Sir Patrick Stewart is being remembered for the indelible characters he brought to the screen and stage, from Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation to Professor X and Ebenezer Scrooge. Ars Technica staff members reflect on his intelligence, dignity, warmth, and the performances that became part of their families’ lives.
Remembering Sir Patrick Stewart
Jason Merlin, Technical Director
Like many Gen Xers, I grew up loving the original Star Trek series, but The Next Generation held a special place in my heart. From its premiere, I was captivated by the thought-provoking concepts it explored. Jean-Luc Picard quickly became one of my favorite characters, and I admired his intelligence, leadership, and moral integrity.
Picard was the quintessential Starfleet captain. He also made bald look cool in a way only Michael Jordan could match.
Years later, I discovered my favorite Patrick Stewart performance: his terrifying portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge on Broadway and in the 1999 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
For me, that film is the definitive version of the Dickens classic, and watching it became a cherished family holiday tradition. During the coronavirus lockdown, we listened intently to Stewart’s Shakespeare readings and, of course, his multipart solo performances of A Christmas Carol. With a roaring fire, hot drinks, and his perfect Shakespearean accent, all seemed right with the world.
Sir Patrick Stewart will be greatly missed by the Merlin family.
Nick Inge, Senior Technology Reporter
As someone raised by Britons in America, there was something quietly thrilling about watching a Yorkshireman take the captain’s chair. Even better, TNG was acceptable in my parents’ eyes: a classically trained Shakespearean actor would not participate in anything unserious.
When I came of age in 2000, Stewart was there again as Professor X. Of course he was. Who else could have played the role?
Beyond his performances, Stewart seemed like a genuinely good person—a sort of combination of Mister Rogers and Weird Al. And when the world turned upside down during the coronavirus pandemic, he was there once again, reading sonnets to me every day.
Source: arstechnica.com