Patrick Stewart once opened up about the heartbreaking state of his relationship with his two children, admitting that his career had come before his family and left him with deep regrets. The Star Trek: The Next Generation star, who died aged 86 on 28 October 2026, spoke candidly about his estrangement from son Daniel and daughter Sophie, whom he shared with his first wife, Sheila Falconer, during a 2023 interview with the Irish Independent. At the time, he revealed that he was struggling with the distance between them, describing their relationship as practically non-existent.
'Given that I'm separated from my children now — we don't have relationships — they have become very important,' Stewart said. 'I never thought 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.'
Patrick Stewart Admitted His Career Came Before His Children
The actor, who became internationally recognised for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek franchise and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, did not shy away from acknowledging his part in the strained relationship. He admitted that his determination to succeed as an actor had repeatedly taken priority over spending time with his family.
'I always put my acting work first, before my family,' Stewart confessed.
Patrick Stewart made heartbreaking confession about his ‘practically non-existent’ relationship with his kids 3 years before his death https://t.co/DwXwJxelly pic.twitter.com/Pp1jnDITxi
— New York Post (@nypost) October 30, 2026
He also revealed that the distance between them caused him considerable emotional pain, saying that 'not a day goes by' without him thinking about his children and the role he played in shaping their lives. He acknowledged that his influence, or lack of it, had helped make them the people they were.
'I could've done better as a parent, when my kids were little. I was just obsessed with my work and everything else took second place,' he said.
He Hoped His Children Had Forgiven Him
Despite their difficult relationship, Stewart suggested there was some hope for reconciliation. He said he was trying to make up for lost time by being more present in the lives of his grandchildren, adding that he felt his children seemed to have forgiven him.
'I'm trying to correct that now whenever possible with my grandchildren. And my own children seem to have forgiven me,' he said.
Stewart had four grandchildren through Daniel and Sophie, both of whom had families of their own. His son followed in his father's footsteps and pursued an acting career, appearing in television productions and theatre performances in the United States and the United Kingdom. Sophie, meanwhile, has largely kept her life out of the public eye.
Patrick Stewart Once Described Being a Father as 'Marvelous'
His painful admission was particularly poignant given how warmly Stewart had previously spoken about raising his children. In a 2022 interview with PEOPLE, the actor recalled the joy of becoming a father and urged other parents to appreciate the time they have with their children while they are young.
'Cherish every moment when your children are young. I loved Daniel when he was little, and when he was a baby, I loved holding him,' he said.
Patrick Stewart Regretted Putting Hollywood Career Before His Two Children https://t.co/TGnLPyU4zi
— TMZ (@TMZ) October 29, 2026
Stewart also remembered taking on much of the caregiving when Sophie was born because Falconer was a dancer who appeared in musicals. He said he effectively took on the roles of both parents during that period and genuinely enjoyed the experience.
'I took over the job of being mom and dad, and I loved it,' he recalled. 'It was marvelous.'
Patrick Stewart Was Married to Sheila Falconer for 24 Years
Stewart married Falconer in 1966, and the former couple welcomed Daniel in 1967 and Sophie in 1972 before divorcing in 1990. The actor subsequently married film producer Wendy Neuss in 2000, but their marriage ended in 2003. He later wed singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell in 2013, and she was by his side when he died at their Los Angeles home.
Patrick Stewart died in the loving care of wife Sunny Ozell, whom he met while she worked at a Brooklyn restaurant. https://t.co/Nm0fK8mik3
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) October 30, 2026
On 29 October, Stewart's longtime spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, announced that the actor had died the previous day following a battle with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. He was 86.
In a statement, Novak said Stewart had been surrounded by family and friends, with live music, prayer, tears and laughter during his final hours.
While Stewart spent decades entertaining audiences around the world, his reflections on fatherhood revealed a deeply personal regret. Despite cherishing the time he spent raising his children, he acknowledged that his devotion to acting had come at a cost, leaving him with a strained relationship he wished he had handled differently.
