Hugh Jackman has paid tribute to Patrick Stewart, describing his former X-Men co-star as one of the greats of stage and screen and saying he would miss him for the rest of his life.
Jackman shared two photographs of the pair on Instagram on Thursday, including one in which he has his arm around Stewart. The other showed the actors standing backstage and watching a performer from the wings.
“We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today. And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him. I will miss you, Patrick Stewart, all of my days,” Jackman wrote.
Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart’s X-Men partnership
Jackman and Stewart appeared together for years in the X-Men franchise, with Jackman playing Wolverine and Stewart portraying Professor Charles Xavier.
The relationship between their characters became a central part of the superhero series and reached an emotional conclusion in the 2017 film Logan.
Stewart died on Wednesday aged 86 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
The actor was also renowned for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, during a career on stage and screen spanning more than six decades.
Jackman’s tribute reflected the influence Stewart had on him both as a performer and as a friend.
