| Charles Xavier | |
|---|---|
| X-Men film series and Marvel Cinematic Universe character | |
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Charles_Xavier_(Patrick_Stewart).jpg) Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier in X-Men (2000) | |
| First appearance | X-Men (2000) |
| Last appearance | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) |
| Based on | |
| Adapted by | |
| Portrayed by |
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| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Charles Francis Xavier |
| Nickname | Professor X |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Title | Headmaster |
| Occupation |
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| Affiliation | |
| Family |
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| Spouse | Gabrielle Xavier |
| Significant other | Moira McTaggert |
| Nationality | British-American |
| Powers and abilities |
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Professor Charles Francis Xavier, also known simply by his codename Professor X, is a fictional character primarily portrayed by Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, and Harry Lloyd in 20th Century Fox's X-Men franchise and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise produced by Marvel Studios, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
In the film series' continuity, Xavier is a mutant activist and founder of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, intended to house displaced or discriminated mutants while acting as an educational and training ground for cultivating their powers. With the assistance of several of his school's alumni, he eventually forms and leads a mutant strike force known as the X-Men, dedicated to carrying out his initiative for a peaceful co-existence between mutants and humanity, the latter of whom express significant phobia towards them. He is often depicted as kind, empathetic and wise in his ability to relate to his mutant brethren, and believes in a future where his race is fully welcomed into society at large. He is contrasted by his former friend Erik Lehnsherr, who works to establish mutants as dominant over humans, due to his jaded views on their co-existence being amplified by his experiences as both a mutant and Holocaust survivor during World War II. As such, Xavier's X-Men often oppose Lehnsherr's Brotherhood of Mutants in working towards their respective goals. In the distant future, Xavier would end up accidentally killing a large number of mutants, including several X-Men, due to a telepathically-induced seizure, inadvertently putting his own race at risk of extinction, and leaving him to be cared for by a world-weary James "Logan" Howlett. The Wolverine is in turn assisted by Xavier in escorting a young mutant named Laura across the Canadian border as they are being pursued by the Reavers, led by Donald Pierce and Zander Rice. While settling down on their objective, Xavier is unceremoniously murdered by X-24, a genetically enhanced clone of Logan created by the Alkali Corporation and Transigen Project following Laura's escape.
Xavier has been a central figure of the film series, appearing in eleven live-action feature films and one television series. Patrick Stewart plays him in the X-Men films X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Wolverine, and Logan, while James McAvoy stars as a younger Xavier in X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Apocalypse, Deadpool 2 and Dark Phoenix (Laurence Belcher portraying him as a child in the former film), and Harry Lloyd recurs as a younger Xavier in Legion. The former two actors both play him at different time periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past. It is implied that Xavier is one of the most powerful mutants in the world. Stewart reprises his role as Xavier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022); depicted as an alternate version to the Xavier from the X-Men films, this Xavier is the leader of the Illuminati of Earth-838, and redesigned to match Cedric Smith's Professor X from X-Men: The Animated Series (1992–1997), depicted with the character's iconic green suit and yellow hover-chair.[1] Additionally, Stewart has voiced Xavier in the video games X2: Wolverine's Revenge and X-Men: The Official Game, which tie into the film series.
Although Xavier is American-born in the comics and in animation, he speaks with an English accent in the films. First Class establishes that he lived in the United States during childhood, though his mother speaks with an English accent, indicating he may have developed his accent because of her. Stewart's and McAvoy's performances as Xavier have received a universally positive critical reception, winning a Saturn Award. Stewart held the Guinness World Record for "longest career as a live-action Marvel character" from 2017 until 2021 alongside co-star Hugh Jackman, and outright from 2022 until 2024.[2][3]
- ^ Mellor, Joseph (May 10, 2022). "Doctor Strange 2 Includes a Callback to an Iconic Marvel TV Show". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ^ Suggitt, Connie (February 19, 2019). "Hugh Jackman surprised with record title to mark 16-year Wolverine career". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
- ^ "Longest career as a live action Marvel character". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.