Biography for
Patrick Stewart (I)

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Mini Biography

Born Mirfield, Yorkshire, England. Member of various local drama groups from about age 12. Left school at 15 to work as junior reporter on local paper; quit when Editor told him he was spending too much time at the theatre and not enough working. Spent a year as furniture salesman, saving cash to attend drama school. Accepted by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 1957. Professional debut 1959 in Repertory in Lincoln; work at Manchester Library Theatre and a tour round the world with the Old Vic Company followed in the early 60s. Joined Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, to begin 27-year association. Following a spell with the Royal National Theatre in the mid 80s, he went to Los Angeles to star in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), which ran from 1987-1994, playing the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He plans to return to theatre work on the end of this series.

Spouse

Trade Mark

Bald head, English accent, strong authoritative voice and a dedicated Shakespearean bearing.

Trivia

Father of Sophie Stewart and Daniel Stewart.

Announced his engagement to former "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995) producer Wendy Neuss, aged 39. [September 1997]

Awarded his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. [16 December 1996]

London Fringe Theatre Best Actor Award 1986, for role of George in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" at the Young Vic.

New York Theater Critics Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance 1993, for "A Christmas Carol" at the Broadhurst

Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment 1994, for "A Christmas Carol" at the Old Vic.

Honorary Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

US TV Guide -- voted "Most Bodacious" male on TV 1993.

During the first season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), he was so convinced that he was going to be fired from the series that he didn't unpack his bags for six weeks.

Began to lose his hair at the age of 19.

Has a human rights scholarship named after him from Amnesty International.

Is best friends with his "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) cast mate Brent Spiner, who was Stewart's best man at the wedding to "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995) producer Wendy Neuss.

In episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), when he got up, he had a habit of tugging on the uniform where it was creased. Jonathan Frakes jokingly called this the Picard Maneuver, and the name stuck.

Is a life-long supporter of Huddersfield Town Football Club of the Football League.

Is a fan of "Red Dwarf" (1988).

November 2003 - accepted the position of Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield and became a UK resident again in 2004.

He is a fan of the graphic novel "Transmetropolitan," written by Warren Ellis. It follows the adventures of journalist Spider Jerusalem in a future of paranoia and corruption. The graphic novel deals with politics, journalism, and, most of all, the truth. He has even written a introduction to the graphic novel: "Lonely City.".

He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1994 (1993 season) for Best Entertainment Award for his adaptation and staged performance of Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol.".

He is the new Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, England and made his first official visit to the University on Wednesday 10 March 2004.

Is a huge fan of the comic "Transmetropolitan". He even did a foreword for this comic explaining how he enjoys the main characters brutality and hostility towards this world as a desire that we all sometimes feel.

Referred to Commander Riker on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) as Number One. When he guest-starred on an episode of "The Simpsons" (1989), he played a character named Number One.

Along with Colm Meaney and Armin Shimerman, he is one of only three actors to appear in the pilots of two different 'Star Trek' series. ("Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993))

Had the first line in both "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993), and the last line in the former.

On the shortlist for Prof Watson (played by Glyn Houston) in _ "Doctor Who: The Hand of Fear: Part 1 (#14.5)" (1976)_.

On the shortlist for The Castellan (played by Paul Jerrico) in _"Doctor Who: Arc of Infinity: Part 1 (#20.1)" (1983)_.

Has appeared in two completely different, unrelated productions with Clive Revill about Robin Hood: "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993).

He was originally the narrator of The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). However, director Tim Burton decided to cut most of the narration and also changed the voice. Stewart's original recording can be heard in Danny Elfman's soundtrack because Elfman liked Stewart's reading better.

In Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), he played King Richard I, the Lionheart. In The Lion in Winter (2003) (TV), he played Richard's father, King Henry II.

Has appeared with Kelsey Grammer in three different productions: "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), "Frasier" (1993) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).

Is a longtime supporter of the British Labour Party.

Has been a close friend of Brian Blessed since childhood.

Is a fan of F1. He attended the 2003 British Grand Prix, and has taken part in several celebrity car races.

Appeared in John le Carré's "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (1979) and _"Smiley's People" (1982) (mini)_, as Karla, controller of the Russian Secret Service. In both, he starred in just one scene, both opposite Sir Alec Guinness and had no dialog in either.

Was considered for the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).

Is a fan of "Doctor Who" (1963).

Created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2001 New Year Honours list.

Is good friends with Whoopi Goldberg.

Even though his French character on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) has an British accent, he has told fans that Jean-Luc Picard was raised by an English nanny. An in-joke, as William Shatner's Québecois French accent as James T. Kirk can be heard sometimes.

Besides his character named by Gene Roddenberry after Jacques-Yves Cousteau's close friend, Picard can also be seen as a reference to Capt. Pike of the original series. "Picard" means pike handler in French.

Has played two kings of England (Richard Lionheart in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) and Henry II in The Lion in Winter (2003) (TV)), and Vice President Dick Cheney on "American Dad!" (2005).

He is a huge and very much devoted fan of Monty Python, and he is also good friends with all the Python members and was a close personal friend of the late Graham Chapman. He is so much of a fan and friend of the Pythons that they have publicly announced if there ever was a reunion tour, Stewart would be Chapman's replacement.

Provided narration for Rick Wakeman's 'Return to the Centre of the Earth' album (1999).

