Patrick Stewart was „the worst”, remembers LeVar Burton in Loving Tribute

His appearance on CBS's Mornings, occasionally promoting

The most recent loss in the science fiction universe was marked by a warm and personal tribute from the man who played him alongside him for a decade. LeVar Burton evoked memories of his stage partner, Patrick Stewart, highlighting a character trait that contradicted the actor's public image. For Burton, Stewart was not only an exceptional playwright, but also an extremely funny person, whom he described as the most absurd of all the gentlemen and knights he ever met. This statement was made in the context of the death of Sir Patrick Stewart, who passed away at the age of 86, on 28 October 2026.

The public's reaction was global, demonstrating how profoundly this cultural figure has influenced the lives of millions. Sir Patrick's career has spanned from Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek franchise to Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, not to mention his numerous stage and screen appearances. Although the audience associates him primarily with Shakespearean gravity and stage authority, the memories of his fellow cast members in Star Trek: The Next Generation reveal a legendary humorous side of the actor, a facet that was brought to light through daily interaction on stage.

His appearance on CBS's Mornings, occasionally promoting his new memoir titled Take My Word for It: A Memoir, was the moment Burton reiterated this emotional tribute. He explained that although Stewart received countless accolades and awards over the years, his human essence included a remarkable ability to play and be absurd. Burton directly credited the familyof Star Trek: The Next Generation for his transformation, suggesting that they succeeded in disarming an ordinary actor to be extremely serious, until Stewart agreed to let himself be carried away by the wave of collective humor.

The story of the relationship between the seven main members of the distribution is one of a rare loyalty that spans four decades. Stewart, Burton, Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, Michael Dorn, and Brent Spiner are considered to be an authentic family unit. They spend the holidays together and maintain an active chat group, demonstrating a connection that has stood the test of time. It's only natural that this intimacy should include the difficult moment of illness. The principal members of the team were aware of Sir Patrick's poor health in the weeks leading up to his death, thus living their colleague's final days in a context of mutual support.

Burton offered additional perspectives on this evolution

For four decades, the actors have been telling funny stories about the chaos on the set. In the early stages, this disorderly behaviour disturbed the few veteran Shakespearean, Patrick Stewart, who was accustomed to a rigorous artistic discipline. However, his resistance gradually gave way to benevolent peer pressure. Stewart has learned to let go of his riding of absurdity, and the existing bloopers on the set document this moment of liberation, showing Stewart and his colleagues twisting into grin during filming.

Burton offered additional perspectives on this evolution, noting that everyone needed a little relaxation and greater openness to the game. He noted that Stewart did not hold out for long to this change, but found comfort in this dynamic. Their presence side by side was always a source of joy, marked by constant laughter. With Stewart's departure, Burton stressed the pain of being „with fewer people”, promising that they would still meet, remember each other's stories and laugh together, thus perpetuating the bond that united them.

Stewart's comedic versatility wasn't limited to the film set. He has demonstrated an impressive ability to stir up applause through funny performances in productions such as The Simpsons, American Dad, Saturday Night Live, Blunt Talk and Extras. His appearances on talk shows, including Conan O' Brien and The Graham Norton Show, confirmed that he was as talented as he was in serious dramatic roles. This duality cemented his status as a complete artist, able to easily move from gravity to comedy.

The relationship with the Star Trek universe also had moments of reflection. At the beginning of Star Trek: Picard, Stewart expressed a reluctance to repeat the formulas from The Next Generation, preferring to surround himself with a new distribution. However, for Picard's third season, he revised the original position, gladly acknowledging that he was wrong. Reports around the evening, Sir Patrick had an outstanding experience resuming old habits with the team gathered at TNG, and the spirit of play and the absurdity of the past have gone into