Legendary actor Patrick Stewart passed away recently at the age of 86 years following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Condolences and tributes are pouring in for the actor, best known for his role as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, from across the world. In one of these messages, Marvel Studios has confirmed that Avengers: Doomsday will mark Stewart's final onscreen appearance. While Stewart is in the recent trailer for the film, that it will be his last onscreen outing was known only after Marvel Studios made the confirmation. The actor reprises his X-Men role as Professor Charles Xavier in the upcoming Avengers film, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo.
X-Men (2000) marked Stewart's debut as Charles Xavier, a role he went on to portray in eight other films. Besides the X-Men franchise films, including The Wolverine and Logan, Xavier appears in the MCU outings Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and is set to feature in Avengers: Doomsday.
In its tribute, Marvel Studios wrote, "Stewart made his debut as Professor X in 2000’s X-Men, where he embodied the composure, class, and wisdom of the beloved telepathic mutant and mentor of the X-Men. For more than 25 years, he brought a gravitas and profundity to the (role)… He returned to the role once more with 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, his final on-screen appearance."
In a recent conversation with TV Insider, Stewart explained why he chose to comeback as Xavier for the upcoming instalment in the Avengers franchise. The actor revealed that he was receiving fewer offers as compared to the past because of him ageing. However, the actor noted that he would receive "interesting offers" even then and that he loved the challenges that came with new work. Stewart also revealed that he had no plan to stop acting. "I will always be an actor," he said.
