‘Star Trek’ Star Paul Wesley Says Patrick Stewart Was Iconic TV Hero

Paul Wesley is reflecting on the loss of a fellow ‘Star Trek’ captain … revealing he had the chance to meet Patrick Stewart before his death.

We caught up with Paul at LAX Thursday, and the “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” actor — who plays Captain James T. Kirk — told us he’d just heard the heartbreaking news.

Paul is remembering Patrick as one of TV’s iconic heroes … and a genuinely good guy.

He revealed he met Patrick once, though they didn’t know each other well … telling us everything he’d heard about the late actor suggested he was a “real class act.”

And Paul’s admiration went well beyond the Enterprise … saying he’s a huge fan of Patrick’s entire body of work.

As TMZ previously reported … Patrick died Wednesday at 86 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. The actor famously played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” becoming one of the franchise’s most beloved figures.

Paul isn’t the only “Star Trek” star remembering Patrick … William Shatner, who played the original Captain Kirk, also paid tribute to his longtime friend and fellow captain.