Patrick Stewart, best known for his iconic roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, showcased his comedic versatility with a memorable guest appearance on Frasier. The British actor, who passed away in October 2026 at the age of 86, starred in the Season 11 episode titled "The Doctor is Out," which originally aired on September 30, 2003.
In the episode, Stewart portrayed Alistair Burke, a Seattle opera conductor who becomes a new friend to Frasier Crane and his brother Niles. The plot revolves around a public misunderstanding that leads Burke to believe Frasier is gay, further mistaking the psychiatrist's eagerness to be near a local celebrity as romantic interest. This installment has garnered significant acclaim, holding a 9.1/10 rating on IMDb and earning a spot on TVLine's list of the 15 best episodes in the series' history.
Stewart later reflected on his experience working with Kelsey Grammer in 2006, noting the actor's unique preparation style. He revealed that while the cast warned him that Grammer might appear unfamiliar with the script right up until the take, the actor delivered flawlessly once filming began. Stewart told The Independent that without this warning, he might have been alarmed during their makeup run-throughs, but Grammer was immediately sharp in front of the camera.
This appearance was not the first time the two actors collaborated. Prior to Frasier, Grammer guest-starred as Starfleet officer Morgan Bateson in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Cause and Effect" during its fifth season. Their professional relationship continued into the X-Men franchise, where Grammer joined the cast as Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. Grammer described being warmly received by Stewart on set, recalling their previous history where he jokingly noted that Stewart had been his "boyfriend" on Frasier.
Following Stewart's death, Grammer paid tribute to his former colleague, highlighting the quality of his guest performance on Frasier in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. He described Stewart as a marvelous man and one of the greatest guest turns ever on the show, expressing deep personal admiration for their time spent together.
Sources: TVLine.