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One of the entertainment industry’s most enduring friendships was shared by “X-Men” co-stars. Patrick Stewart and John McColl. Their bond extended far beyond the screen, growing into a close relationship marked by love, humor, and heartfelt gestures. After Stewart’s death, McKellen paid tribute to his longtime friend in a touching message, giving us a glimpse of the special bond they shared over the years.
Iain McKellen pays a sweet tribute to his friend, Patrick Stewart
Following the news of Patrick Stewart’s death at the age of 86, his dear friend Ian McKellen paid tribute to him with a social media post.
McKellen recalled meeting Stewart for the first time at the Royal Shakespeare Company when they were both aspiring actors sometime in the 1970s. He vividly remembered trying to get his friend to take on the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek” a few years later, a character that would become a major part of his legacy.
McKellen was concerned that Stewart would jeopardize his theater career and become lost in Hollywood. “He took the risk and thanked all of us who did it not only for his loyal Trekkies but film and theater audiences, who marveled at how he used international fame as a star in a series of cinema successes,” he wrote.
McKellen went on to write about his friend’s greatest achievements as he reflected on the journey that brought him there.
“His farewell performance in ‘Avengers Doomsday’ remains to be seen,” he concluded, referring to the first Marvel flick released in December.
The Origin Story of the Actors From the Set of ‘X-Men’
Although they had known each other for years, Stewart and McKellen did not develop a close relationship until 2000 when they appeared together on “X-Men,” playing Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto, respectively.
The actors’ trailers were next to each other, and they spent their downtime getting to know each other better. “Ian and I were hanging out together, drinking tea – and maybe in the afternoon, something a little stronger – and we got to know each other,” Stewart said in the 2020 section for HONORABLE.
Separately, McKellen also spoke about their relationship, saying that they discovered their similarities while getting to know each other better. “We fell into each other’s arms because of the similarities in our careers, and because of our age and because we like the same kind of things,” he said.
Iain McKellen And Patrick Stewart Revealed Their New York Adventure
In 2014, McKellen and Stewart celebrated the end of their Broadway runs in “No Man’s Land” and “Waiting for Godot” by touring New York and recounting their adventures.
Stewart shared photos from several places they visited, including Coney Island, the historic Stonewall Hotel, the Empire State Building, and Madame Tussauds, among others. Wearing black bowler hats, the two actors posed in front of the camera.
Stewart talked about spending time with his good friend, saying it was a way to connect with their run on Broadway and get into the idea of exploring New York as tourists. In a separate interview, he talked about working with McKellen, saying, “Sometimes I feel like we like each other so much that the audience doesn’t quite understand why we’re having so much fun.”
John McKellen was responsible for the two marriages of Patrick Stewart and Sunny Ozell
Stewart and Ozell tied the knot in Lake Tahoe in 2013, and the officiant was none other than McKellen, who prepared a moving speech that had the guests emotional.
In a guest appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” however, Stewart revealed to host Pete Buttigieg that the ceremony was not legally binding because McKellen was not authorized to perform in the state of Nevada.
The couple then had an impromptu ceremony with just a few guests at a Mexican restaurant in California, where McKellen had permission to marry them. “We were officially married in a Mexican restaurant,” Stewart said, laughing.
The two actors shared steam on the red carpet
Stewart and McKellen shared some memorable moments in public, but arguably one of the sweetest came when they kissed on the red carpet.
At the London premiere of McKellen’s film “Mr. Holmes” in 2015, he and Stewart shared a kiss on the lips, with Ozell taking pictures in the background. Five years later, at the premiere of “Star Trek: Picard”, McKellen dropped to one knee on the red carpet, jokingly applauding his friend before standing up and giving Stewart a smile.
Speaking about the kiss, McKellen said Stewart had “very nice lips”. He further elaborated on their deep friendship, saying that what he loved about Stewart was, “He’s a straight guy who has no problem having gay friends. I think he gave me a kiss because he thinks I’d like it. It’s a sign of friendship.”
