Remembering Patrick Stewart, and Revisiting Donnie Darko - Newsletter: 2 Nov 2026
Remembering Patrick Stewart
Most actors would count themselves lucky to have one career-defining role, but Patrick Stewart has a permanent spot in our memories for two: as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as the X-Men's Professor Charles Francis Xavier.
The worlds of science fiction and superheroes are often considered frivolous, but Stewart brought the gravitas of a Shakespearean thespian to these roles. Nobody would mistake the contemplative, principled, and diplomatic Picard for William Shatner's ... let's say "less serious" ... Captain Kirk. And it's nearly impossible to imagine another actor so perfectly fitting the shoes (or the wheelchair) of Professor X.
While he never regretted taking on the characters which brought him widespread fame, it's fair to reason that Sir Patrick Stewart (knighted by the British Monarchy in 2010) might prefer to be remembered for his stage work. He became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company when he was just 26 years old, and already sporting his signature "dome" look (Stewart started losing his hair at the age of 17). He also acted for the Royal National Theater, and made a splash on Broadway for his 2008 interpretation of Macbeth.
Remembering Patrick Stewart
Apart from Star Trek and the X-Men, Stewart starred in a huge number of films over the span of his career. When you have a moment, check out the full list. We're pretty sure there's something great which you haven't seen, so let the memory of Patrick Stewart boldly take you where you've not gone before.
25 Years of Donnie Darko
Patrick Stewart might have been the only famous actor circa 2001 to not appear in Donnie Darko. The cult classic which introduced Jake Gyllenhaal to the world is celebrating 25 years, and the Criticker team went to a special screening of the film at the Cinobo Patision cinema in Athens, Greece.
It's been at least two decades since I'd seen the Donnie Darko, and although certain elements of the plot had stuck with me, I was taken off guard by the number of famous actors filling the screen (Patrick Swayze! Mary McDonnell! Noah Wyle! Drew Barrymore! And is that Seth Rogen acting like a tough guy?). But even more, I was surprised by how funny the script was. "Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion!" literally made me spit-take in the theater.
Now, your ability to answer this next question might depend upon your age, but do you have any favorite films that you've recently rewatched for the first time in 20 years? How did your feelings change? Did the movie lose some luster, or reveal unknown depths? Join our Reddit discussion and share your thoughts!
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