{{infobox disease | name	Alopecia | Image Bald head.jpg | Caption Man displaying male pattern baldness | DiseasesDB 14765 | ICD10 | ICD9 | ICDO | OMIM | MedlinePlus | eMedicineSubj | eMedicineTopic | MeshID D000505 }}

Baldness implies partial or complete lack of hair. Balding is part of the wider topic of "hair thinning". The degree and pattern of baldness can vary greatly, but its most common cause is male and female pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia, ''alopecia androgenetica'' or ''alopecia seborrheica'' – an alternative term used primarily in Europe.

Pattern balding should not be confused with alopecia areata, which commonly involves patchy hair loss. Extreme forms of alopecia areata are alopecia totalis, which involves the loss of all head hair, and the most extreme form, alopecia universalis, which involves the loss of all hair from the head and the body.

Cause [link]

More than 95% of hair thinning in men is male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia. Male pattern baldness is characterized by hair receding from the lateral sides of the forehead (known as a "receding hairline") and/or a thinning crown (balding to the area known as the ‘vertex’). Both become more pronounced until they eventually meet, leaving a horseshoe-shaped ring of hair around the back of the head.

The incidence of pattern baldness varies from population to population based on genetic background. Environmental factors do not seem to affect this type of baldness greatly. One large scale study in Maryborough, Victoria, Australia showed the prevalence of mid-frontal baldness increases with age and affects 73.5 percent of men and 57 percent of women aged 80 and over. A rough rule of thumb is that the incidence of baldness in males corresponds to chronological age. For example, according to Medem Medical Library's website, male pattern baldness (MPB) affects roughly 40 million men in the United States. Approximately 25 percent of men begin balding by age 30; two-thirds begin balding by age 60.

There is a 4 in 7 chance of receiving the baldness gene. Onset of hair loss sometimes begins as early as the end of puberty, and is mostly genetically determined. It was previously believed that baldness was inherited from the maternal grandfather. While there is some basis for this belief, both parents contribute to their offspring's likelihood of hair loss. Most likely, inheritance is technically "autosomal dominant with mixed penetrance".

The trigger for this type of baldness is DHT, a powerful sex hormone, body- and facial-hair growth promoter that can adversely affect the prostate as well as the hair located on the head. The mechanism by which DHT accomplishes this is not yet fully understood. In genetically-prone scalps, i.e. those experiencing male or female pattern baldness, DHT initiates a process of follicular miniaturization, in which the hair follicle begins to deteriorate. As a consequence, the hair’s growth phase (anagen) is shortened, and young, unpigmented vellus hair is prevented from growing and maturing into the deeply-rooted and pigmented terminal hair that makes up 90 percent of the hair on our heads. In time, hair becomes thinner and its overall volume is reduced, resembling fragile vellus hair or "peach fuzz" until, finally, the follicle falls dormant and ceases producing hair completely.

There are several other kinds of hair thinning:

Traction alopecia is most commonly found in people with ponytails or cornrows who pull on their hair with excessive force. In addition, rigorous brushing and heat styling, rough scalp massage can damage the cuticle, the hard outer casing of the hair. This causes individual strands to become weak and break off, reducing overall hair volume.

Trichotillomania is the loss of hair caused by compulsive pulling and bending of the hairs. Onset of this disorder tends to begin around the onset of puberty and usually continues through adulthood. Due to the constant extraction of the hair roots, permanent hair loss can occur.

Traumas such as, childbirth, major surgery, poisoning, and severe stress may cause a hair loss condition known as telogen effluvium, in which a large number of hairs enter the resting phase at the same time, causing shedding and subsequent thinning. The condition also presents as a side effect of chemotherapy – while targeting dividing cancer cells, this treatment also affects hair’s growth phase with the result that almost 90% of hairs fall out soon after chemotherapy starts.

Radiation to the scalp, as happens when radiotherapy is applied to the head for the treatment of certain cancers there, can cause baldness of the irradiated areas.

Temporary or permanent hair loss can be caused by several medications, including those for blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cholesterol. Any that affect the body’s hormone balance can have a pronounced effect, and these include the contraceptive pill, hormone replacement therapy, steroids and acne medications.

Worrisome hair loss often follows childbirth without causing actual baldness. In this situation, the hair is actually thicker during pregnancy due to increased circulating oestrogens. After the baby is born, the oestrogen levels fall back to normal pre-pregnancy levels and the additional hair foliage drops out. A similar situation occurs in women taking the fertility-stimulating drug clomiphene.

Studies have shown that poor nutrition, limited food intake, and deficiencies in certain nutrients can cause thinning. These include in biotin, protein or zinc and human iron metabolism, although complete baldness is not usually seen. A diet high in animal fats (often found in fast food) and Vitamin A is also thought to have an effect on hair loss.

Stress has been shown to restrict the blood supply to capillaries, inhibiting oxygen and nutrient uptake to hair follicles and inhibiting hair growth, in a similar effect to having poor circulation.

Air and water pollutants, as well as minerals in water and the phototoxic effects of sunlight, can cause thinning by aging the scalp skin and damaging hair.

Some treatments used to cure mycotic infections can cause massive hair loss.

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder also known as "spot baldness" that can result in hair loss ranging from just one location (''Alopecia areata monolocularis'') to every hair on the entire body (''Alopecia areata universalis''). Although thought to be caused by hair follicles becoming dormant, it is not known for sure what triggers alopecia areata. In most cases the condition corrects itself, but it can also spread to the entire scalp (alopecia totalis) or to the entire body (alopecia universalis).

Localized or diffuse hair loss may also occur in cicatricial alopecia (lupus erythematosus, lichen plano pilaris, folliculitis decalvans, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia, etc.). Tumours and skin outgrowths also induce localized baldness (sebaceous nevus, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma).

Hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid) and the side effects of its related medications can cause hair loss, typically frontal, which is particularly associated with thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows (also seen with syphilis). Hyperthyroidism (an over-active thyroid) can also cause hair loss, which is parietal rather than frontal.

Temporary loss of hair can occur in areas where sebaceous cysts are present for considerable duration; normally one to several weeks in length.

Congenital triangular alopecia – It is a triangular, or oval in some cases, shaped patch of hair loss in the temple area of the scalp that occurs mostly in young children. The affected area mainly contains vellus hair follicles or no hair follicles at all, but it does not expand. Its causes are unknown and although it is a permanent condition, it does not have any other effect on the affected individuals.

Gradual thinning of hair with age is a natural condition known as involutional alopecia. This is caused by an increasing number of hair follicles switching from the growth, or anagen phase, into a resting phase, or telogen phase, so remaining hairs become shorter and fewer in number.

