SFU remembers Patrick Stewart's 1977 residency at Burnaby campus

Simon Fraser University Remembers Patrick Stewart’s 1977 Residency

Fans around the world continue to mourn the passing of English actor Sir Patrick Stewart, who died at 86 in late October following a brief journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, as reported by Daily Hive. Amid global tributes celebrating his iconic roles in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, a local Metro Vancouver university is looking back at a foundational chapter of the actor’s career.

Simon Fraser University Alumni recently posted archival photographs of the stage and screen legend on social media, commemorating the time Stewart spent on campus during the 1970s. Before achieving international stardom, Stewart visited the Burnaby campus as an artist-in-residence with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Simon Fraser University was the first Canadian university to host the Royal Shakespeare Company and served as the sole Canadian stop on the troupe’s six-week North American West Coast tour in 1977.

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A Five-Day Theatrical Whirlwind in Burnaby

Over five days in February 1977, Stewart and a roster of prominent theatrical figures engaged students and local supporters in an intensive schedule of workshops, lectures, and seminars. Daily Hive noted that the residency featured performances of six plays, drawing more than 1,900 theater fans to the campus.

The visiting contingent included several notable theatrical heavyweights, among them a future Academy Award winner. Alongside Stewart, the delegation featured Ben Kingsley, Sheila Allen, Juliet Aykroyd, and Richard Pasco.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Sir Patrick Stewart and Gates McFadden attend the Los Angeles premiere of the third — Photo: Variety

The artists integrated directly into the academic routine of the institution. According to university records shared by Daily Hive, the group met with more than 600 English and Fine and Performing Arts students in specialized sessions. These included a dedicated sonnet workshop and a class focused on theater movement tailored for dancers.

Stewart Spans Diverse Genres Across Stage and Screen

While generations of viewers recognize Stewart for his defining television and cinematic performances—most notably as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men film series—his professional catalog spans diverse genres across stage and screen.

Members of the Royal Shakespeare Company—Ben Kingsley, Sheila Allen, Patrick Stewart, and Richard Pasco—at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, in 1977. The theatre company taught classes and performed during a five-day stint. Patrick Stewart passed away at 86 this past week.… pic.twitter.com/m2Z8aVz3LG

— https://x.com/oldcanadaseries/status/2117037521922089455

Beyond his science fiction staples, Stewart portrayed the villainous Darcy Banker in the 2015 thriller Green Room and played Ebenezer Scrooge in a 1999 adaptation of A Christmas Carol. His film credits also include the original 1984 adaptation of Dune, and he contributed voice work to over 100 episodes of the animated series American Dad as the character Avery Bullock.

Audiences will see Stewart reprise his role as Professor X in one of his final onscreen appearances in the upcoming feature Avengers: Doomsday.