Back in Time Today
Sir Patrick Stewart turns 85 on July 13, 2025, marking over six decades of unforgettable performances. From commanding the bridge of the Enterprise to wielding telepathic powers as Professor X, Stewart’s distinctive voice and powerful presence have captivated audiences worldwide. Join us as we celebrate this remarkable actor’s legacy with fifteen must-watch films and shows that showcase his extraordinary range.
1. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
Captain Jean-Luc Picard became Stewart’s career-defining role, transforming a classically trained Shakespearean actor into a sci-fi legend. His authoritative yet compassionate portrayal redefined leadership for an entire generation of viewers. The series’ exploration of ethics, philosophy, and the human condition provided Stewart with material worthy of his considerable talents. His famous “make it so” command and eloquent monologues brought gravitas to the genre. Behind the scenes, Stewart initially kept his distance from castmates, believing the show would quickly fail. Seven seasons, four films, and a spin-off series later, his performance remains the gold standard for starship captains.
2. X-Men Series (2000-2017)
Wheelchair-bound and possessing extraordinary mental powers, Stewart’s Professor Charles Xavier brought wisdom and moral complexity to the superhero genre. His ideological chess match with Ian McKellen’s Magneto elevated these films beyond typical comic book fare. Stewart’s gravitas lent credibility to a world of mutants and superpowers. The professor’s dream of peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants mirrored real-world civil rights struggles, with Stewart conveying both optimism and heartbreak. Across multiple films, his Xavier evolved from confident leader to vulnerable mentor. The X-Men franchise demonstrated Stewart’s remarkable ability to bring emotional depth to blockbuster entertainment while maintaining his classical dignity.
3. Logan (2017)
Raw and unflinching, Stewart’s final bow as Professor X showcased his extraordinary range. Playing an elderly Xavier suffering from dementia, Stewart stripped away the character’s dignity to reveal something more profound – vulnerability mixed with dangerous power. Stewart’s performance earned critical acclaim for its authenticity and emotional depth. The film’s R-rating allowed him to explore darker dimensions of Xavier, including profanity-laced outbursts and moments of heartbreaking confusion. Most poignant were the quiet scenes between Stewart and Hugh Jackman, two actors who had inhabited their roles for 17 years. Their farewell resonated beyond the superhero genre, becoming a meditation on aging, legacy, and finding peace.
4. A Christmas Carol (1999)
Scrooge’s transformation from miserly curmudgeon to joyful benefactor found its perfect vessel in Stewart. Originally developed as a one-man stage show, this TNT adaptation showcased Stewart’s masterful command of Dickens’ language and character work. Stewart brought unexpected layers to the iconic role – his Scrooge wasn’t merely grumpy but wounded, not just frightened but genuinely remorseful. The actor’s classical training shone through his precise delivery and emotional range. Particularly memorable was Stewart’s physical transformation throughout the story. His rigid posture gradually softened as Scrooge’s heart thawed, culminating in an exuberant Christmas morning celebration that revealed Stewart’s surprising nimbleness and childlike joy.
5. Macbeth (2010)
Blood-soaked and ambitious, Stewart’s Tony-nominated Macbeth transported Shakespeare’s Scottish play to a stark Soviet-inspired setting. His portrayal of the doomed king blended military precision with psychological unraveling – a man consumed by his own ambition. Stewart’s decades of Shakespearean training culminated in this tour-de-force performance. The PBS film adaptation preserved his stage interpretation, allowing viewers to witness his masterful command of the Bard’s language and his ability to make centuries-old text feel urgently contemporary. Most chilling was Stewart’s kitchen scene, where his Macbeth casually washed blood from his hands while discussing murder. This production highlighted Stewart’s gift for finding the humanity within monsters and the monstrous potential within seemingly ordinary men.
6. Moby Dick (1998)
Obsession incarnate, Stewart’s Captain Ahab prowled the deck of the Pequod with feverish intensity in this USA Network miniseries. His performance paid homage to Gregory Peck’s iconic portrayal while finding new dimensions in Melville’s monomaniacal whaler. Stewart’s classical training perfectly suited Ahab’s poetic soliloquies about fate and revenge. His resonant voice brought musicality to Melville’s dense prose, making the character’s descent into madness both mesmerizing and terrifying. Particularly effective was Stewart’s physical transformation – his rigid posture and deliberate movements suggesting both Ahab’s whale-inflicted injuries and his iron determination. This adaptation demonstrated Stewart’s ability to command the screen in literary adaptations that demand both intellectual depth and raw emotional power.
7. Excalibur (1981)
Before starships and mutant academies, Stewart donned medieval armor as King Leondegrance in John Boorman’s visually stunning Arthurian epic. Though not the lead, Stewart’s commanding presence established him as a scene-stealing character actor with undeniable gravitas. His Leondegrance – father of Queen Guinevere – projected nobility and battle-hardened wisdom. The film’s dreamlike atmosphere and mythic storytelling benefited from Stewart’s theatrical background and his ability to deliver heightened dialogue with conviction. Particularly memorable was Stewart’s reaction to witnessing Excalibur’s power – a mixture of awe and solemn recognition that something beyond human understanding had entered their world. This early role hinted at the gravitas Stewart would bring to fantastical stories throughout his career.
8. Green Room (2015)
Terrifying in his restraint, Stewart’s neo-Nazi club owner Darcy revealed the actor’s ability to subvert his dignified image. Speaking in measured tones while orchestrating horrific violence, Stewart created one of cinema’s most unnervingly polite villains. The brilliance of this casting against type was watching Stewart deploy his natural authority for malevolent ends. His Darcy approached murder with the same methodical precision Captain Picard might use to resolve a diplomatic crisis, making the character all the more disturbing. Stewart avoided typical villain theatrics, instead playing Darcy as a pragmatic businessman dealing with an inconvenient problem. This indie thriller showcased Stewart’s willingness to take risks and explore darker territory in the latter phase of his career.