An unhealthy scalp environment can play a significant role in hair thinning by contributing to miniaturization or causing damage. Air and water pollutants, environmental toxins, conventional styling products and excessive amounts of sebum have the potential to build up on the scalp. This debris can block hair follicles and cause their deterioration and consequent miniaturization of hair. It can also physically restrict hair growth or damage the hair cuticle, leading to hair that is weakened and easily broken off before its natural lifecycle has ended.

''Demodex folliculorum'', a microscopic mite that feeds on the sebum produced by the sebaceous glands, denies hair essential nutrients and can cause thinning. ''Demodex folliculorum'' is not present on every scalp, and is more likely to live in an excessively oily scalp environment.

Evolutionary hypotheses [link]

There is no consensus regarding the details of the evolution of male pattern baldness. The assertion that MPB is intended to convey a social message is supported by the fact that the distribution of androgen receptors in the scalp differs between men and women, and older men or women with high androgen levels often exhibit diffuse thinning of hair as opposed to male pattern baldness.

Male pattern baldness is mostly the result of a genetic event that causes dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male hormone, to cause the hair follicles to atrophy. The hair produced is progressively smaller, until it is practically invisible (or may disappear completely). It has been speculated that this is an evolutionary event that signifies maturity and conveys greater authority on affected men.

In a study by Muscarella and Cunningham, males and females viewed 6 male models with different levels of facial hair (beard and mustache or none) and cranial hair (full head of hair, receding and bald). Participants rated each combination on 32 adjectives related to social perceptions. Males with facial hair and those with bald or receding hair were rated as being older than those who were clean-shaven or had a full head of hair. Beards and a full head of hair were seen as being more aggressive and less socially mature, and baldness was associated with more social maturity.

Other evolutionary hypotheses include genetic linkage to beneficial traits unrelated to hair loss and genetic drift

Non-human baldness [link]

Baldness is not only a human trait. Some other primates, such as chimpanzees, stump-tailed macaques, and South American uakari show progressive thinning of the hair on the scalp after adolescence. Adult stump-tailed macaques, in fact, are commonly used in laboratories for the testing of hair-regrowth treatments.

One interesting case study is the bald Tsavo lion. The Tsavo lions prides are unique in that they frequently have only a single male lion with an average of 7 to 8 adult females, opposed to 4 females in other lion species prides. It is theorized that Tsavo males may have heightened levels of testosterone, which could explain both their reputation for aggression and dominance, indicating that baldness may at one time had an alpha correlation.

Genetics [link]

Much research went into the genetic component of male pattern baldness, or ''androgenetic alopecia'' (AGA). Research indicates that susceptibility to premature male pattern baldness is largely the cause of sex-influenced inheritance (because males can pass on the trait to their sons which would be impossible if it were x-linked). Other genes that are not sex linked are also involved.

German researchers name the androgen receptor gene as the cardinal prerequisite for balding. They conclude that a certain variant of the androgen receptor is needed for AGA to develop. In the same year the results of this study were confirmed by other researchers. This gene is recessive and a female would need two X chromosomes with the defect to show typical male pattern alopecia. Seeing that androgens and their interaction with the androgen receptor are the cause of AGA it seems logical that the androgen receptor gene plays an important part in its development.

Other research in 2007 suggests another gene on the X chromosome, that lies close to the androgen receptor gene, is an important gene in male pattern baldness. They found the region Xq11-q12 on the X-chromosome to be strongly associated with AGA in males. They point at the EDA2R gene as the gene that is mostly associated with AGA. This finding has been replicated in at least three following independent studies.

Other genes involved with hair loss have been found, including a gene located at 3q26. This gene is also involved in a type of baldness associated with mental retardation. This gene is recessive .

Another gene that might be involved in hair loss is the P2RY5. This gene is linked to hair structure. Certain variants can lead to baldness at birth while another variant causes "wooly hair".

Recent research confirmed the X linked androgen receptor as the most important gene. With a gene on chromosome 20 being the second most important determinant gene (snpedia). This research suggest that heredity AGA is X linked, however, research has also shown that a person with a balding father has a significantly greater chance of experiencing hair loss. Men whose fathers had experienced hair loss were 2.5 times more likely to experience hair loss themselves, regardless of the mother's side of the family, which may suggest Y linked heredity plays a role.

Female hair loss [link]

Although baldness is not as common in women as in men, the psychological effects of hair loss tend to be much greater. Typically the frontal hairline is preserved but the density of hair is decreased on all areas of the scalp. Previously it was believed to be caused by testosterone just as in male baldness, but most women who lose hair have normal testosterone levels.

However, female hair loss has become a growing problem which, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, affects around 30 million women in the United States. Although hair loss in females normally occurs after the age of 50 or even later when it does not follow events like pregnancy, chronic illness, crash diets, and stress among others, it is now occurring at earlier ages with reported cases in women as young as 15 or 16.

Causes of female hair loss may vary from those that affect men. In the case of androgenic alopecia female hair loss occurs as a result of the action of androgens hormones (testosterone, androsteinedione, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT)). These male hormones normally occur in small amounts in women.

However, according to Ted Daly, MD, a dermatologist from Nassau University Medical Center on Long Island, androgenic alopecia is not the main cause of hair loss in women and dermatologists now prefer to call this condition female pattern hair loss (or Ludwig Pattern Baldness after the scale developed to diagnose it) instead of using the term androgenic alopecia. He adds that the female pattern is diffuse and goes around the whole top of the head and can affect women at any time.

There are other instances in which the actions of hormones may also cause female hair loss. Some examples are: pregnancy, menopause, presence of ovarian cysts, birth control pills with a high androgen index, polycystic ovary syndrome. Also thyroid disorders, anemia, chronic illness and some medications can also cause female hair loss.

Signs and symptoms [link]

Excessive daily hair loss [link]

It is generally accepted that each person has between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs on their head (blondes have the most, followed by brunettes and redheads). Advice about how many strands it is normal to lose per day varies, but recent studies suggest an average of 100. In order to maintain a normal volume it must be replaced at the same rate. The first signs of hair thinning that people will often notice are more hairs than usual left in their hairbrush after brushing, or in the basin after shampooing. Styling can also reveal areas of thinning, such as a wider parting or thinning crown.

Skin conditions [link]

A substantially blemished face, back and limbs could point to cystic acne. The most severe form of the condition, cystic acne arises from the same hormonal imbalances that cause hair loss, and is associated with DHT production. Seborrheic dermatitis, a condition in which an excessive amount of sebum is produced and builds up on the scalp (looking like an adult cradle cap) is also a symptom of hormonal imbalances, as is an excessively oily or dry scalp. Both can cause hair thinning.

