Jonathan Frakes Confirms Star Trek: TNG Cast Knew Patrick Stewart Was Ill: “It Was Not A Shock”

Image via Paramount+ Published Nov 6, 2026, 6:52 AM EST John Orquiola is a TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Star Trek: The Next Generation's cast was aware of Patrick Stewart's illness, Jonathan Frakes confirms. Sir Patrick Stewart died at 86 on October 28, 2026, “following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia," according to a statement from his family. Stewart, Frakes, and the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation first met in 1987, and they have remained famously close-knit for nearly 40 years. They last worked together in Star Trek: Picard season 3, which ended in 2023, Image via Paramount+ Appearing on KTLA to support his advocacy for PanCan (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network), Jonathan Frakes discussed his 40-year friendship with Patrick Stewart, whom he has worked with and directed more than any other actor. Given that millions of fans were "shocked" when Stewart died as his family never publicly disclosed his illness, Frakes revealed that "It was not a shock to some of us," given how their Star Trek cast is a "family." See Jonathan's quote below: Jonathan Frakes: “Well, he had not been well. So it was not a shock to some of us… A lot of shows, as I’m sure you all know, are not quite family. We’ve been family for 40 years… Watch Frakes' KTLA interview below: As Frakes said on KTLA, Star Trek: The Next Generation's main cast — himself, Stewart, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Michael Dorn, and LeVar Burton — have spent decades sharing dinners, celebrating holidays together, and maintaining a group chat. Naturally, they were aware that their captain was ill and kept Sir Patrick's condition private, in accordance with his family's wishes. Some of the most touching tributes to Stewart were from Marina Sirtis, who shared an emotional farewell to Sir Patrick on Instagram, promising that "We will hold him forever in our hearts." Writing for Variety, Gates McFadden summed up how Stewart made Jean-Luc Picard a leader admired by millions all over the world and longed for in real life: "What a breath of fresh air to have a leader who cared about the ethics of what he said! The result was eloquence. Seriousness. Intellect. The character of Jean-Luc Picard, which Patrick played brilliantly, was the antithesis of many of our leaders today." Echoing Frakes, LeVar Burton said of Stewart: "He was family... I am lucky to have known and loved so many of the facets of a soul so rich in talent and generous of heart. Of all the Dames and Knights I've known, he was deep down—the silliest.” Sir Patrick was genuinely loved and admired by the cast who knew him best, as well as his longtime friends like Sir Ian McKellan. Patrick Stewart is the first main actor from Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as the first Captain who headlined a Star Trek series, to pass away. Stewart is a profound loss to Star Trek fans and to the millions who knew him as X-Men's Professor Charles Xavier, his many other dramatic and comedic roles, and as a legend of the stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Release Date 1987 - 1994-00-00 Network Syndication Showrunner Gene Roddenberry Cast Commander William T. Riker Directors Cliff Bole, Les Landau, Winrich Kolbe, Rob Bowman, Robert Scheerer, Jonathan Frakes, Robert Wiemer, Gabrielle Beaumont, Alexander Singer, David Carson, Paul Lynch, Corey Allen, Patrick Stewart, Chip Chalmers, Joseph L. Scanlan, James L. Conway, Robert Lederman, Tom Benko, Timothy Bond, Robert Legato, Adam Nimoy, Robert Becker, David Livingston, LeVar Burton Writers René Echevarria, Maurice Hurley, Richard Manning, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Tracy Tormé, Hannah Louise Shearer, Stuart Charno, Ira Steven Behr, Sara B. Cooper, Peter Allan Fields, Herbert Wright, Frank Abatemarco, Burton Armus, Hilary Bader, Morgan Gendel, David Kemper, Michael I. Wagner, Philip LaZebnik, Robert McCullough, Susan Sackett, Nick Sagan, Fred Bronson, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Sam Rolfe Franchise(s) Star Trek Creator(s) Gene Roddenberry