An Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated internationally respected actor known for successfully bridging the gap between the theatrical world of the Shakespearean stage and contemporary film and television, Patrick Stewart has had a distinguished career in theatre for nearly fifty years. However, he is perhaps most widely known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Xavier in the X-Men films. Stewart was born in Mirfield, Yorkshire, England. His mother Gladys, was a weaver and textile worker, his father Alfred Stewart was a career soldier in the British Army. Stewart's stage experience started early, at the age of twelve while in secondary school. He quit school at fifteen to work as a reporter. However, his employer resented his dedication to the local theater and finally, after a little more than a year Stewart quit and, out of spite, became determined to prove himself as a professional actor.