Management [link]

Diagnosing and testing [link]

Noticing thinning [link]

Hair stylists can play an important role in diagnosing thinning. In many cases, they will be the first person to notice it, and they can often recommend a solution based on the specific needs of their client.

Testing [link]

There are two types of identification tests for female pattern baldness: the Ludwig Scale and the Savin Scale. Both track the progress of diffused thinning, which typically begins on the crown of the head behind the hairline, and becomes gradually more pronounced. For male pattern baldness, the Hamilton–Norwood scale tracks the progress of a receding hairline and/or a thinning crown, through to a horseshoe-shaped ring of hair around the head and on to total baldness.

Medical consultation [link]

In almost all cases of thinning, and especially in cases of severe hair loss, it is recommended to seek advice from a doctor or dermatologist. Many types of thinning have an underlying genetic or health-related cause, which a qualified professional will be able to diagnose.

Psychological effects [link]

Background [link]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, hair thinning and baldness causes stress for sufferers, a fact which can be attributed to the psychology of appearance. Although societal interest in appearance has a long history, this particular branch of psychology came into its own during the 1960s and has gained momentum as messages associating physical attractiveness with success and happiness grow more prevalent. In 1984, psychologist Dr. Stephen L. Franzoi and Dr. Stephanie A. Shields developed the Body Esteem Scale, which aims to achieve a comprehensive overview about how participants feel about their bodies (including their hair), and is still used today.

Emotional reactions [link]

The psychology of hair thinning is a complex issue. Hair is considered an essential part of overall identity: especially for women, for whom it often represents femininity and attractiveness. Men typically associate a full head of hair with youth and vigor. Although they may be aware of pattern baldness in their family, many are uncomfortable talking about the issue. Hair thinning is therefore a sensitive issue for both sexes. For sufferers, it can represent a loss of control and feelings of isolation. People experiencing hair thinning often find themselves in a situation where their physical appearance is at odds with their own self-image, and commonly worry that they appear older than they are or less attractive to others. Psychological problems due to baldness, if present, are typically most severe at the onset of symptoms.

Alopecia induced by cancer chemotherapy has been reported to cause changes in self-concept and body image. Body image does not return to the previous state after regrowth of hair for a majority of patients. In such cases, patients have difficulties expressing their feelings (alexithymia) and may be more prone to avoiding family conflicts. Family therapy can help families to cope with these psychological problems if they arise.

Some balding men may feel proud of their baldness, feeling a kindred relationship with famous charismatic bald men, such as Michael Jordan, Yul Brynner, Bruce Willis, Vin Diesel, Jack Nicholson, Sean Connery, Jason Statham, Patrick Stewart, Ben Kingsley, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Tupac Shakur, Michael Chiklis, Grant Morrison, Jason Alexander, Telly Savalas, Steve Wilkos, and Jeffrey Eugenides. Larry David specifically uses his baldness as a form of self-deprecating humor in his TV shows Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Baldness has, in recent years, become less of a liability due to an increasing fashionable prevalence of very short, or even completely shaven, hair among men in western countries. For instance, Patrick Stewart was called "The Sexiest Man on TV" for his charismatic role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard on ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''.

Preventing and reversing hair loss [link]

There is currently no way to instigate permanent re-growth of hair that has been lost through genetic or hormonal causes. However, it is widely regarded that with early detection, professional consultation and specialist products, the effects of hair thinning can be reduced or delayed. If the cause is reversible, such as an underlying medical condition, it is possible to stop hair thinning by treating the deficiency. There are also several measures sufferers can take to give hair a thicker appearance and to create an optimum scalp environment for new hair to grow and thrive.

A variety of medications have been proven to slow hair thinning, help grow new hair or enlarge existing hairs to create better coverage. Most require long-term use as, if stopped, hair loss returns. Some treatments are topical, and activated by being sprayed or rubbed into the scalp, while others are taken in pill form. One of the most popular medications, corticosteroids, are either injected into the scalp, taken in pill form or applied in an ointment, and are used especially to treat patchy hair loss.

Treatments for the various forms of alopecia have limited success. Some hair loss sufferers make use of clinically proven treatments such as finasteride, dutasteride and topically applied minoxidil solution, in an attempt to prevent further loss and regrow hair. As a general rule, it is easier to maintain remaining hair than it is to regrow; however, the treatments mentioned may prevent hair loss from Androgenetic alopecia.

In the United States, there are only two drug-based treatments that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and one product that has been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, otherwise known as male or female pattern hair loss. The two FDA approved treatments are finasteride (marketed for hair loss as Propecia) and minoxidil.

Stress reduction (corticotrophin-releasing factor) [link]

Stress reduction can be helpful in slowing hair loss. In 2011, US researchers from the University of California and the US Veterans Administration found that mice who had been genetically engineered to produce excessive levels of Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRF), lost hair from their backs. The high amounts of Corticotropin-releasing hormone created a chronic stress condition in the mice. After treatment with Astressin-B, a CRF blocker, the mice had regrown the hair they had lost, four months later.

Surgical treatments [link]

Hair transplant surgery was developed during the 1950s, although the earliest successful hair transplantation research was done in 1939 by a Japanese dermatologist, Dr. Okuda. Usually carried out under local anaesthetic, a surgeon will move healthy hair from the back and sides of the head to areas of thinning, helping to restore a natural look. The procedure can take anything between four and eight hours, and additional sessions can be carried out to make hair even thicker. Transplanted hair falls out within a few weeks, but regrows permanently within months. A decision to proceed with medication or hair restoration should always be made in consultation with a medical professional.

Immunosuppressants [link]

Immunosuppressants applied to the scalp have been shown to temporarily reverse alopecia areata, though the side effects of some of these drugs make such therapy questionable.

Treating the scalp [link]

As an extension of facial skin, effective cleansing and moisturizing of the scalp can help keep follicles open and create an optimum environment for healthy hair to grow and mature, preventing miniaturization and controlling thinning. Certain products on the market are specially designed to remove the styling build-up, environmental pollutants and excess sebum that block follicles and inhibit hair growth, and nourish the scalp skin and hair to reduce breakage and promote health.

Concealing hair loss [link]

Head [link]

One method of hiding hair loss is the "comb over", which involves restyling the remaining hair to cover the balding area. It is usually a temporary solution, useful only while the area of hair loss is small. As the hair loss increases, a comb over becomes less effective. When this reaches a stage of extreme effort with little effect—it can make the person the object of teasing or scorn.

