Patrick Stewart Denied Retirement Plans Just Months Before His Passing

Sir Patrick Stewart had no plans to slow down just three months before his death at age 86.

Stewart died on Wednesday, October 28, after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.

However, in July, when asked about the possibility of retirement, Stewart said, “As any actor my age will tell you, there are fewer and fewer available roles as we get older.”

“That being said, I still continue to receive interesting offers, and I love being challenged by new work, like voicing a pig’s head in Riz Ahmed’s brilliant new series Bait. I can’t imagine ever officially ‘retiring.’ I’ll always and forever be an actor,” he added.

While it’s unclear when Stewart received his diagnosis, the Mayo Clinic explains that Lewy Body Dementia is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.

The disease causes a decline in mental abilities that gradually gets worse over time. Symptoms include visual hallucinations, changes in alertness and attention.

The legendary actor’s final role will be as Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday, which is set to release in theaters in December.

This story was originally published by Parade on Oct 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.