9. American Dad! (2005-present)
Deliciously depraved, Stewart’s voice performance as CIA Deputy Director Avery Bullock unleashed a comedic side rarely seen in his live-action work. His dignified British accent delivering outrageous dialogue about drug binges and sexual misadventures created comedy gold through pure contrast. Stewart clearly relishes the opportunity to play against type. The animated format freed him to explore absurdist humor and bizarre scenarios that would be impossible in conventional roles, revealing his surprisingly adventurous comedic instincts. Most remarkable is how Stewart maintains Bullock’s authority even during the character’s most ridiculous moments. His commitment to the material elevates what could be merely shocking into genuinely funny territory, proving that even in animation, Stewart’s classical training and impeccable timing shine through.
10. Hamlet (1980/2009)
Twice Stewart portrayed the murderous King Claudius, first opposite Derek Jacobi in the BBC’s 1980 production, then against David Tennant in 2009. These performances, separated by nearly three decades, showcase Stewart’s evolving approach to Shakespeare’s complex villain. The younger Stewart played Claudius with barely contained rage beneath a polished exterior. His later interpretation revealed more vulnerability – a man genuinely in love with Gertrude while haunted by his crimes. Most fascinating was watching Stewart bring his accumulated life experience to the role. The 2009 version benefited from Stewart’s increased fame and power as an actor, allowing him to find surprising sympathy for a character traditionally played as merely villainous. His prayer scene – Claudius attempting and failing to repent – became a masterclass in Shakespearean acting.
11. Blunt Talk (2015-2016)
Cocaine, call girls, and chaotic broadcasting collided in this short-lived Starz comedy featuring Stewart as Walter Blunt, a British news anchor wreaking havoc in Los Angeles. This rare comedic lead role allowed Stewart to showcase his surprising gift for physical comedy and deadpan absurdity. Created by Jonathan Ames with Seth MacFarlane producing, the series presented Stewart as we’d never seen him – singing karaoke, hallucinating conversations with his former military commander, and generally behaving with glorious impropriety. His impeccable timing and commitment to even the most ridiculous scenarios elevated the material. Though cancelled after two seasons, Blunt Talk remains a testament to Stewart’s willingness to take risks and poke fun at his dignified image. His Walter Blunt – well-intentioned but catastrophically self-destructive – ranks among his most underappreciated performances.
12. The Lion in Winter (2003)
Royal machinations and familial warfare provided Stewart with a role worthy of his theatrical background in this Showtime/BBC co-production. As King Henry II opposite Glenn Close’s Eleanor of Aquitaine, Stewart roared and schemed through a Christmas gathering that was anything but merry. The remake of the 1968 classic showcased Stewart’s ability to convey both towering rage and vulnerable tenderness, often within the same scene. His Henry – aging but still dangerous – manipulated his sons while confronting his own mortality, with Stewart finding the wounded humanity beneath the king’s cruelty. Most powerful were Stewart’s verbal duels with Close, two masters of their craft trading James Goldman’s razor-sharp dialogue. Their performances honored Katharine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole’s original portrayals while finding fresh emotional territory in this timeless story of power, love, and betrayal.
13. Star Trek: Picard (2020-2023)
Returning to his most beloved character after nearly two decades, Stewart insisted this new series would explore Picard’s vulnerability rather than simply rehash past glories. The result was a meditation on aging, regret, and finding purpose in life’s final chapter. Stewart’s performance revealed new dimensions to the character – a Picard haunted by failure and forced to confront his own mortality. The series allowed Stewart to explore quieter, more introspective moments than the action-oriented films had permitted. Most moving was watching Stewart portray Picard’s journey from isolated retirement to renewed connection with both old friends and new allies. The series served as both a fitting coda to Stewart’s Trek legacy and a showcase for his continuing growth as an actor unafraid to bring fragility to a character once defined by strength.
14. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (2005 dub)
Lending his distinctive voice to Hayao Miyazaki’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece, Stewart portrayed Lord Yupa – a wandering swordsman seeking to prevent environmental catastrophe. The English dub benefited immensely from Stewart’s gravitas and ability to convey wisdom through voice alone. Though created decades earlier in Japan, the film’s themes of ecological balance resonated with Stewart’s own environmental concerns. His performance captured both Yupa’s battle-hardened exterior and compassionate heart, bringing depth to the animated character. Stewart’s voice work demonstrated his ability to create a fully realized character without relying on his physical presence. His Lord Yupa stands alongside his animated work in American Dad as proof that Stewart’s greatest instrument – his resonant, instantly recognizable voice – needs no visual accompaniment to captivate an audience.
15. Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
“King Richard’s back!” Stewart’s brief but memorable cameo in Mel Brooks’ parody demonstrated his willingness to embrace absurdity. Appearing in the film’s final moments as the returning monarch, Stewart delivered his lines with such Shakespearean gravity that the contrast with the surrounding silliness became irresistibly funny. Brooks cast Stewart precisely because his classical training and natural dignity would heighten the comedy. The actor’s willingness to poke fun at his serious image revealed a refreshing self-awareness that would later flourish in his American Dad voice work. Though onscreen for barely a minute, Stewart made every second count. His deadpan delivery of ridiculous dialogue while maintaining regal bearing showcased his understanding that great comedy requires the same commitment as tragedy – a lesson from his years of classical training applied to wonderfully silly ends.