Another method is to wear a hat or a hairpiece—a wig or toupee. The wig is a layer of artificial or natural hair made to resemble a typical hair style. In most cases the hair is artificial. Wigs vary widely in quality and cost. In the United States, the best wigs—those that look like real hair—cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. Organizations also collect individuals' donations of their own natural hair to be made into wigs for young cancer patients who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy or other cancer treatment in addition to any type of hair loss.

Lastly a number of alternative topical camouflages exist such as Nanogen (Europe) and Toppik (U.S.) and these are very popular as non-wig cosmetics which add electrostatic microfibres to your own hair.

Eyebrows [link]

Though not as common as the loss of hair on the head, chemotherapy, hormone imbalance, forms of alopecia, and other factors can also cause loss of hair in the eyebrows. Artificial eyebrows are available to replace missing eyebrows or to cover patchy eyebrows. Micro tattooing is also available.

Embracing baldness [link]

Instead of concealing hair loss, one may embrace it. A shaved head will grow stubble in the same manner and at the same rate as a shaved face. The general public has become accepting of the shaved head as well, though female baldness can be considered less socially acceptable in various parts of the world.

Society and culture [link]

There are many myths regarding the possible causes of baldness and its relationship with one's virility, intelligence, ethnicity, job, social class, wealth etc. While skepticism is warranted due to lack of scientific validation, some of these myths may have a degree of underlying truth.

"You inherit baldness from your mother's father."

Previously, early baldness of the androgenic type was thought to be sex linked dominant in males and to be sex linked recessive in females.

Research suggests that the gene for the androgen receptor, which is significant in determining probability for hair loss, is located on the X chromosome and so is always inherited from the mother's side. There is a 50% chance that a person shares the same X chromosome as his maternal grandfather. Because women have two X chromosomes, they will have two copies of the androgen receptor gene while men only have one. However, research has also shown that a person with a balding father also has a significantly greater chance of experiencing hair loss. Men whose fathers had experienced hairloss were 2.5 times more likely to experience hairloss themselves, regardless of the mother's side of the family.

"Weight Training and other types of physical activity causes baldness."

Because it increases testosterone levels many internet forums have put forward the idea that weight training and other forms of exercise increase hair loss in pre-disposed individuals. Although scientific studies do support a correlation between exercise and testosterone, no direct study has found a link between exercise and baldness. However a few have found a relationship between sedentariness and baldness, suggesting that some exercise is beneficial. It is possible that the type of quantity of exercise may influence hair loss, more studies are needed.

Note that testosterone levels are not a good marker of baldness and many studies actually show a paradoxical low testosterone in balding persons although research on the implications of this is limited.

"Intellectual activity or psychological problems can cause baldness."

This notion may be because cholesterol is involved in the process of neurogenesis and also the base material from which the body ultimately manufactures DHT. While the notion that bald men are more intelligent may lack credibility in the modern world, in the ancient world if a person was bald it was likely that he had an adequate amount of fat in his diet. Thus, his mental development was probably not stunted by malnutrition during his crucial formative years, he was more likely to be wealthy, and also have had access to a formal education. However, a sedentary lifestyle is less likely to correlate with intelligence in the modern world, and dietary fat content is not linked to economic class in modern developed countries. Another possibility is that, for some people, social standing accrued through intelligence can in mating compensate for physical attractiveness lowered by hair loss and therefore produce male offspring who are prone to both high intellect and hair loss. However, by way of better socioeconomic standing and in turn more access to hair loss treatments, an association between intelligence and actual hair loss is less likely in recent times. Of course, aside from all these scientific reasons, baldness could be linked to intellect or wisdom simply because people go bald as they age and become more experienced.

Total testosterone exhibits a positive relation to tactual-spatial abilities and to the degree of lateralization. Total testosterone is negatively correlated with verbal fluency. Testosterone in the saliva is also significantly positively correlated to tactual-spatial test scores and, in addition, to field independence. DHT and the ratio DHT/total testosterone are positively related to verbal fluency and negatively to the degree of lateralization of tactual-spatial performance.

"Baldness can be caused by emotional stress, sexual frustration etc."

Emotional stress has been shown to accelerate baldness in genetically susceptible individuals.

Stress due to sleep deprivation in military recruits lowered testosterone levels, but is not noted to have affected SHBG. Thus, stress due to sleep deprivation in fit males is unlikely to elevate DHT, which causes male pattern baldness. Whether it can cause hair loss by some other mechanism is not clear.

"Bald men are more 'virile' or sexually active than others."

Levels of free testosterone are strongly linked to libido and also DHT levels, but unless free testosterone is virtually non-existent levels have not been shown to affect virility. Men with androgenic alopecia are more likely to have a higher baseline of free androgens. However, sexual activity is multifactoral, and androgenic profile is also not the only determining factor in baldness. Additionally, because hair loss is progressive and free testosterone declines with age, a person's hairline may be more indicative of their past than present disposition.

"Frequent ejaculation causes baldness"

There are many misconceptions about what can help prevent hair loss, one of these being that lack of sexual activity will automatically prevent hair loss. While there has been proven to be a direct correlation between increased frequency of ejaculation and increased levels of DHT, as shown in a recent study by Harvard Medical School, the study suggests that ejaculation frequency is a sign, rather than a cause, of higher DHT levels. Moreover, MBP is genetically determined and theoretically occurs even with low levels of DHT. While reducing or even abstaining from sexual activity may not completely prevent hair loss in men who are genetically prone to it, it may slow down the process of balding due to the resulting lower levels of DHT, which causes male pattern baldness.

The only published study to test ejaculation frequency to baldness was probably large enough to detect an association (1390 subjects) and found no correlation although bald persons had had fewer sexual partners. One study may not be enough especially in baldness where there is a complex with age. Marital status has been shown in some but not all studies to influence hair loss in cross sectional studies (NHANES1).

"Standing on one's head alleviates baldness"

* While this may be a myth, increased circulation to the scalp can help provide hair follicles with needed nourishment to grow strong healthy hair.

"Tight hats cause baldness."

* While this may be a myth, hats do cause hair breakage and, to a lesser degree, split ends. Since hats are not washed as frequently as other clothing, they can also lead to scalp uncleanliness and possible Pityrosporum ovale contamination in men with naturally oily scalps. Some scalp infections, if left untreated, can cause hair loss.

Etymology [link]

The term ''alopecia'' () is formed from the Greek ''alópex'' (αλώπηξ), meaning fox. The origin of this usage is because this animal sheds its coat twice a year.

The term ''bald'' likely derives from the English word ''balde'', which means "white, pale", or Celtic ''ball'', which means "white patch or blaze", such as on a horse's head.

Research [link]

Research is looking into connections between hair loss and other health issues. While there has been speculation about a connection between early-onset androgenetic alopecia and heart disease, a review of articles from 1954 to 1999 found no conclusive connection between baldness and coronary artery disease. The dermatologists who conducted the review suggested further study was needed.

Environmental factors are under review. A 2007 study indicated that smoking may be a factor associated with age-related hair loss among Asian men. The study controlled for age and family history, and found statistically significant positive associations between moderate or severe androgenetic alopecia and smoking status.

In May 2007, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania unveiled a new scientific breakthrough that may cure baldness with stem cells. A product could be on the market within three years. The researchers discovered that the growth of new hair producing follicles could be stimulated in mice by damaging their skin.

In February 2008 researchers at the University of Bonn announced they have found the genetic basis of two distinct forms of inherited hair loss, opening a broad path to treatments for baldness. The fact that any receptor plays a specific role in hair growth was previously unknown to scientists and with this new knowledge a focus on finding more of these genes may be able to lead to therapies for very different types of hair loss.

An eight month study performed at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Science Malaysia showed daily supplements of a patented tocotrienol (vitamin E) complex may increase hair growth in people with male pattern baldness by 42 percent.

In May 2009, researchers in Japan identified a gene, SOX21, that appears to be responsible for hair loss in people.

In December 2010, scientists at the Berlin Technical University in Germany revealed they have grown the world's first artificial hair follicles from stem cells. Research leader Roland Lauster said within five years millions of hair-loss sufferers could grow new hair from their own stem cells and have it implanted into their bald spots. He also announced that preparations for clinical trials were "already in motion".

In 2011, research showed that treatment with astressin-B caused the sudden growth of hair in mice bred for a propensity for stress. Astressin-B ia a nonselective corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonist. This may possibly be used in the future to aid in the regrowth of human hair.

In 2011 Yale researchers found signals in fat cells that cause hair to grow.

In 2011 researchers used genetic twins to determine environmental vs. genetic causes of baldness. Only 66 subjects were used but the use of twins allows control for age and genetics, two powerful confounders. They found baldness associated with genetics, age, smoking, sun exposure, dandruff, a history of cancer, hypertension, sedentariness, and paradoxically, low testosterone. The latter was cited as supporting 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors which would increase the testosterone/DHT ratio. Hypertension (specifically high Diastolic blood pressure) was also found in the NHANES1 study and several others to be associated with baldness. The researchers also found marriage status in women to be associated with hair loss.

See also [link]

Alopecia areata

Alopecia universalis

Bald cap, actors' makeup simulating baldness

Baldness treatments

Dihydrotestosterone

Trichotillomania

References [link]

Further reading [link]

Cyclopaedia, London: Ephraim Chambers, 1728.

Rossi S (Ed.) (2004). ''Australian Medicines Handbook 2004''. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook. ISBN 0-9578521-4-2

Nourkrin Man research on DHT. '' 2006''.

No Cure For Baldness? Wojnicki, P (2008) ISBN 1-4348-4178-2 '' 2006''

External links [link]

Category:Conditions of the skin appendages Category:Hairstyles Category:Human appearance

ar:صلع av:Рас хӀулараб бакӀ az:Alopesiya bn:টাক ca:Alopècia cs:Alopecie de:Glatze es:Alopecia eo:Kalveco fa:طاسی fr:Alopécie gan:𩭽頭 ko:탈모증 hi:गंजापन io:Alopecio id:Botak it:Alopecia androgenetica he:קרחת lbe:Баллу бакӀ lt:Plikimas nl:Alopecia androgenetica ja:脱毛症 no:Skallethet pl:Łysienie pt:Calvície ru:Алопеция sq:Alopecia scn:Tigna simple:Alopecia sk:Alopécia so:Bidaar fi:Kalju sv:Håravfall tl:Pagkakalbo te:బోడి th:ศีรษะล้าน uk:Облисіння vi:Hói đầu wa:Toumaedje des tchveas zh:禿頭

name	In Battle
background	group_or_band
origin	Sundsvall, Sweden
genre	Black metal, death metal, viking metal
years active	1996-present
label	Napalm RecordsImperial Dawn RecordsCold RecordsMetal Blade RecordsCandlelight RecordsNocturnal Art Productions
associated acts	A*TeemAbyssosAeonBlackwindsChastisementDark FuneralDiabolicalEndless TortureGod Among InsectsHordes of HelNorrskenOdhinnSanctificationSetherialSouldrainerValkyria
current members	John Odhinn SandinJohn FrölénHasse KarlssonNils Fjällström
past members	See below
notable instruments	}}

In Battle is an extreme metal band from Sundsvall, Sweden. The main lyrical themes of the band focus on Norse mythology and war.

Biography[link]

The original line-up consisted of John Frölén on guitar and bass, John Odhinn Sandin on vocals, Håkan Sjödin on guitar and bass, and Otto Wiklund on drums. Håkan Sjödin left the band early so that he could play with Setherial full time. The band's first album, titled ''In Battle'', was recorded at Sunlight Studio in Stockholm, Sweden and was released through Napalm Records in 1997. Their second release, called ''The Rage of the Northmen'', came in March 1998. It was recorded at Ballerina Audio, Umeå, Sweden. In 1999 the only member left was Frölén, who started writing material for a third album. In 2002 he began rehearsing with Sandin (this time on drums), soon asking Hans Carlsson (guitar) of Diabolical to join the band. The album was mixed and mastered by Erik Rutan from the bands Morbid Angel and Hate Eternal. Rutan also donated a guitar solo to the album. In April 2005, the band parted ways with their label partner Cold Records after that album's release. In 2006, In Battle signed a contract with Nocturnal Art Productions and began working on their 4th full-length album, which turned out to be ''Kingdom of Fear''. The album was released on September 3, 2007. In Battle are currently working on a fifth studio album with a working title of ''Flames & Death''.

Line-up[link]

Current members[link]

John Odhinn Sandin - vocals (1996–1998, 2002–present)

John Frölén - bass (formerly guitar) (1996–present)

Hasse Karlsson - guitar (2002–present)

Nils Fjellström - drums (2003–present)

Former members[link]

Håkan Sjödin (aka Mysteriis) - guitar/bass (1996–1997)

Otto Wiklund - drums/vocals (1996–1998)

Marcus Edvardsson - bass (2003)

Discography[link]

''In Battle'' (full-length, 1997)

''The Rage of the Northmen'' (full-length, 1999)

''Soul Metamorphosis'' (EP, 2003)

''Welcome to the Battlefield'' (full-length, 2004)

''Kingdom of Fear'' (full-length, 2007)

''Flames & Death'' (full-length, TBA)

References[link]

Category:Musical groups established in 1996 Category:Swedish death metal musical groups Category:Swedish black metal musical groups Category:Viking metal musical groups

de:In Battle it:In Battle pl:In Battle pt:In Battle

name	Sir Patrick Stewart
honorific suffix	OBE
birth name	Patrick Stewart
birth date	July 13, 1940
birth place	Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England
occupation	Actor
years active	1959—present
spouse	Sheila Falconer (1966–90)Wendy Neuss (2000–03)
influences	Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Ian Richardson and Ian Holm
website	patrickstewart.org }}

Sir Patrick Stewart, OBE (born 13 July 1940) is an English film, television and stage actor, who has had a distinguished career in theatre and television. He is most widely known for his television and film roles, such as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and its successor films, Professor Charles Xavier in the ''X-Men'' film series, and as the voice of Avery Bullock in ''American Dad!''.

Early life[link]

Stewart was born on 13 July 1940 in Mirfield, near Dewsbury in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He is the son of Gladys (née Barrowclough), a weaver and textile worker, and Alfred Stewart, a Regimental Sergeant Major in the British Army who served with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and previously worked as a general labourer and as a postman.

In a 2008 interview, Stewart said: "My father was a very potent individual, a very powerful man who got what he wanted. It was said that when he strode onto the parade ground, birds stopped singing. It was many, many years before I realised how my father inserted himself into my work. I've grown a moustache for ''Macbeth''. My father didn't have one, but when I looked in the mirror just before I went on stage I saw my father's face staring straight back at me."

Stewart grew up in a poor household rife with domestic violence from his father, an experience which influenced his later political and ideological beliefs. In 2006, Stewart made a short video against domestic violence for Amnesty International, in which he recollected his father's physical attacks on his mother and the effect it had on him as a child, and he has given his name to a scholarship at the University of Huddersfield, where he is Chancellor, to fund post-graduate study into domestic violence. His childhood experiences also led him to become the patron of Refuge, a UK charity for abused women. In October 2011 he presented a BBC Lifeline Appeal on behalf of Refuge, talking about his own experience of domestic violence and interviewing a woman whose daughter was murdered by her ex-husband.

}} Stewart attended Crowlees Church of England Junior and Infants School. He attributes his acting career to an English teacher named Cecil Dormand who "put a copy of Shakespeare in my hand [and] said, 'Now get up on your feet and perform'". In 1951, aged 11, he entered Mirfield Secondary Modern School (now Mirfield Free Grammar School), where he continued to study drama. At age 15, Stewart dropped out of school and increased his participation in local theatre. He acquired a job as a newspaper reporter and obituary writer, but after a year, his employer gave him an ultimatum to choose acting or journalism. He quit the job. His brother tells the story that Stewart would attend rehearsals during work time and then invent the stories he reported. Stewart also trained as a boxer.

Career[link]

Early works[link]

Following a period with Manchester's Library Theatre, he became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966, staying with them until 1982. He was as an Associate Artist of the company in 1968. He appeared next to actors such as Ben Kingsley and Ian Richardson. In January 1967, he made his debut TV appearance on ''Coronation Street'' as a Fire Officer. In 1969, he had a brief TV cameo role as Horatio, opposite Ian Richardson's Hamlet, in a performance of the gravedigger scene as part of episode six of Sir Kenneth Clark's ''Civilisation'' television series. He made his Broadway debut as Snout in Peter Brook's legendary production of ''A Midsummer Night's Dream,'' then moved to the Royal National Theatre in the early 1980s. Over the years, Stewart took roles in many major television series without ever becoming a household name. He appeared as Lenin in ''Fall of Eagles''; Sejanus in ''I, Claudius''; Karla in ''Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'' and ''Smiley's People''; Claudius in a 1980 BBC adaptation of ''Hamlet''. He even took the romantic male lead in the 1975 BBC adaptation of Mrs Gaskell's ''North and South'' (wearing a hairpiece). He also took the lead, playing Psychiatric Consultant Dr. Edward Roebuck in a BBC TV series called ''Maybury'' in 1981.

He also had minor roles in several films such as King Leondegrance in John Boorman's ''Excalibur'' (1981), the character Gurney Halleck in David Lynch's 1984 film version of ''Dune'' and Dr. Armstrong in Tobe Hooper's ''Lifeforce'' (1985).

While not wealthy, Stewart had a comfortable lifestyle as an actor; however, he found that despite a lengthy career, his reputation was not great enough to bring a production of ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' to West End theatre. Stewart thus in 1987 agreed to work in Hollywood, after Robert H. Justman, producer for a revival of a long-cancelled television show, saw him while attending a literary reading at UCLA. Stewart knew nothing about the original show, ''Star Trek'', or its iconic status in American culture. He was reluctant to sign the standard contract of six years, but did so as he believed that the new show would quickly fail and he would return to his London stage career after making some money.

''Star Trek: The Next Generation''[link]

When Stewart began his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1987–94) the ''Los Angeles Times'' called him an unknown British Shakespearean actor. Stewart was unprepared for the long hours of television production, had difficulty in fitting in with his less-disciplined castmates, and his "spirits used to sink" when required to memorise and recite Treknobabble. He came to better understand the cultural differences between the stage and television, remains close friends with his fellow ''Star Trek'' actors, and his favourite technical line became "space-time continuum". Marina Sirtis credited Stewart with "at least 50%, if not more" of the show's success because others emulated his professionalism and dedication to acting.

}} Besides making him immediately wealthy due to the show's great success—Stewart calculated during one break during filming the show that he made more money during that break than from 10 weeks of ''Woolf'' in London—Stewart received a 1995 Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series". From 1994 to 2002, he also portrayed Picard in the films ''Star Trek Generations'' (1994), ''Star Trek: First Contact'' (1996), ''Star Trek: Insurrection'' (1998), and ''Star Trek Nemesis'' (2002); and in ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'''s pilot episode "Emissary".

When asked in 2011 for the highlight of his career, he chose ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', "because it changed everything [for me]." He has also said he is very proud of his work on ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', for its social message and educational impact on young viewers. On being questioned about the significance of his role compared to his distinguished Shakespearean career, Stewart has said that }} The accolades Stewart has received include the readers of ''TV Guide'' in 1992 choosing him with Cindy Crawford, of whom he had never heard, as television's "most bodacious" man and woman. Stewart considered this an unusual distinction considering his age and baldness. In an interview with Michael Parkinson, he expressed gratitude for Gene Roddenberry's riposte to a reporter who said, "Surely they would have cured baldness by the 24th century," to which Roddenberry replied, "In the 24th century, they wouldn't care."

Other notable works[link]

Film and television[link]

Stewart has said that he would never have joined ''The Next Generation'' had he known that it would air for seven years:

}}

Stewart became so typecast as Picard that he has found obtaining other Hollywood roles difficult. The main exception is the ''X-Men'' film series. The films' success has resulted in another lucrative regular genre role in a major superhero film series. Stewart's character, Charles Xavier, is very similar to Picard and himself; "a grand, deep-voiced, bald English guy". He has also since voiced the role in three video games, ''X-Men Legends'', ''X-Men Legends II'' and ''X-Men: Next Dimension''. Other film and television roles include the flamboyantly gay Sterling in the 1995 film ''Jeffrey'' and King Henry II in ''The Lion in Winter'', for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance and an Emmy Award nomination for executive-producing the film. He portrayed Captain Ahab in the 1998 made-for-television film version of ''Moby Dick'', receiving Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for his performance. He also starred as Scrooge in a 1999 television film version, receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his performance.

In late 2003, during the eleventh and final season of NBC's ''Frasier'', Stewart appeared on the show as a gay Seattle socialite and Opera director who mistakes Frasier for a potential lover. In July 2003, he appeared in Series 02 (Episode 09) of ''Top Gear'' in the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment. He achieved 1:50 in the Liana. In 2005, he was cast as Professor Ian Hood in an ITV thriller 4-episode series ''Eleventh Hour'', created by Stephen Gallagher. The first episode was broadcast on 19 January 2006. He also, in 2005, played Captain Nemo in a two part adaptation of ''The Mysterious Island''. Stewart also appeared as a nudity obsessed caricature of himself in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's television series ''Extras'', as a last-minute replacement for Jude Law. For playing himself, he was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2006 for Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

Stewart is a fairly frequent guest voice on FoX's animated comedy, Family Guy, appearing with the rest of the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation in the episode "Not All Dogs Go To Heaven," and has appeared on several other occasions, often voicing himself, but occasionally voicing other characters.

In 2011, Stewart appeared in the feature length documentary ''The Captains'' alongside William Shatner, who also wrote and directed the film. In the film, Shatner interviews actors who have portrayed captains within the ''Star Trek'' franchise. The film pays a great deal of attention to Shatner's interviews with Stewart at his home in Oxfordshire as well as at a ''Star Trek'' Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada; Stewart reveals the fear and personal failings that came along with his tenure as a Starfleet captain, but also the great triumphs he believes accompanied his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He appeared on ''The Graham Norton Show'' on January 27 2012 to promote ''Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death''.

Stage[link]

After ''The Next Generation'' began, Stewart soon found that he missed acting on the stage. Although he remained associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the lengthy filming for the show prevented Stewart from participating in most other works. He instead began writing one-man shows that he performed in California universities and acting schools. Stewart found that one—a version of Charles Dickens's ''A Christmas Carol'' in which he portrayed all 40-plus characters—was ideal for him because of its limited performing schedule. In 1991, Stewart performed it on Broadway, receiving a nomination for that year's Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show. He staged encore performances in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, again for the benefit of survivors and victims' families in the 11 September attacks, and a 23-day run in London's West End in December 2005. For his performances in this play, Stewart has received the Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance in 1992 and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment for Solo Performance in 1994. He was also the co-producer of the show, through the company he set up for the purpose: Camm Lane Productions, a reference to his birthplace in Camm Lane, Mirfield.

Shakespeare roles during this period included Prospero in Shakespeare's ''The Tempest'', on Broadway in 1995, a role he would reprise in Rupert Goold's 2006 production of ''The Tempest'' as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Complete Works Festival. In 1997, he took the role of Othello with the Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington, D.C.) in a race-bending performance, in a "photo negative" production of a white ''Othello'' with an otherwise all-black cast. Stewart had wanted to play the title role since the age of 14, so he and director Jude Kelly inverted the play so Othello became a comment on a white man entering a black society.

}} His years in the United States had left Stewart a "gaping hole in his CV" for a Shakespearean actor, as he had missed the opportunity to play such notable roles as Hamlet, Romeo, and Richard III. He played Antony again opposite Harriet Walter's Cleopatra in ''Antony and Cleopatra'' at the Novello Theatre in London in 2007 to excellent reviews. During this period, Stewart also addressed the Durham Union Society on his life in film and theatre. When Stewart began playing Macbeth in the West End in 2007, some said that he was too old for the role; however, he and the show again received excellent reviews, with one critic calling Stewart "one of our finest Shakespearean actors".

He was named as the next Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre based at St Catherine's College, Oxford in January 2007. In 2008, Stewart played King Claudius in ''Hamlet'' alongside David Tennant. He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor for the part. When collecting his award, he dedicated the award "in part" to Tennant and Tennant's understudy Edward Bennett, after Tennant's back injury and subsequent absence from four weeks of ''Hamlet'' disqualified him from an Olivier nomination. Stewart has expressed interest in appearing in ''Doctor Who''.

In 2009, Stewart appeared alongside Ian McKellen as the lead duo of Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo), in ''Waiting for Godot''. Stewart had previously only appeared once alongside McKellen on stage, but the pair had developed a close friendship while waiting around on set filming the ''X-Men'' films. Stewart stated that performing in this play was the fulfilment of a 50 year ambition, having seen Peter O'Toole appear in it at the Bristol Old Vic while Stewart was just 17. Reviewers stated that his interpretation captured well the balance between humour and despair that characterises the work.

Voice acting[link]

Known for his strong and authoritative voice, Stewart has lent his voice to a number of projects. He has narrated recordings of Prokofiev's ''Peter and the Wolf'', Vivaldi's ''The Four Seasons'', C. S. Lewis's ''The Last Battle'' (conclusion of the series ''The Chronicles of Narnia''), Rick Wakeman's ''Return to the Centre of the Earth''; as well as numerous TV programs such as ''High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman''. Stewart provided the narration for ''Nine Worlds'', an astronomical tour of the solar system and nature documentaries such as ''The Secret of Life on Earth'' and ''Mountain Gorilla''. He is also heard as the voice of the Magic Mirror in Disneyland's live show, ''Snow White – An Enchanting Musical.'' He also was the narrator for the American release of ''Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real''. He is narrator for two fulldome video shows produced and distributed by Loch Ness Productions, called ''MarsQuest'' and ''The Voyager Encounters''.

