Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Jonathan Frakes revealed that the series’ core ensemble was aware of Sir Patrick Stewart’s declining health before his death, scifiscene reported. Stewart died on October 28, 2026, at the age of 86, following what his family described in a statement as a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. While millions of fans experienced sudden grief because the family kept the diagnosis private, Frakes explained during an appearance on KTLA 5 in Los Angeles that the news did not arrive out of nowhere for the castmates who spent nearly 40 years together.
“Well, he had not been well. So it was not a shock to some of us,” Frakes said during the broadcast. He contrasted their enduring bond with standard television productions, noting that while many shows disband after cancellation, their group maintained a genuine family dynamic since meeting in 1987. That closeness included decades of shared holidays, dinners, and a persistent group chat shared by Frakes, Stewart, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Michael Dorn, and LeVar Burton, according to reporting from ScreenRant.
How a Baseball and Cricket Debate Sparked a Decades-Long Friendship
Frakes shared memories of how their relationship began during the early days of production. Walking toward the makeup trailer in 1987, Frakes recognized his co-star and attempted to strike up a conversation about baseball. Stewart offered a swift correction delivered in characteristically proper British fashion. “Nein, nein, Darling, Cricket, Cricket ist der Sport,” Frakes recalled Stewart telling him, imitating his colleague’s distinctive accent.
The playful exchange quickly blossomed into a lasting friendship that extended well beyond the Paramount studio lot. The two actors regularly attended Los Angeles Dodgers games together after Stewart moved into a home near the stadium, transforming the classically trained British stage actor into an ardent baseball fan. The intimacy of the cast even surprised outsiders, including Frakes’ wife, actress Genie Francis, who observed that the ensemble spent their entire work week together on set only to spend weekend evenings dining as a group.
Jonathan Frakes Reflects on Directing Patrick Stewart
Having worked alongside Stewart across 182 television episodes, four feature films, and three seasons of Star Trek: Picard, Frakes directed his longtime friend more frequently than anyone else in his career. Drawing a parallel to athletic training, Frakes noted that sparring with a superior talent elevates everyone’s performance. “You play tennis with a better player,” Frakes said. “When you work with an actor like that, you get better. I carry a lot of Patrick in my heart.”
That profound professional trust eliminated the need for delicate phrasing during production. When stepping behind the camera to direct feature films such as Star Trek: First Contact or various television episodes, Frakes delivered direct notes without hesitation. His standard direction to Stewart was famously concise: “Think faster.” Frakes recalled that Stewart would reliably respond with enthusiastic validation: “Great, Johnny, perfect. That is really good.”
Honoring a Legacy Through Continued Advocacy
Frakes appeared on KTLA to promote ongoing fundraising efforts for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, a cause close to his heart following the death of his brother Daniel from the disease 30 years ago. Alongside fellow Star Trek alumni under the banner of Team Trek, Frakes has helped raise approximately $750,000 for research. The next scheduled PurpleStride fundraising event is set for April 24, 2027, at the Santa Monica Pier.
Other members of the Enterprise crew also reflected on Stewart’s passing and enduring character. LeVar Burton characterized Stewart simply as family, adding that beneath his commanding stage presence and royal honors, the veteran actor was deeply playful. “Of all the Dames and Knights I’ve known, he was deep down—the silliest,” Burton said, as noted by ScreenRant.
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