Hugh Jackman has paid an emotional tribute to Sir Patrick Stewart, his longtime X-Men co-star and friend, following the acclaimed British actor's death at the age of 86.
Stewart died at his Los Angeles home on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. In a statement released the following day, his family confirmed that he had experienced a brief period of illness involving Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. He was cared for by his wife, Sunny Ozell, and surrounded by loved ones.
Jackman, who first appeared alongside Stewart in 2000's X-Men, shared two photographs of the pair in a deeply personal Instagram tribute.
Calling Stewart a "tremendous friend and man", Jackman wrote: "I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days."
The message reflected a friendship that extended well beyond their superhero characters. Across more than two decades, Jackman's Wolverine and Stewart's Professor Charles Xavier became one of the X-Men franchise's defining partnerships, eventually reaching an unusually intimate and heartbreaking conclusion in 2017's Logan.
Why Logan became such a powerful farewell
When audiences first encountered Wolverine and Professor X in Bryan Singer's X-Men in 2000, Stewart's Xavier was the composed, authoritative leader guiding a troubled Logan towards a larger purpose.
Seventeen years later, Logan reversed that relationship.
Set in a bleak future, James Mangold's film presented an ageing Charles Xavier whose declining health had left him dependent on the very man he had once mentored. Jackman's Wolverine was no longer simply following Xavier's guidance. He was caring for him, struggling with the physical and emotional responsibilities that came with it.
Rather than another conventional superhero adventure, their final scenes together in that film explored vulnerability, loyalty and mortality.
The importance of Stewart's performance was also highlighted by Mangold following the actor's death. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, the director described Stewart as central to the film's emotional impact, praising both his talent and generosity.
For many viewers, Logan remains the defining cinematic goodbye between Wolverine and Professor X. However, it was not Stewart's final appearance as the character, nor the last project to feature both actors.
Patrick Stewart will return as Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday
Although Logan appeared to close the chapter on Stewart's Charles Xavier, the actor returned to the Marvel universe in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, portraying an alternate-universe version of Professor X.
More significantly, Stewart is also part of the officially announced cast of Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on December 18, 2026.
The upcoming Marvel film will reunite several familiar X-Men performers, including Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn and Kelsey Grammer. Jackman, however, has not been officially announced as a member of the cast.
Stewart and Jackman also shared credits on The Sheep Detectives, released earlier in 2026. In the family mystery, Jackman played a shepherd while Stewart voiced an elderly sheep named Sir Ritchfield, demonstrating that their professional connection continued beyond the X-Men series.
Stewart's forthcoming Marvel appearance gives his legacy as Professor X another chapter, even as Jackman's tribute draws attention to the friendship behind one of superhero cinema's most recognisable partnerships.
Marvel Studios has also paid tribute to the late actor, recognising the humanity and intelligence he brought to Charles Xavier across generations of films.
Beyond Marvel, Stewart leaves an extensive body of work spanning the Royal Shakespeare Company, Broadway and his celebrated portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek. His influence reached audiences across theatre, television and cinema, while colleagues including Jackman have remembered the generosity and friendship he brought to their lives.
