Patrick Stewart Played One Of TV's Most Outrageous Characters For Over 20 Years

Sir Patrick Stewart will forever be known to Trekkies as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and to Marvel fans as the X-Men's Professor Charles Xavier. But for more than 20 years, he also played one of TV's most outrageous characters.

Fans of Seth MacFarlane's "American Dad!" knew him as the unhinged CIA Deputy Director Avery Bullock, a recurring character drawn with Stewart's likeness who served as Stan Smith's unfiltered boss. Known for his sheer absurdity, love of illicit substances, bizarre romantic entanglements, and long list of uninhibited kinks, Bullock was a wild departure for the classically trained Shakespearean actor, and fans ate it up. Stewart seemed to get just as much of a kick out of Bullock as audiences did.

During a 2015 interview with Time, Stewart gushed about playing the crude character. "I worked with Seth MacFarlane on 'American Dad!' and loved that experience," Stewart shared. "Playing Deputy [CIA] Director Bullock opened up opportunities for me I just hadn't had before. Playing an obnoxious, loud, opinionated, vulgar-minded, self-obsessed character was just fantastic. And fun!"

That wasn't his first time praising the show. During his 2013 Oxford Union speech, Stewart reflected on the immense joy the series brought him, including its writing. "It has given me as much pleasure as almost anything in my career," he said, "not just because the writing is brilliant and scabrous and offensive and provocative, but because the people themselves are such adorable people."

As far as Avery's most outrageous moments in "American Dad!" go, where do we even begin? From the scene where he begged strippers to repeatedly punch his groin while screaming, "I so deserve this!" to the time he asked Principal Lewis to manscape him, fans are surely going to miss Stewart in this role.

Following the news of Patrick Stewart's death at age 86, "American Dad!" fans took to Reddit to pay tribute to both the actor and his wild animated alter ego. "Such a gut punch, truly a once in a lifetime talent," one user wrote. Another Redditor singled out Stewart's animated performance, writing, "I know a lot of people will remember him fondly as Picard or Professor X, but Avery Bullock was probably my favorite character of his."

Hollywood is paying tribute to Stewart, including "American Dad!" co-creator Seth MacFarlane, who shared a heartfelt farewell on Instagram: "We have lost a legendary actor today, and for many of us, a good friend. He will be deeply missed by the entire planet." MacFarlane also recalled the privilege of being Stewart's friend and working with him on "American Dad!," "Family Guy," and "Ted."