Friends and colleagues sing Sir Patrick Stewart’s praises for his 80th birthday

Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: Picard

Sir Patrick Stewart turns 80 years old today. Ahead of his landmark birthday, The Guardian interviewed some of his closest friends and colleagues, and published their words about him, as a tribute.

It goes without saying that the tributes to the Star Trek actor were plentiful, and arrived from many corners of his career. The Guardian collected statements from David Tennant, Brian Blessed, and Billy Crudup, just for a start.

Sir Ian McKellen, one of Stewart’s closest friends, told The Guardian he was pleased that his friend ignored him when he told him not to be in Star Trek. “He’s long forgiven me my advice not to risk a solid career on the British stage by falling for an uncertain future in Star Trek,” McKellen said. He continued, “How he got that job is a prime example of how luck can be a lady and it will be a riveting chapter in the memoir he must write. He has so much to tell. Not just the glamour and the hard work but his politics and his open-hearted commitment to his charity work.”

Kelsey Grammer, fellow Star Trek alumnus who worked with Stewart on X-Men: Days of Future Past, said he’s “never heard a word spoken against him.” Grammer said, “He’s effervescent, always polite and - like most actors I know - very bright. [...] But Patrick can project a traditional stiff upper lip Brit while underneath being a very receptive and self-effacing and accessible guy, with a kind of American openness.” 

Fellow Star Trek: Picard actors Isa Briones and Alison Pill (no relation) also had only glowing praise for the octogenarian actor. Pill said, “Working with Patrick is one of the great joys in life.” Briones felt similarly, saying, “The first word that comes to mind when I think about Patrick is ‘respect’. Going into meeting PStew, I already had the natural respect you have for a legendary actor of his calibre, but it quickly evolved into the respect you have for an old friend.”

Even William Shatner had words of praise for his fellow Star Trek captain: “He’s a love,” Shatner said, “and he is an intellectual in an athlete’s body.”

Please join me in wishing Sir Patrick Stewart a very happy 80th birthday.