Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios Pay Tribute to Sir Patrick Stewart After Actor’s Death at 86

Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios and COO of Marvel, has given a heartfelt response to the death of acclaimed actor Sir Patrick Stewart.

Stewart, best known for his roles as Jean Luc Picard in Star Trek and Charles Xavier in Marvel’s X-Men films, died on Wednesday, October 28 following a brief battle with Alzheimer’s and Lewy Body Dementia. His family broke the news in a public statement on October 29.

As shared by Variety, Kevin Feige gave a touching eulogy to the celebrated actor and knight following the news of his death.

In Pictures: Sir Patrick Stewart

“I’ll never forget the first time I saw Sir Patrick Stewart on the set of the first X-Men,” Feige said. “After years of knowing him as the inimitable Captain Picard, I was in awe — and he turned out to be everything I had seen on screen and more: brilliant, charming, warm, generous, with a quiet strength and gravitas.”

“Away from the cameras, he was even more remarkable, with a wonderfully sharp sense of humor. It was a true privilege to know him and to work with him. His legacy lives on not only in decades of extraordinary work, but in the many, many people he mentored. He will be deeply missed.”

Marvel Studios also released a statement after in a post on its official Twitter/X account.

“All of us at Marvel Studios are deeply saddened by the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart. Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from X-Men to Logan to Avengers: Doomsday. He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman. Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends, and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art.”

Hugh Jackman, who starred alongside Stewart as Wolverine, also shared a tribute to the actor on Instagram, along with two photos from their time working together.

“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days,” he wrote.

On Twitter/X, James Mangold, the director of Logan, posted a wordless tribute to Stewart. His post included a GIF from Logan and a photo of an empty wheelchair. Heartbreakingly, it’s worth noting that the film followed an ‘old man Logan’ as he cared for a sickly and aging Charles Xavier who also suffered from dementia.

David Hayter, who wrote the 2000’s X-Men movie, also shared a post remembering Stewart. “Damn. He was so kind to me on the X-MEN set. I was so touched to see his magical friendship with Ian McKellen bloom on that film. A true gentleman. A wellspring of effortless charisma. A galaxy-spanning talent. Thank you for the memories, Professor,” he wrote.

The Russo Brothers, who famously directed some of the biggest and most iconic films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, spoke out about their time working with Stewart in a public statement.

“We’ve been lucky enough to work with some of our childhood heroes. And Sir Patrick Stewart will always be one of them. A legendary actor with an unmistakeable presence, and an unmatched integrity. Thank you for entertaining all of us, sir. And for teaching us humanity, both on and off the screen. Sending our love to your family, friends, and fans around the world,” they said.

All of us at Marvel Studios are deeply saddened by the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart. Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from “X-Men” to “Logan” to “Avengers: Doomsday.” He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman. Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends, and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art.

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) October 29, 2026

Avengers: Doomsday marks Stewart’s final film performance, where he will reprise his role as Charles Xavier. He was 86 years at the time of his death, leaving behind a storied legacy of unforgettable performances in film, television, video games, and stage plays.

Marvel fans have gathered online to grieve together, with many quoting a line from Stewart’s Charles Xavier: “Just because someone stumbles and loses their way, it doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.”

In lieu of flowers, Stewart’s family urged friends and fans to donate to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources.

Image Credits: Rich Fury/Getty Images

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.