Patrick Stewart was quite well-known on the stage before he became Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and he enjoyed theatre work which was why he was reluctant to take the role when it was initially offered. His choice to take it changed the course of his life as he created a legacy onscreen. But before The Next Generation could really get off the ground, according to Fandomwire, a label in the LA Times gave the actor a sting as it referred to him as an "unknown British Shakespearean actor."
Stewart had been working for twenty-seven years, had appeared in major Hollywood films, and had even appeared on stage in Los Angeles twice so it wasn't like his face wasn't known in the industry. Still, the moniker became a running gag on the set of The Next Generation when Brent Spiner, who played Star Trek: The Next Generation's Lt. Commander Data, created a sign for Stewart's trailer door that read "BEWARE: UNKNOWN BRITISH SHAKESPEAREAN ACTOR."
"Believe me, it was an accurate description at the time. I tell that story now because it’s kind of fun to tell it when circumstances have changed somewhat. But when it appeared, even though I was described as unknown, I had been a very busy working actor for 27 years and there was a slight sting, particularly given the fact that I had worked in the theater in Los Angeles twice and had already appeared in a couple of major Hollywood movies and so forth."Patrick Stewart
Thirty-seven years have passed since Stewart debuted as Captain Picard "Encounter at Farpoint," and not only did Stewart make a career out of playing a Starfleet captain, he is now well-known across the galaxy for portraying one of the best captains in Star Trek history. He followed up The Next Generation with four films and returned to the role for Star Trek: Picard, ending the run as an admiral. Or perhaps he hasn't ended the run, after all, as there is still talk that another movie could be in the wings. So perhaps Stewart hasn't hung up his comm badge after all. Not too bad for an "unknown British Shakespearean actor."