Patrick Stewart once asked his doctor to settle a disagreement with his wife, Sunny Ozell, after insisting she was wrong about whether he had been circumcised. The Star Trek and X-Men actor was convinced he knew the answer. His doctor confirmed Ozell had been right.
The British actor recounted the encounter on The Graham Norton Show, leaving fellow guest Hugh Jackman laughing. Stewart had believed since childhood that he had undergone the procedure because his mother told him it was fashionable at the time. It took a conversation with Ozell, followed by a routine medical appointment, for him to discover otherwise.
Stewart died on Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at his Los Angeles home, aged 86, following what his family described as a 'brief and poignant journey' with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. His death was announced on Thursday, 29 October, with his family confirming that Ozell was by his side. The couple had been married for 13 years.
Why Was Stewart Convinced He Had Been Circumcised?
Stewart said the debate began during an evening conversation with Ozell, an American singer-songwriter. After he casually mentioned being circumcised, she corrected him: 'You're not circumcised.' He challenged her confidence, recalling that his mother had explained why he had supposedly undergone the procedure.
Patrick Stewart Reveals the HILARIOUS Moment His Doctor Settled an Argument With His Wife About Whether He Was CIRCUMCISED .
— Brooks (@jace_KD) October 29, 2026
“My mother told me I was circumcised because it was fashionable at the time.”
“I told my wife, and she said, ‘You’re not!’”
“So we had this debate about… pic.twitter.com/I34ZgQeNDe
The actor brushed aside Ozell's objection and considered the matter settled. By chance, he was booked for his annual physical the following day, so he decided to ask his doctor to confirm his version of events. During the examination, Stewart raised the question directly.
His doctor replied: 'Not.' Stewart said he protested, unable to believe he had been mistaken for so long. The physician then told him: 'Hey, I'm Jewish, I know the difference.' The exchange drew laughter and applause from the studio audience, while Jackman teased his Logan co-star about updating his Facebook status.
The Story Became Part of His TV Comedy
Although the BBC appearance brought the anecdote to a wide audience, Stewart had already discussed it publicly in August 2015. In an interview promoting the Starz comedy Blunt Talk, he recalled his wife's disbelief and the medical examination that proved her correct. 'I had been wrong all my life,' he said.
His experience even inspired a storyline for the series, in which he played the troubled television presenter Walter Blunt. The fictional broadcaster made the same discovery during a live television interview in the show's sixth episode, which aired on 26 September 2015. Stewart shared the incident with the show's creator, Jonathan Ames, who incorporated the idea into the comedy.
Lots to be said about Sir Patrick Stewart’s incredible body of work but he was so funny too:
— Will Landman 🍥 (@WillTheLandMan) October 29, 2026
I loved him as Walter Blunt in Blunt Talk back on Starz. His performance had me cackling every week. #RipPatrickStewart https://t.co/q2DrgMGFLt pic.twitter.com/tKDpD1zjru
Stewart had become internationally famous for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films. He also built a career onstage, including years with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Unlike the solemn characters that made him famous, he was happy to make himself the punchline.
Sunny Ozell Remained at His Side
Stewart and Ozell married in 2013, with his close friend and X-Men co-star Ian McKellen officiating at their wedding. The newlyweds announced their marriage with a photograph showing them sitting together in a colourful ball pit. Four years later, their private disagreement became part of Stewart's television repertoire.
Patrick Stewart has passed away at the age of 86. pic.twitter.com/d5nLZcB9xz
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 29, 2026
In a statement announcing his death, Stewart's family said he had been surrounded by loved ones, live music, prayer, tears and laughter. It confirmed Ozell was with him at their Los Angeles home. He is also survived by his children, Daniel and Sophie, from his first marriage to Sheila Falconer.
The doctor story remains one of the actor's more unexpectedly personal interviews. It began with Stewart insisting his wife could not possibly know better than he did and ended with a doctor proving her right. His willingness to tell the story, complete with his own mistake, revealed the sense of humour that accompanied his celebrated dramatic career.
