Sir Patrick Stewart, a preeminent British actor whose career spanned theater, films and television and who achieved his greatest fame portraying Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the TV series “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s and Lewy Body Dementia, representatives for Stewart said in a statement Thursday. He was 86.

“His sonorous voice and singular talent will forever be synonymous with indelible performances in every genre,” the statement said.

In a career spanning more than 60 years, Stewart, who also portrayed Professor Charles Xavier in the Marvel “X-Men” film franchise, won or was nominated for multiple theater and film awards.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010.

“He explored the human condition in all its poetic complexity and brought hope not only to the far reaches of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but into science fiction’s most iconic final frontier aboard the Starship Enterprise,” the statement said.

Stewart was born in the town of Mirfield in Yorkshire, England. Prior to his prolific on-screen career, Stewart got his start on stage in the 1960s as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Days before Stewart’s death, fellow Star Trek actor Walter Koenig, who starred as Ensign Pavel Chekov in the original series, also died at the age of 90.

Tributes to the late great actor poured in Thursday evening. William Shatner, who played alongside Stewart as Captain Kirk in the original “Star Trek” series, called it “a heartbreaking week.”

“Sir Patrick Stewart was a friend, a colleague, and a magnificent actor. From the stage to the bridge of the Enterprise, he brought intelligence, grace, and a deep sense of humanity to everything he did,” Shatner said in a social media post. “Captain Picard stood for the best of us, and so did the man who played him. I was filled with affection and admiration for him and his work.”

Hugh Jackman shared a photo of himself with his “X-Men” co-star on Instagram.

“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man,” Jackman, who plays Wolverine, said. “I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days.”

Marvel Studios said in a statement that it is “deeply saddened” by Stewart’s passing.

“He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman,” the statement said. “Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends, and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art.”

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President Donald Trump warned rallygoers in Rock Hill, South Carolina, that the president’s political party typically doesn’t “win” during midterm elections — apparently preparing supporters for a possibly disappointing outcome for Republicans less than a week before Election Day.

“When I’m not on the ballot the midterms … there’s something strange because, if you’re president, Republican or Democrat, for whatever reason, you don’t win the midterms,” he said.

Trump went on to say he has been working hard to rally support for Republican candidates, adding, “No president has ever worked so hard on a midterm.”

Trump was in South Carolina in a last-ditch effort to rally support for Sen. Darline Graham ahead of the high-stakes election that could determine control of the Senate. It was his third time in three months stumping for Graham in the state. Some Republican supporters who spoke to MS NOW at Trump’s earlier South Carolina rally appeared unsure or unenthusiastic about Graham’s candidacy, with some saying they supported her primarily because Trump did.

Graham was appointed to temporarily fill the Senate seat after the sudden death of her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. With Trump’s full-throated endorsement, Graham won the GOP special Senate runoff election to permanently replace him in August. Trump has prioritized maintaining Republican strongholds this election cycle, including South Carolina, amid his historically low approval ratings.

“Darlene Graham has devoted her entire life to the people of this state, and now she’s running to save you from a radical left lunatic,” Trump said, referring to Graham’s opponent, Democrat Annie Andrews. The president repeatedly used a transphobic slur to describe Andrews, a term he has continued using throughout his campaign tour.

“I didn’t come up with that name,” Trump said of the slur. “I’m good with names.”

Trump urged every member of the crowd to vote for Graham, and, as he has repeated over the last few months, to “pretend I’m on the ballot.” Graham has been neck and neck with Andrews, holding a razor-thin lead of 1 percentage point, according to an MS NOW/FiftyPlusOne polling average.

“You know, she’s leading but I had to come here,” Trump said of Graham’s slight lead. “Politics, you never know, right? So you’ve got to get out and vote.”

Trump’s speech was interrupted multiple times by protesters, who were quickly ushered out of the venue. Undeterred, he then said without evidence that the protesters were “paid,” calling them “losers.”

Graham, who has never held elected office, struggled on the campaign trail. In her first debate in August, she struggled to answer a question about Taiwan and said that she was “not that informed on national security.” But on Thursday, Graham spoke fervently from the podium in defense of Trump’s agenda, opposing abortion and gun control and supporting hawkish immigration policies. Graham also touted her brief voting record in the Senate in lockstep with other Trump-aligned Republicans, including Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Tim Scott, R-S.C.; and Mike Lee, R-Utah.

“I am a proud conservative Christian, who will fight every single day for your family,” Graham said. “Or Democrat Annie Andrews, the most radical liberal candidate ever to run for office in the history of South Carolina — like they say in the country, ‘She’s just plain ole batshit crazy.’”

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