Sir Ian McKellen surprised London theatre-goers with an on-stage tribute to his late friend Sir Patrick Stewart.
The Star Trek legend died aged 86 on October 28 at his home in Los Angeles, following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
On screen, he was known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, but Stewart was also known for his close friendship with Sir Ian.
After his death, the Lord of the Rings icon shared a tribute in which he described his best friend as the ‘most respected and beloved actor of his generation’.
While at the Denville Hall centenary fundraiser, Sir Ian reflected on their many years working together in a touching speech.
He started by declaring he wasn’t going to use a microphone, prompting a giggle from the crowd.
Sir Ian shared: ‘When we played the tramps in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, Pat Stewart and I sang that song – here in London and on Broadway- at the end of the show.
‘And we’re going to sing it now for you, I hope you enjoy. Now I’ve reminded you of some of the words.
‘As we sing it, let’s remember Pat Stewart, a great actor.’
The crowd erupted into applause at Sir Ian’s request before the actors launched into a rendition of Underneath the Arches.
Waiting for Godot ran in the West End in 2009, starring Sir Ian as Estragon and Sir Patrick as Vladimir, two men waiting to meet Godot, whom they believe will change their lives.
They pass the time bickering, talking, and meeting others on the road, but their long-awaited guest never arrives.
Both X-Men icons reprised their roles in 2013 when the show moved to the Cort Theatre on Broadway in New York.
The show also ran with Sir Ian in Australia, with a young Troye Sivan as ‘Boy’, but Sir Patrick did not join him on that run.
The acting legends had met at the Royal Shakespeare Company when Sir Ian joined in 1974 and remained fast friends in the 50 years since.
After several years spent at the esteemed theatre company, Sir Patrick enjoyed an extraordinary career spanning more than six decades, becoming one of Britain’s most celebrated actors and an internationally beloved science-fiction icon.
His final days were reportedly spent surrounded by family and friends, with music, laughter and tears as those closest to him gathered to say goodbye.
In a statement last week, Sir Ian wrote: ‘You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt.
‘Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.’
He reflected on cautioning his friend about starring in a sci-fi role, which would come to define his career for wider audiences.
‘He took the risk and thank goodness for us,’ Sir Ian praised, adding that despite his move to Hollywood he ‘never forsook his origins’.
The Olivier-winning actor will feature in one final movie, Avengers: Doomsday, which is releasing in December.
In the film, he will star for one final time as Professor X, which he has played since 2000, alongside his best friend Sir Ian as Magneto.