Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige is paying tribute to the late Patrick Stewart, who starred as Professor Charles Xavier since 2000’s “X-Men.”

“I’ll never forget the first time I saw Sir Patrick Stewart on the set of the first X-Men,” said Feige, producer and president of Marvel Studios, in a statement shared after news broke that Stewart died on Wednesday at age 86. “After years of knowing him as the inimitable Captain Picard, I was in awe — and he turned out to be everything I had seen on screen and more: brilliant, charming, warm, generous, with a quiet strength and gravitas.”

“Away from the cameras, he was even more remarkable, with a wonderfully sharp sense of humor,” Feige continued. “It was a true privilege to know him and to work with him. His legacy lives on not only in decades of extraordinary work, but in the many, many people he mentored. He will be deeply missed.”

Stewart has appeared as Professor X in nine movies over more than 25 years, including the original Fox trilogy (“X-Men,” “X2: X-Men United” and “X-Men: The Last Stand”), as well as 2014’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and 2017’s “Logan,” plus Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” in 2022. Stewart is set to reprise his role in “Avengers: Doomsday,” in theaters on Dec. 18. The Marvel movie marks Stewart’s final on-screen appearance.

Marvel Studios also released a statement memorializing the legendary actor for bringing Charles Xavier to life with “extraordinary grace, intelligence, and humanity” and “defining the character for generations of fans.”

“He was a singular talent, a generous collaborator, and a true gentleman,” the statement reads. “Our hearts go out to his wife Sunny, his children, his friends, and the countless fans around the world whose lives he touched with his art.”

“Logan” director James Mangold praised Stewart as “a brilliant and tireless actor from stage to screen to TV and back again, as a great collaborator, gentle soul and friend to everyone.” Anthony and Joe Russo, directors of “Avengers: Doomsday,” also shared their gratitude for working with Stewart, whom they described as one of their “childhood heroes.”

“A legendary actor with an unmistakable presence, and an unmatched integrity,” the filmmakers shared on social media. “Thank you for entertaining all of us, sir. And for teaching us humanity, both on and off the screen. Sending our love to your family, friends, and fans around the world.”

With “Doomsday” as Stewart’s final film role, Marvel fans can expect the movie and its global press tour to take on a more reverential tone, with many of the actor’s longtime collaborators and friends, like Hugh Jackman (who called Stewart a “tremendous friend and man” in a heartfelt post) and Ian McKellen, continuing to pay tribute to his legacy.