I woke up today and literally the first thing I saw was a post commemorating Sir Patrick Stewart. I don’t often get torn up when a celebrity dies, but this one hits a little harder. I grew up watching The Next Generation and, like it did for so many, it inspired me to be the person I am today.
Growing up watching Star Trek I identified with one of the less popular character. But I was a nerdy kid in the nineties, so I always identified with Wesley Crusher. And, in a way Picard became the man who instilled me with ideals that I still strive to live by to this day.
This isn’t a unique story. It’s one of the many reasons that Star Trek is so important to so many people. It presented ideals and morals that a whole generation adopted. Many of those ideals were delivered through Patrick Stewart’s booming Shakespearian monologues.
He would also play Professor Xavier, who’s goal was to create a peaceful alliance between humans and the oppressed mutant race. Acting opposite Ian McKellen they would spar with words almost as much as with superpowers. An obvious metaphor for civil rights movements, he would go on to play this role until he passed away.
He was also a hero in real life. He grew up with an abusive father. He watched as his mother was beaten, and was forced to grow up fast. As a result he advocated for women’s shelters. Later, after learning his father suffered from PTSD, he would also advocate for combat veterans.
He always said that he never wanted to stop acting. His final film, Avengers Doomsday has yet to release. He kept doing what he loved almost until the day that he died.
And if that’s not inspiring I don’t know what is.