Personal Quotes

(Discussing whether or not he is typecast by audiences as Jean-Luc Picard): I think perhaps when I first walk in front of the camera they'll say, "Aha, there, ah, yeah, Jean-Luc, we recognize him despite that charming little mustache." I believe that audiences are really smart enough to let go of that pretty quickly, but that's also my job as an actor to persuade them that, you know, Jean-Luc Picard is left behind and this is someone entirely different... I mean, I'm an actor dedicated to transforming myself and to creating original pieces of work, and I will not accept that my life is going to be forever connected to Jean-Luc Picard in the roles that I play. On the other hand, I'm absolutely delighted that he's still in my life. Actually, I think my appearance in The Simpsons and an appearance that I did on Sesame Street - in praise of the letter B - were perhaps the two most distinguished bits of work that I've done in the United States. (Discussing his love for Beavis & Butthead): Oh, yes, my passion for them remains the same... I think it's one of the most original and brilliant pieces of television that we've seen in recent years. The dialogue is delightful. I simply sit and giggle and laugh all the time.

(On preparing for the role of Professor X in the film X-Men (2000)) I read a lot of comic books.

I was brought up in a very poor and very violent household. I spent much of my childhood being afraid.

I would like to see us get this place right first before we have the arrogance to put significantly flawed civilizations out onto other planets, even though they may be utterly uninhabited.

"When it first started, I didn't think that I would survive beyond the pilot. I did not unpack; I didn't see the point. I thought the producers would come to their senses and realize they'd made a grave error in casting me. I was certain that I'd be on my way back to London...Eventually, it became clear to me that not only wasn't I going to go away, the series wasn't going to go away. I stayed, and have relished every moment." (On his initial belief that he would be fired from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)).

The three things that I am most proud of doing in my life is firstly, "Extras" (2005); secondly, my appearance on "The Simpsons" (1989) and thirdly, appearing on "Sesame Street" (1969).

A lot of these changes we do on stage. So the Apollo audience, whether it's to their taste or not, will have to tolerate the sight of Josh and myself taking our clothes on and off.

Before long there was another series, Deep Space Nine, then Voyager, now there is Enterprise. Bill was still filling Captain Kirk's shoes, and I was building shoes of my own.

Bill has one style. We have completely contrasting personalities. We're very good friends. I adore him, but we're very different people, so they were smart enough to write characters that reflected that.

When asked if he were offered the role on Star Trek today, would he accept it?: "Every now and again I sit in a hotel room, watching the show on television and I go, "Hello. I don't remember this episode." I'll be sitting there watching and forgetting that I ordered room service and there's a knock on the door. I let the guy in and he comes and sees that I'm watching the show. He's going to go back to the kitchen and say, "I've just seen the saddest thing ever. This guy is sitting there watching his old show." (Sept/Oct 2006, Star Trek Magazine issue #1)

When asked if he had any memorable production memories from Star Trek: "[I had a letter] from a Las Vegas police sergeant. He wasn't asking for anything, he just wrote and said how much the show meant to him, and that he loved his work but there were many times when it made him very low and very despairing about society. When that happens, I go home and watch The Next Generation and it restores my belief that the world will get better." (Sept/Oct 2006, Star Trek Magazine issue #1)

"Having played many roles of scientific intellect I do have an empathy for that world. It's been hard on me because flying the Enterprise for seven years in Star Trek and sitting in Cerebro in X-men has led people to believe that I know what I'm talking about. But I'm still trying to work out how to operate the air conditioning unit on my car." (Sept/Oct 2006, Star Trek Magazine issue #1)

Reinforcing human rights is the way to reinforce security.

Writing is the strength of any project. If the script isn't good, then you'll be doing a cellophane job from day one, patching it up, trying to cover all the holes.

All I know is that I have to act. It's a compulsion. I'm driven to it. I wouldn't say that I would die if it were taken away from me, but a large part of me would shrivel up.

I have this theory that these roles, the really great roles - there are elements of them in all of us. And that is part of the greatness of this dramatist, that he taps into something which is entirely human. You feel him reaching out his hand and saying to you as an actor, 'Come on, it's easier than you think.'

It would irritate my father so much - because he was a military man, and both my brothers did military service, and I didn't - that I walk around New York and I hear, 'Hey, Captain, how are you?'

I'm going to Stratford next year [2009] to play Claudius in 'Hamlet,' knowing that I shall never be asked to give my Hamlet. I've done bits of it in recital, but I never played Hamlet, I never played Romeo, I never played Orlando, I never played Benedick. The sad thing is that when you're really ready to play these roles - when you really know how to play them - nobody's going to cast you.

I had a certain fear of exposing myself too much in my work for a long time. A lot of what performing to me had been was elaborate, and at times quite clever, concealment. Someone once said of acting that it is 'telling beautiful lies,' and well, it became just no longer satisfactory to work that way.

There's always this sense in Los Angeles that if you're doing theater, it's because you can't get film or even television work.

On Whoopi Goldberg joining the cast of Star Trek: To begin with, I was a little intimidated by her. Miss Goldberg here joined our show. I think I'm right, the same year that she won her Academy Award. And it was astonishing to me that an actress at the very peak of her career should, as I was told, ask, ask if she could appear on a syndicated science-fiction television show. And so I hadn't met any Academy Award winners before that, so I was a little intimidated. I loved doing those scenes with Whoopi. I wish she had appeared more often. (May/2008)

Salary

Where Are They Now

(November 2003) Starring on Broadway as Davies in Harold Pinter's "The Caretaker".

(August 2004) Recovering at home in Los Angeles after "pre-emptive" angioplasty.

(March 2005) Starring together with Joshua Jackson in David Mamet's "A Life in the Theatre" in London.

(December 2005) Starring in 'A Christmas Carol' at the Albery Theatre, London

(October 2007) Playing in Shakespeare's Macbeth in London's Gielgud Theatre seven times a week until 1st December 2007.

(March 2008) Playing title role in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City.

(February 2008) Playing title role in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.

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