. Ian and Patrick shared one of the most cherished friendships in the entertainment industry. their real-life relationship was marked by affection and mutual admiration While they portrayed sworn enemies Magneto and Professor Charles Xavier in the superhero franchise. The two will also appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled to release this December.
A few years later, he ran into Patrick on a London street, where the latter told him about an offer to take over a leading role in Star Trek.
Patrick once revealed that Ian felt like a brother to him, while Ian described Patrick as someone he could rely on and admire. The two bonded while working together and later collaborated on theatre productions, including Waiting for Godot and No Man’s Land. Their bond remained a favourite among fans, and the two often made headlines for openly expressing their affection, including sharing kisses on the lips at red-carpet events.
Their friendship also extended to important personal milestones, with Ian officiating Patrick’s wedding to singer Sunny Ozell in 2013.
