Patrick Stewart is not just Captain Jean-Luc Picard
A Frenchman with an English accent
Jean-Luc Picard
Patrick Stewart was discovered by producer Robert Justman for the role of the Captain of the Enterprise. During pre-production for Star Trek: The Next Generation, Justman and his wife visited a dramatic reading at UCLA (University of California: Los Angeles) that Stewart was participating in. He was so impressed by the Englishman's presentation that he remarked to his wife, "I think we've just found our Captain." He later said that he hadn't thought about Stewart before, but when he saw him on stage he was very sure that Stewart was the only one who was right for the part. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry wanted a Frenchman to play the part, so Justman arranged a meeting with Stewart, Roddenberry and Miklis. On October 10, 1986, Justman assigned the role of Data to Stewart. He still believed, however, that Stewart should be the Captain, and that no other actor could convince him or even Roddenberry otherwise. Roddenberry gave in after casting was completed and decided on Stewart after all, even though he did not fit Roddenberry's ideal image of who should play the role. The part was then tailored to Stewart. Today, Stewart says that he had no idea at the time that to many Americans, who sits in the Captains chair on the Enterprise is more important than who occupies the throne of England.
During his seven years on Star Trek, Stewart remained true to the stage. In 1994 he received two "Laurence Olivier Awards" for "A Christmas Carol", and was nominated "best actor" and "best entertainer." He was presented with the "Best Solo Act on Broadway" in 1992, and in 1993 was nominated for his LP-recording of "A Christmas Carol." In 1995 he appeared on the stage in New York City's Central Park in a huge free production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest."In 1996 Patrick reprised his some 30 roles in "A Christmas Carol" in Los Angeles at the Doolittle Theater.
Stewart also played leading roles in several films, such as "Death Train" with Pierce Brosnan, "Gunman" with Christopher Lambert and in "Jeffrey."
In February 1994 Stewart hosted "Saturday Night
Live". According to viewing statistics, that
particular episode was rated one of the top five of the season. The
largest television magazine in America, "TV-Guide," voted
Stewart the "Most Bodacious Man on TV".
Patrick as Sir Simon de Canterville, a 400 year old ghost.
In 1996 Patrick produced the TV-Movie "The Canterville
Ghost"
with himself as Sir Simon de Canterville.
In 1994 Patrick adopted a homeless cat found wondering the Star Trek sets.
Bella is Patrick's feline companion and
friend.
Stewart has been committed to Amnesty International for years. He
is also involved in the protection of animals, and in particular for
Whales, at The Whale Conservation Institute. Patrick is also a fan of
"MTV's "Beavis and Butthead" and has been known to wear a "Beavis and
Butthead" T-shirt under his Starfleet regulation captain's uniform.
Besides drinking Oriental Tea "HOT", he
enjoys reading, is a roller-coaster aficionado, has a fondness for steam
engine railroads, collects masks and World War I posters and playing
"Tetris" on his Nintendo Gameboy given to him by his children.
