Patrick Stewart has been upgraded from captain and professor — to knight.
The actor — famous for playing Capt. Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation — officially became Sir Patrick Stewart when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II during an investiture at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
The Queen is reported to be a fan of the star, who has enjoyed a 50-year career in movies, TV and the theater including 16 years with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The 69-year-old actor discovered the theater as a child, and said “my heroes were Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Alec Guinness.” Being “in that company is the grandest thing that has professionally happened to me.”
Stewart joined Britain’s storied Royal Shakespeare Company in his 20s, and in 2008 was nominated for a Tony award for the leading role in Macbeth.
