Happy birthday Sir Patrick Stewart!

The film and stage star, former University chancellor and charity campaigner turns 75 today.

Born in Mirfield on July 13 1940, the X-Men star may haved moved on into the bright lights of Hollywood — but he still remembers his roots.

Here's 10 reasons we love our Mirfield movie star:

1) He's brilliant at the Bard

Patrick Stewart took the lead role in Antony and Cleopatra at the Swan Thetare, Stratford in 2006
Patrick Stewart took the lead role in Antony and Cleopatra at the Swan Thetare, Stratford in 2006

Sir Patrick became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company 1966, in his twenties, and performed with them until 1982. He's also recited the Bard's memorable lines on Broadway in A Midsummer Night's Dream and starred in a BBC adaptation on Hamlet. Even after his Star Trek and film success the Mirfield actor returned to his Shakespearean roots, playing King Claudius in Hamlet alongside David Tennant in 2008.

2) He commanded the USS Enterprise

Star Trek The Next Generation: Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean Luc Picard
Star Trek The Next Generation: Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean Luc Picard

Ahh, Jean-Luc Picard, with your amazing intelligence, moral compass and wisdom, you guided the USS Enterprise through conflicts big and small with flawless diplomacy. Our Patrick became an international star as the only non-American captain of a Star Trek ship, loved by fans and often pitted against William Shatner's Captain Kirk as the best ever Starfleet captain.

3) He's got a fantastic sense of humour

Screengrab taken from the @SirPatStew twitter feed posted on Wednesday evening showing the actor Sir Patrick Stewart holding a tub of wet-wipes as a handset in response to the the Twitter picture of David Cameron showing him on the phone to Barack Obama.

When PM David Cameron posted that picture on Twitter of him on the phone to US President Barack Obama, and was almost immediately subjected to relentless internet mocking, @SirPatStew was quick to join in the fun. He tweeted a picture of himself holding a tube of wet wipes as a phone — and his Twitter feed is no stranger to funny pictures and exchanges, like the time he gave comic Rob Delaney a Twitter hug and his fantastic take on the ice bucket challenge .

4) He was married by his best mate

Wedding of Sir Patrick Stewart and Sunny Ozell by Lake Tahoe, Sir Ian McKellen officiated
Wedding of Sir Patrick Stewart and Sunny Ozell by Lake Tahoe, Sir Ian McKellen officiated

The X-Men star shared this picture of his wedding to singer/songwriter Sunny Ozell, in a ceremony conducted by none other than his bezzy mate Sir Ian McKellen. The happy couple met while performing Macbeth at the Brooklyn Academy of Music — if that's not fate, I don't know what is.

5) He marched with pride in the Graduation day parades

The University of Huddersfield graduation parade from St George's Square, Huddersfield to the University St Pauls Hall. Assistant Vice Chancellor, Prof Peter Slee (left) with the Chancellor, Sir Patrick Stewart (right), leading the parade.

As Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield — a post he just retired from, with Prince Andrew taking his place — Sir Stewart joined the Graduation Day parade, set up a scholarship in his name, and promoted the University in as many ways as he could. You'll be missed, Chancellor!

6) He's campaigned against domestic violence

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Our Mirfield treasure has worked with Amnesty International and Refuge to campaign against domestic violence, drawing from his childhood trauma of seeing his father abuse his mother. He also supports the Armed Forces cause Combat Stress, after learning about the impact post-traumatic stress disorder had on his father.

7) He is Professor Charles Xavier

Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart)
Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart)

Come on, who else could have brought caring, intelligent, wise old Professor Xavier to life on screen? It had to be Sir Patrick Stewart — and who better to play his nemesis than real-life buddy Sir Ian McKellen. I'm pretty sure if Patrick opened a school for the gifted for real, mutant or not, millions of kids would be dashing to sign up.

8) He's proud of his roots

Sir Patrick Stewart outside his childhood home in Camm Lane, Mirfield.
Sir Patrick Stewart outside his childhood home in Camm Lane, Mirfield.

On a recent visit to Mirfield, Sir Patrick proudly showed wife Sunny his childhood home. Fond of his West Yorkshire roots, the Hollywood star has often returned to Mirfield and Huddersfield for events, and also visited his old school teacher and mentor Cecil Dormand at Mirfield Free Grammar School.

9) He supports the Terriers

Sir Patrick Stewart shows his support for Huddersfield Town
Sir Patrick Stewart shows his support for Huddersfield Town

A lifelong supporter of Huddersfield Town, Patrick Stewart often tweets messages of support for the team and wears his blue and white stripes with pride. As president of the Huddersfield Town Academy, he's also backing the search for the talent of tomorrow.

10) He's a box office smash

(Left to Right) Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender arriving at the X-Men Days of Future Past UK Premiere
(Left to Right) Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender arriving at the X-Men Days of Future Past UK Premiere

In 2011, our very own Mirfield movie star made the top 25 in a list of Britain's biggest movie stars — banking more at the box office than Keira Knightly and Christian Bale. The Star Trek and X-Men star's films bank an average of $13,568 (£8,665) per cinema on their opening weekend, and his biggest box office hits were X-Men (2000), X-Men The Last Stand (2006) and Star Trek (1996).

Happy birthday Sir Patrick Stewart — and here's to many more!