Patrick Stewart Expressed Regret Over Estrangement from Children
The late actor, who passed away at 86 after battling Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia, reflected in the years prior on his 'non-existent' relationship with his adult children, citing his career as a primary reason.
Sir Patrick Stewart, who died at age 86, had openly discussed his strained relationships with his adult children, Daniel and Sophie, in the years leading up to his passing. The actor, who had been battling Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, told the Irish Independent in 2023 that he experienced "significant grief" over his estrangement from his son, Daniel, 59, and daughter, Sophie, 54.
Stewart, who was married to his first wife Sheila Falconer from 1966 to 1990, welcomed both children during their marriage. "Given that I'm separated from my children now – we don't have relationships – they have become very important," Stewart stated in the interview. He expressed surprise and regret over the "non-existent" nature of his adult children's relationships with him.
The actor attributed his fractured family life largely to his own career focus. "I always put my acting work first, before my family," Stewart said. "I never thought this would happen, but both my children are in their 50s – they're not children anymore, they're adults."
Stewart indicated that "not a day goes by" that he did not regret the situation, feeling "pained by the memory of [his] children" and the influence he had, or lacked, on their lives. He acknowledged in the interview, "I could've done better as a parent, when [his] kids were little." He also noted his efforts to mend these relationships with his grandchildren, stating, "And my own children seem to have forgiven me."
These reflections were also detailed in Stewart's 2023 memoir, "Making It So," where he described his relationships with Daniel and Sophie as "a work in progress." He wrote that the "hurt caused by my split with their mother has never fully gone away" but that he maintained a positive connection with his four grandchildren.
Stewart was married three times. His first marriage was to Sheila Falconer from 1966 to 1990. He was then married to producer Wendy Neuss from 2000 to 2003. His third and final marriage was to singer Sunny Ozell, whom he wed in September 2013. Stewart and Ozell met in 2008 when she was working as a waitress in Brooklyn. They married in Lake Tahoe, with actor Ian McKellen officiating. At the time of their wedding, Stewart was 73, and Ozell was 35.
Stewart's death was confirmed via a statement on his Instagram page, noting he passed away at his Los Angeles home in the care of his wife, Sunny, after a battle with Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. The statement described his final moments as being surrounded by "live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire."