Sir Patrick Stewart, the legendary British actor who brought Captain Jean-Luc Picard to life in Star Trek and portrayed Professor Charles Xavier in X-Men, has died at 86.
While Stewart was not Jewish, his six-decade career included meaningful connections to Judaism, Israel and the fight against antisemitism.
One of his most significant contributions came through his portrayal of Shylock, the Jewish moneylender in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, a play long criticized for its antisemitic themes.
Rather than dismiss those concerns, Stewart challenged audiences to recognize the religious persecution and humiliation that shaped Shylock’s character.
He argued that Shakespeare was exposing prejudice rather than endorsing it, emphasizing that even a deeply flawed character deserved to be understood as a human being.
In preparation for his 2011 portrayal, Stewart consulted British Rabbi Lionel Blue to better understand Jewish identity, family relationships and the emotional consequences of religious discrimination. He also traveled to Israel, spending several days primarily in Jerusalem.
Stewart believed that audiences could enter the theater holding antisemitic prejudices but leave questioning those beliefs.
His connection to Israel extended beyond the stage. In 2012, Stewart appeared in Hunting Elephants, an Israeli comedy directed by Reshef Levy and filmed in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv alongside prominent Israeli actors.
He also lent his unmistakable voice to The Prince of Egypt, portraying Pharaoh Seti in the animated retelling of the biblical Exodus.
In another lesser-known project, Stewart narrated My Memory of Us, a video game inspired by the Holocaust that follows two children navigating persecution in a Nazi-occupied Jewish ghetto.
Stewart also publicly supported the American Jewish World Service, appearing in a 2010 campaign promoting the Jewish humanitarian organization’s work against poverty and injustice.
Although he never claimed Jewish heritage, Stewart demonstrated a lasting interest in Jewish history, culture and the human cost of antisemitism.
His legacy extends far beyond the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, including a career that encouraged audiences to confront prejudice, recognize shared humanity and question hatred.
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