A Tribute to Patrick Stewart

October 29, 2026

I’m sitting at my desk when a friend sends me a three-word message, “Patrick Stewart Died”. My heart sank. He has always been one of my favorite actors. If you’re on this website then you definitely know Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard, and probably also know his role as Professor Charles Xavier. Of course his legacy extends far beyond those roles.

I’m not here to write about his life or his legacy as an actor. I just simply want to write about Patrick Stewart and his impact on me as Jean-Luc Picard. The Next Generation is my favorite Star Trek series. It combined science fiction, sophistication, and incredible stories into a seven-year arc that I’ve rewatched countless times over the years. Part of that can be attributed to Jean-Luc Picard.

Interestingly enough, playing the Captain of the Enterprise was his breakout role in the United States. He took his classical Shakespearean acting skills and brought them where no man had gone before. It clearly shaped the identity and tone of The Next Generation. I truly believe that Patrick Stewart, whether intentionally or simply through his gravitas, pushed the entire cast and crew past its clumsy first season - let’s not talk about that - and brought us an incredible show full of memorable quotes and stories.

One of my most favorite scenes was when Picard and Crusher were mentally linked in “Attached”. He confidently chose a direction, and she followed. But moments later, through their psychic connection, she realized he had no idea if he was actually going the right way. She questioned how many times he had blindly, yet confidently, led the crew. I loved that! He gave us a glimpse into something we never saw before and it made us rethink everything Picard did before that. Not in a bad way, of course. It was just fun to think that he simply made the best decision possible and portrayed confidence to his crew so they would do the best job possible.

That sort of sounds like Patrick Stewart, doesn’t it? His classical training elevated the cast and crew to new heights. It gave us episodes that we probably wouldn’t have otherwise seen. How many Shakespeare related episodes did we watch? How many Sherlock Holmes episodes? Yes, we even had fun with Dixon Hill.

Picard was different from his predecessor Kirk. Calm, collected, methodical, and a force to be reckoned with. You don’t tell Picard there are five lights when there are clearly four (“Chain of Command”). I can’t imagine anyone else playing Picard other than Patrick Stewart. He handled every nuance masterfully, every emotion could be felt through his acting.

Furthermore, he didn't just play a starship captain; he redefined what leadership looked like in science fiction. He proved that intelligence and diplomacy were just as thrilling as a phaser firefight. Whenever I sit down to watch The Next Generation, I’m not just watching a sci-fi show, I'm watching a masterclass in acting.

Patrick Stewart was born July 13, 1940. In honor of his birth month, here are my top seven TNG episodes, in no particular order, which I feel masterfully capture Patrick Stewart’s portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard.