Humanists UK is deeply saddened to learn of the death of distinguished actor, campaigner, and long-standing patron Sir Patrick Stewart OBE at the age of 86.
Born on 13 July 1940 in Mirfield in West Yorkshire, Stewart went on to build a remarkable career spanning six decades across stage, television, and film. He left school at 15 to work as a junior reporter on a local newspaper, but was sacked for spending too much time at the theatre. He began his professional acting career in repertory in Lincoln before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, embarking on a celebrated classical stage career. Stewart was knighted for his services to drama in 2010.
Beyond the classical repertoire, Stewart achieved worldwide renown for his starring role in the television and film versions of Star Trek, portraying the thoughtful, principled Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The role aligned naturally with Stewart’s own humanist worldview.
In bringing fellow humanist Gene Roddenberry’s optimistic future to life, Stewart embodied a philosophy rooted in diplomacy, ethics, and mutual cooperation rather than dogma. Speaking about the transformative power of human action and social change, Stewart once observed:
‘In my lifetime I have seen changes in the world that 50 years ago I believed I would never live to see… These are huge transformations in the world, brought about by people having faith that things could be changed.’
Stewart was a particularly passionate campaigner for the legalisation of assisted dying. He said:
‘Assisted dying must be a fundamental right for us all. We must be free from torture and suffering, we must have the freedom to choose for ourselves. We have no choice about how and when we come into this world, but it seems that we should be able to have a choice in how we leave it if our death is fast approaching.’
Chief Executive of Humanists UK Andrew Copson said:
‘Patrick was an extraordinary artist. As a committed humanist and a cherished patron of Humanists UK, he championed reason, empathy, and social progress both on and off the stage. His warmth, intellect, and profound sense of decency shone through in every aspect of his life. In his best-known role as a Starfleet captain, his portrayal of a hopeful, rational future resonated because it genuinely reflected the humanist convictions by which he lived his life. He will be greatly missed, but the legacy of his work is a profound enlargement of the resources we have for a more humane future.’
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For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Head of Press and Campaign Communications Nathan Stilwell at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 3675 0959 (media only).
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefiting over a million people every year, and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.