Sir Patrick Stewart over the years: From ‘X-Men’ to ‘Star Trek,’ look into some of his best roles |
Patrick Stewart, best known for his role in the ‘X-Men’ franchise, has passed away, leaving the film industry in shock. The actor began working in professional repertory theater in 1959, and active screen and voice work continued up until his passing in October 2026. Over the years, he appeared in a lot of iconic and beloved films. Celebrating his legacy over a seven-decade career, here is a look at some of Sir Patrick Stewart’s best roles in film.
Darcy Banker in ‘Green Room ’ (2015)
Darcy Banker in ‘Green Room’ (2015)
This is the veteran icon’s most unexpected role. While he has mainly been seen as the hero of the day or someone who tries to correct every wrong situation, this is one of the actor’s few roles where he actually plays the role of the villain. The plot of the movie revolves around a struggling punk rock band named the Ain’t Rights who gets trapped backstage at a remote Oregon skinhead bar after witnessing a brutal murder. They are hunted by the club’s calculating white-supremacist leader, which is why they must fight to survive until morning. From the mind of director Jeremy Saulnier, this film provides a completely new and chilling perspective on Patrick Stewart. The runtime is 1 hour and 35 minutes (95 minutes), and it is available for rent on Prime Video.
Professor Charles Xavier in the ‘X-Men’ Series (2000-2026)
Professor Charles Xavier in the ‘X-Men’ Series (2000-2026)
Perhaps one of his longest-running and most beloved roles, Stewart played the role of one of the most powerful mutants in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The plot of the ‘X-Men’ films revolved around human beings who developed extraordinary abilities and were referred to as mutants. Charles Xavier’s role in the film was that of a mentor, since he managed the special school for mutant children to provide them with a safe place. This character is also the last one that he played before his passing, since he is going to be appearing in ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ reprising this iconic character one last time. Almost all of the ‘X-Men’ films are available, which means they have not been destroyed.
Leodegrance in ‘Excalibur’ (1981)
Leodegrance in ‘Excalibur’ (1981)
Stewart starred in John Boorman’s 1981 medieval fantasy epic and played the titular role of Leodegrance, a noble king and the father of Queen Guenevere (who is played by Cherie Lunghi), making him King Arthur’s father-in-law. The film follows along the evidence of how he has found the ring. King Uther Pendragon (Gabriel Byrne) also receives the magical sword Excalibur from the wizard Merlin (Nicol Williamson). Consumed by lust for Igrayne, the wife of his enemy, the Duke of Cornwall, Uther has Merlin cast a spell to disguise him as the Duke so he can bed her. From this union, Arthur is conceived. Neeson as Gawain, Gabriel Byrne as Uther Pendragon, and Helen Mirren as Morgana. ‘Excalibur’ has a runtime of 2 hours and 20 minutes (140 minutes) and is available on platforms like the Apple TV Store, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play Movies & TV. The story is loosely based on Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard in ‘Star Trek ’ (1987-2023)
Captain Jean-Luc Picard in ‘Star Trek’ (1987-2023)
This is, in fact, one of the late actor’s longest-running roles in the film industry. He made his character’s debut in the film ‘The Next Generation.’ However, the franchise continued to grow. He appeared in multiple instances, which included ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987–1994) across 176+ episodes, and later returned as the lead in the sequel series ‘Star Trek: Picard’.
