Patrick Stewart biography

Synopsis

Early Life

Actor, writer, director, and producer. Born Patrick Hewes Stewart on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, England. Widely known for his work on the popular science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart is a versatile performer, equally at home playing comic book characters and legendary Shakespearean parts. He comes from a modest beginning. "I grew up...in a house that had one room downstairs and one room upstairs. My brother and I shared a double bed in my parents' bedroom," he explained to Entertainment Weekly.

Stewart developed a love of theater during his school years. Stewart's first career, however, was in journalism. Leaving school at 15, he went to work for a newspaper. He left after two years to become an actor.

On Stage

While studying at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Stewart landed his significant stage role in Treasure Island in 1959. He worked on productions for several English repertory theater companies during the early 1960s, including the Manchester Library Theatre and Old Vic Theatre Company. With the Old Vic Company, Stewart had a chance to travel extensively, performing in different cities in Australia, New Zealand, and South America.

In 1966, Stewart joined the prestigious Royal Shakespearean Company (RSC). Other members of the company included Ben Kingsley and Helen Mirren. He toured the United States with the company several times over the next few years, performing such plays as As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, and King Lear. Back in England, Stewart played the title role in King John in 1970. He made his Broadway debut the following year in A Midsummer's Night Dream.

Film and Television

Stewart began his film career in 1975 with small roles in the drama Hedda starring Glenda Jackson and the thriller Hennessy with Rod Steiger and Lee Remick. Stewart also achieved some critical acclaim on the 1976 British miniseries I, Claudius, which featured Derek Jacobi as the flawed emperor of ancient Rome.

In 1979, Stewart won the Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a Supporting Role for RSC's production of Antony and Cleopatra. He was also nominated in the best actor category for his work as Shylock in the RSC's production of The Merchant of Venice. That same year, Stewart appeared in the spy thriller miniseries Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy starring Alec Guinness. He also appeared in the 1982 sequel Smiley's People.

Stewart continued to juggle his stage, film, and television career throughout the early and mid-1980s. He appeared in the British television series Maybury as well as the Arthurian saga Excalibur on the big screen. One of his favorite stage roles from that time was George, from Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The 1987 production earned him great critical acclaim and the part left a lasting impression on the seasoned actor. "It simply became for me among the three or four most important theatrical experiences of my career," Stewart told American Theatre magazine.

Star Trek Stardom

After the play's four-week run ended, Stewart started a new career adventure, signing onto the American syndicated science fiction series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The show was a spin-off of the popular television and film franchise Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry, which followed the missions and lives of the crew of the Starship Enterprise. Set 78 years after the original series, Star Trek: The Next Generation explored the adventures of a new crew aboard the Enterprise. The cast of the original series, which included William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk, were much beloved by the show's devoted following. Stewart and the rest of the new cast faced a daunting challenge to win over the old fans as well as attract new ones to their series.

Whatever concerns there may have been over the public response to Star Trek: The Next Generation were quickly dispelled. The show swiftly developed into one of the most successful syndicated series of the time, eventually attracting 20 million viewers an episode. Stewart played Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He described his character as "part social worker, part ambassador." With his distinctive deep voice, regal demeanor, and bald head, Stewart projected an authoritative air and imbued his character with a