There is no denying that some of the best movies wouldn’t be the same without Patrick Stewart. Having received multiple nominations and awards, including Grammy Awards and Golden Globe Awards, he has proven that there is no role that he can’t master. Born in 1940, Sir Patrick Stewart is an English actor who has a brilliant career spanning over five decades. From an array of stage plays to television films and video games, he is known to accept any role – big or small. He is also one of the few actors that has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
Like all British actors, he first started his acting journey as a Shakespearean-trained actor. Some of his famous theatrical performances include Anthony and Cleopatra, and Hamlet. After that, he rose to stardom with some of his finest work, including his roles in both the X-Men and Star Trek franchises. Here are the best Patrick Stewart performances, ranked.
7 King Claudius - Hamlet (2009)
While Stewart is known to star in films inspired by classical literature, his role in the 2009 adaptation of Hamlet left a mark on the big screen. His version of King Claudius was hailed by viewers and critics alike, who rated it a whopping 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. King Claudius is Hamlet’s father, who was murdered and appears as a ghost to warn Hamlet. This starts a whole cluster of unlucky events around Hamlet and forces him to take command of his own destiny.
6
Legendary Wizard Merlin - The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)
On a more recent note, the 2019 fantasy film The Kid Who Would Be King offers viewers a fresh, new perspective on the Arthurian legend. It focuses on the story of a young Alex, whose life changes forever when he comes across the legendary sword, Excalibur. Patrick Stewart plays the powerful wizard named Merlin, who takes the boy under his wing. The actor seamlessly shows to be a caring, quirky and wise mentor.
Here's Every Movie Patrick Stewart Plays Professor X, Ranked
5 Scrooge - Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1999)
Considering his famous career as a Shakespearean actor, it’s no wonder that Stewart would be the perfect actor for the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. This 1999 adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol shows a wealthy man who has lost his way due to greed and finds redemption before Christmas. Sir Patrick Stewart does a fantastic job of drawing the viewers in with his acting skills and gives the classic character of Scrooge a new life.
4 Darcy - Green Room (2016)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Although many people know him from his roles in big-budget franchises, Patrick Stewart also left quite an impact in other smaller roles. In the 2016 horror film, Green Room, he played the role of Darcy, a diabolic club owner. This is one of the few villainous characters he has portrayed. With a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film isn’t lacking in violence, cynical humor, or gore. Stewart has also revealed that he had a lot of fun playing in this movie.
3 John Bosley - Charlie's Angels (2019)
In his character in 2019's Charlie's Angels, Stewart really managed to keep the audience in a bind. Throughout the movie, John Bosley is played as the wise and caring boss of the angels. Even after he had retired from his job, he showed compassion towards his team of spies. Going as far as to track where they were and protect them from a bomb explosion. Until the end, it was unclear whether John Bosely was the bad guy. Many viewers were noted to suspect Elizabeth Banks (Boz) to be the actual villain of the movie.
Patrick Stewart Confirms Professor X Return in Doctor Strange 2
2 Captain Jean Luc Picard - Star Trek Franchise (1987-Present)
One of the main reasons fans loved the character of Picard, was because of how seamlessly it was played. In fact, many science fiction fans consider the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact to be the best production in the Star Trek: The Next Generation franchise, which started in 1987. Needless to say, Stewart was one of the many reasons why this was the case. Moreover, his brilliant acting bagged him more screen time in the following Star Trek films, along with the currently airing TV show Star Trek: Picard.
1 Professor Charles Xavier - X-Men Franchise (2000-Present)
There could have been multiple actors that could have played the role of Professor Xavier, but it was Stewart who really brought the character to life in 2000's X-Men. Throughout this franchise, Patrick Stewart gives a brilliant performance as a wise mentor to mutant teens. He shows what it means to be a man that has many flaws but also various gifts to offer. Moreover, his facial features perfectly match Xavier's from the comic books. In Logan, Stewart does a fantastic job of portraying Xavier as someone who suffers from dementia. Currently, he is expected to appear in Marvel’s latest and one of their most anticipated productions, Dr. Strange: Multiverse of Madness.