Saturday Night Live Honors Patrick Stewart with Viral Clip

Saturday Night Live paid tribute to the acclaimed actor Patrick Stewart by re-airing a clip from his 1994 hosting appearance, three days after his passing.

Stewart, widely recognized for his iconic roles in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and the "X-Men" film franchise, died Wednesday at the age of 86. His death followed a battle with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia.

The viral moment that SNL chose to highlight was Stewart's enthusiastic introduction of musical guests Salt-N-Pepa during his 1994 hosting gig. The show concluded its most recent episode with this clip, followed by a title card commemorating the actor.

Stewart's death was announced earlier this week in a statement from his longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak. His family shared that the actor "has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all." They added, "We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace."

Despite scaling back his public appearances in later years, Stewart maintained his passion for acting. In a July interview, he stated, "I can't imagine ever officially 'retiring.' I'll always and forever be an actor." At the time, he was discussing the 40th anniversary of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," where he famously portrayed Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Stewart's final acting role will be posthumously featured in the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday," reprising his "X-Men" character Charles Xavier.

Reflecting on his career, Stewart identified his portrayal of Picard as "without question" the "most significant role" he undertook, expressing gratitude for his involvement in the "historic franchise." He starred as the USS Enterprise leader for seven seasons and 176 episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" from 1987 to 1994. He later reprised the role for the Paramount+ series "Picard," which ran for three seasons from 2020 to 2023.

Stewart noted that the cast of "The Next Generation" reuniting for the final season of "Picard" was a "joyous and satisfying experience," highlighting the deep friendships and artistic talent within the ensemble. He also expressed his support for new voices and adaptations within the Star Trek universe, emphasizing the franchise's enduring power and values.

Stewart's last known public appearance was in November 2024, where he attended a Huddersfield Town football match to support his team.