At 19, Patrick Stewart was already nearly bald.
He had grown up with a full head of dark, wavy hair, and losing it so young was incredibly difficult for him. He sought treatment at a clinic in Bristol, England, and even worked as a bricklayer’s assistant during his holidays to pay for it. It didn’t work.
When he started going to auditions, he worried that his appearance might close doors for him. So he bought a wig. He would perform a scene wearing it, take it off, and do another one completely differently. And with a sense of humor, he would tell the directors: “You could have another actor, or two for the price of one”.
Over the years, he stopped hiding his baldness and eventually turned it into his most recognizable feature, the same one that later became part of two unforgettable characters: Captain Picard and Professor Xavier.
His family confirmed his death on October 29, at 86 🕊️. Would you have imagined that what worried him so much would become part of his legend?
