Ricky Gervais has paid tribute to Sir Patrick Stewart and reflected on their hilarious time on set for Extras.
Ricky Gervais is still blown away that Sir Patrick Stewart “agreed” to be in Extras.
The 65-year-old star has paid tribute to the late actor, who has died aged 86 after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, and reflected on their time working together on Ricky’s classic sitcom.
Ricky shared bloopers from filming in a post on X, which revealed him frequently bursting out laughing as Sir Patrick tried to deliver lines about a fictional script centred on a character using mind control to take women’s clothes off.
He captioned the clip: “RIP Patrick Stewart. What an actor.
“I still can’t believe he agreed to do this scene. And he didn’t even mind when I ruined every take. Legend.”
His appearance in Extras earned Sir Patrick a Primetime Emmy Awards nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, while the scene took around 45 takes.
In his memoir Making It So, the legend recalled: “Ricky burst into peals of laughter that he simply couldn’t bring to a stop.
“‘Knickers’ was the specific word that first set him off. But soon it was anything I said. The more seriously I behaved, the more Ricky laughed.”
Tributes have continued to pour out for the veteran of stage and screen.
Dame Harriet Walter, who first met Sir Patrick over four decades ago during his theatre days, compared his death to a “huge giant tree” falling “in the forest”.
She told BBC Newsnight: “He had fire in his eyes and you were absolutely in the room with him.
“I’ve never heard a bad word against him. And I think the world’s going to be very poor without him.”
Sir Patrick’s family confirmed that he passed away at his home in Los Angeles.
The statement read: “We announce with great sorrow the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home in Los Angeles, in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body dementia.
“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayers, tears, laughter and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to all of us.
“We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.”
Ricky Gervais ‘still can’t believe’ Sir Patrick Stewart agreed to Extras scene
