Ian McKellen Honors Patrick Stewart at Charity Gala
Ian McKellen paid tribute to his late friend Patrick Stewart during a charity event in London, where they sang a song that held special significance for their friendship.
Ian McKellen honored his longtime friend Patrick Stewart at the Raise the Roof! gala held at London's Victoria Palace Theatre. During the event, McKellen invited the audience to join him in singing "Underneath the Arches," a song they had previously performed together at the end of their productions of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot.
This tribute occurred shortly after McKellen shared a heartfelt message about their friendship on social media. The gala aimed to support Denville Hall, a home for retired entertainment professionals, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a £26 million fundraising appeal. Stewart had been an ambassador for the organization.
Sir Patrick Stewart, known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, passed away at the age of 86 on October 28 in Los Angeles. His legacy includes nearly two decades with the Royal Shakespeare Company and acclaimed performances on Broadway in productions such as Macbeth and Hamlet. Stewart was appointed Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for his contributions to the arts and served as Chancellor at the University of Huddersfield. He was also a passionate advocate for human rights, working with organizations like Amnesty International and Refuge, motivated by his own childhood experiences.