Saturday Night Live paid tribute to the late Patrick Stewart following his death at age 86 last week.
The NBC sketch comedy show reaired a brief clip from Stewart’s February 5, 1994, hosting stint, in which he enthusiastically introduced that night’s musical guests, Salt-N-Pepa. Clips of Stewart’s two SNL musical introductions have gone viral in recent years due to his high-energy delivery.
SNL also flashed a title card on screen in Stewart’s memory during Saturday’s show, including one of the bumper promo photos that he shot during the week he hosted in 1994.
The entertainment world has come together over the last few days to share their love and respect for Stewart, following the Thursday, October 29, announcement that he’d died one day earlier following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
“[Patrick experienced] a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia,” his longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, confirmed. “He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all.”
Novak’s statement concluded, “We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”
Stewart’s Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia diagnoses were not publicly disclosed before his death. (The Mayo Clinic states that Lewy body dementia is the second most common form of Alzheimer’s disease. The condition — which impairs memory and movement as well as causing cognitive decline — develops when protein deposits called Lewy bodies form in the nerve cells of the brain.)
Affirming their commitment to supporting those with the disease, Stewart’s family asked for donations to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund and Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources in lieu of sending flowers.
The legendary actor’s final film performance will be released in December, as he reprises his X-Men role as Professor Charles Xavier as part of a star-studded cast in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday.
The Disney-owned studio honored Stewart on Thursday by releasing a new still photo of Stewart as Professor X alongside a statement paying tribute to his memory.
“All of us at Marvel Studios are deeply saddened by the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart,” Marvel Studios’ statement read. “Sir Patrick brought Professor Charles Xavier to life with extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity, defining the character for generations of fans, from X-Men to Logan to Avengers: Doomsday.”
The statement concluded, “He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman. Our hearts go out to his wife [Sunny Ozell], his children, his friends, and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art.”
Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 and will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.
