Patrick Stewart is remembered by Saturday Night Live with footage from his memorable 1994 hosting appearance.
NEW YORK, November 2, 2026 — Saturday Night Live has paid tribute to Sir Patrick Stewart following the legendary actor’s death at 86, bringing back a memorable moment from his 1994 appearance on the NBC sketch comedy show.
During its October 31 episode, the programme revisited footage of Stewart enthusiastically introducing musical guests Salt-N-Pepa during his only hosting appearance on the long-running comedy series. The show also displayed a photograph of the actor in a memorial tribute before the closing goodnights.
The tribute offered viewers a reminder of a different side of the actor, whose career was defined by celebrated dramatic performances in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the X-Men films and Shakespearean theatre.
Key Points
Saturday Night Live paid tribute to legendary actor Patrick Stewart during its October 31, 2026, episode.
The show revisited footage from Stewart’s memorable 1994 hosting appearance.
The archival clip featured Stewart introducing musical guests Salt-N-Pepa.
Stewart died at 86 on October 28, 2026, following a brief journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
The actor leaves behind an enduring legacy through Star Trek, X-Men and his celebrated Shakespearean theatre career.
Patrick Stewart’s memorable SNL appearance
Stewart hosted Saturday Night Live on February 5, 1994, while he was internationally recognised for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
His enthusiastic introduction of Salt-N-Pepa later became one of the most recognisable moments from that episode. The clip also gained renewed attention through comedian John Mulaney, who incorporated the introduction into his stand-up material.
Stewart eventually embraced the moment himself. During the show’s 50th-anniversary celebrations in February 2025, he revisited the famous introduction in a video while wearing a Salt-N-Pepa T-shirt.
The renewed attention to the clip illustrates how a brief television appearance can become an enduring part of an actor’s public legacy, even alongside much larger roles.
Patrick Stewart’s death confirmed at 86
Stewart died at his home in Los Angeles on October 28, according to a statement released by his longtime representative, Kelly Bush Novak, and shared through his social media accounts.
The statement said he had experienced a brief journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. His diagnoses had not previously been publicly disclosed.
The actor was surrounded by his wife, singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell, family and friends, according to the statement.
The Associated Press and Reuters independently reported his death, confirming his age and the circumstances described by his representative.
A legacy beyond Star Trek and X-Men
Although Stewart became a household name through Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Charles Xavier, his career extended well beyond major film and television franchises.
He spent years performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company and built a substantial reputation through stage productions of Shakespeare’s plays and other classic works.
His portrayal of Picard helped establish a distinctive model of leadership in science-fiction television, while his performance as Professor X introduced his commanding presence to a new generation of film audiences.
The Saturday Night Live tribute brought attention back to a lighter, unexpected moment from his career, reminding viewers that Stewart’s cultural influence reached far beyond the characters for which he became best known.
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