Patrick Stewart confessed his “practically non-existent” relationship with his children caused him “significant grief” in the years leading up to his death.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not pained by the memory of my children, who they were and by a sense of responsibility that they became who they are in part because of me and my influence or lack of influence on them,” the actor confessed during an October 2023 interview with the Irish Independent.
He added, “I always put my acting work first, before my family.”
Stewart — who died on Wednesday at the age of 86 — shared son Daniel, 58, and daughter Sophie, 54, with ex-wife Sheila Falconer.
The beloved actor was also asked if he’d portrayed his best-known character, the wise and measured Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” as the father he wished he’d had.
“I think it might have been more the one I wished I was,” he divulged. Stewart also confirmed it had been difficult to be the “kind of father he wanted to be.”
“Given that I’m separated from my children now, we don’t have relationships, they have become very important,” he continued.
“I never thought that this would happen, but both my children are in their 50s, they’re not children anymore, they’re adults. And my relationship with them is practically non-existent.”
It’s a topic he’s broached in the past — in a 2009 interview with the Independent, Stewart said he “could’ve done better as a parent, when [his] kids were little.”
“I was just obsessed with my work and everything else took second place,” he continued, adding, “I’m trying to correct that now whenever possible with my grandchildren.”
At the time, the actor said,”my own children seem to have forgiven me.”
Reps for Sophie and Daniel were not immediately available to Page Six for comment.
The former couple wed in 1966 and divorced in 1990. Stewart subsequently married Wendy Neuss in 2000, with the pair ending the union three years later.
The “X Men” star wed Sunny Ozell in 2013, in whose “loving care” he was held at the time of his death, an announcement read.
Stewart died at his Los Angeles home following a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia, a social media statement on Thursday read.
“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all,” it read.
“We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”
Months prior to his death, Stewart made a painful confession about his career, as well, telling TV Insider in July that, “there are fewer and fewer available roles as we get older.”
Still, he continued “to receive interesting offers” and admitted that he loved “being challenged by new work.”
“I can’t imagine ever officially ‘retiring,’” he told the outlet. “I’ll always and forever be an actor.”