He also was a voice actor on the animated films ''The Prince of Egypt'', ''Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius'', ''Chicken Little'', ''The Pagemaster'', and on the English dubbings of the Japanese anime films ''Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'' by Hayao Miyazaki and ''Steamboy''. He voiced the pig Napoleon in a TV adaptation of George Orwell's ''Animal Farm'' and guest starred in the ''Simpsons'' episode "Homer the Great" as Number One. Patrick also narrated the prologue and epilogue for the Disney's ''Nightmare Before Christmas'', which also appears on the film's soundtrack. He was originally going to do the voice for Jafar in ''Aladdin'', but couldn't finish due to scheduling conflicts. He said in interviews that not voicing Jafar was the biggest mistake in his career.

More recently, he has played a recurring role as CIA Deputy Director Avery Bullock, lending his likeness as well as his voice on the animated series ''American Dad!'' as well as making (as of 6 August 2011) eight guest appearances on ''Family Guy'' in various roles: first in "Peter's Got Woods", second in "No Meals on Wheels" when Peter likens something to when he once swapped voices with him for a day, third in "Lois Kills Stewie" as his ''American Dad!'' character Bullock, fourth in "Not All Dogs Go to Heaven" as himself, fifth in "And Then There Were Fewer" as a cat that proclaims himself a professor, sixth in "Halloween on Spooner Street as Dick Pump, seventh in "The Hand That Rocks the Wheelchair" as Susie Swanson and eighth in the DVD version of ''It's A Trap!'' as Captain Picard. In 2006, Stewart voiced Bambi's father, the Great Prince of the Forest in Disney's direct-to-video sequel, ''Bambi II''.

He lent his voice to the Activision-produced ''Star Trek'' computer games ''Star Trek: Armada'', ''Armada II'', ''Star Trek: Starfleet Command III'', ''Star Trek: Invasion'', ''Bridge Commander'', and ''Elite Force II'', all reprising his role as Captain Picard. Stewart reprised his role as Picard in ''Star Trek: Legacy'' for both PC and Xbox 360, along with the four other 'major' Starfleet captains from the different Star Trek series.

In addition to voicing his characters from ''Star Trek'' and ''X-Men'' in several related computer and video games, Stewart worked as a voice actor on games unrelated to both franchises, such as ''Castlevania: Lords of Shadow'', ''Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone'', ''Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos'' and ''The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion'' for which in 2006 he won a Spike TV Video Game Award for his work as Emperor Uriel Septim. He also lent his voice to several editions of the ''Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia''.

His voice talents also appeared in a number of commercials including the UK TV Adverts for Domestos 5x Longer Bleach and Moneysupermarket.com, an advertisement for Shell fuel, and an American advertisement for the prescription drug Crestor. He also voiced the UK and Australian TV advertisements for the PAL version of ''Final Fantasy XII''.

Stewart used his voice for Pontiac and Porsche cars and MasterCard Gold commercials in 1996, and Goodyear Assurance Tyres in 2004. He also did voice-overs for RCA televisions. He provided the voice of Max Winters in ''TMNT'' in March 2007. In 2008, he is also the voice of television advertisements for Currys and Stella Artois beer. In 2010, he is the voice in television advertisements for National Car Rental.

He voiced the narrator of the Electronic Arts computer game, ''The Sims Medieval'', for the game's introduction cinematic and trailer released on 22 March 2011. He also voiced the story plaques and trailer of the MMOG ''LEGO Universe''.

Personal life[link]

thumb|Stewart at the 2010 Metropolitan Opera's opening night of ''Das Rheingold''Stewart and his first wife, Sheila Falconer, have two children: Daniel Stewart and Sophie Alexandra. Stewart and Falconer divorced in 1990. In 1997, he became engaged to Wendy Neuss, one of the producers of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', and they married on 25 August 2000, divorcing three years later. Four months prior to his divorce from Neuss, Stewart played opposite actress Lisa Dillon in a production of ''The Master Builder'', and the two were romantically involved until 2007.

Having lived in Los Angeles for many years, Stewart moved back to England in 2004. In an interview with the BBC's Gavin Esler, he said this was because he was homesick and because he wanted to return to work in the theatre. In the same year, Stewart was appointed as Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield and subsequently as a Professor of Performing Arts in July 2008. In spite of his hectic acting schedule, Stewart takes his university role seriously and regularly attends graduation ceremonies in the UK and Hong Kong, as well as teaching master classes for drama students during his visits. Stewart was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2001 New Year Honours list, after receiving which he said, "I'm very touched and very pleased with this and it was a delightful morning." Stewart was made a Knight Bachelor in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to drama. He acknowledged the "unlooked-for honour" and paid tribute to his former English teacher who encouraged him to perform.

His politics are rooted in his belief in fairness and equality. He considers himself a socialist and is a member of the Labour Party. He stated, "My father was a very strong trade unionist and those fundamental issues of Labour were ingrained into me." He has been critical of the Iraq War and recent UK government legislation in the area of civil liberties, in particular, its plans to extend detention without charge to 42 days. He signed an open letter of objection to this proposal in March 2008. Stewart identifies himself as a feminist. Additionally, he has publicly advocated for the right to assisted suicide.

Stewart is president of Huddersfield Town Academy, the local football club's project for identifying and developing young talent. He is a lifelong supporter of the club. In an interview with ''American Theatre'', Stewart was asked if he could be something other than an actor, what would he be. He stated "From time to time, I have fantasies of becoming a concert pianist. I've been lucky enough through the years to work very closely with the great Emanuel Ax. I've said to him that if I could switch places with anyone it would be with him."

Stewart's son Daniel is a television actor, and has appeared alongside his father in the 1993 made for television film ''Death Train'', and the 1992 ''Star Trek'' episode "The Inner Light" playing his son.

In July 2011 Stewart received an honourary doctorate of letters from the University of East Anglia.

Theatrical performances[link]

The Royal Shakespeare Company[link]

Stewart has been a prolific actor in performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing in more than 60 productions. His first appearance was in 1966 in ''The Investigation'' and in the years that followed he became a core member of the company, taking on three or four major roles each season and rarely taking a break. His most recent appearance was as Claudius in ''Hamlet'' in 2008.

Stewart returned to the Royal Shakespeare Company playing Shylock in Rupert Goold's avant garde production of ''The Merchant of Venice'' in spring 2011, and he will be reprising the role of William Shakespeare in ''Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death'' by Edward Bond at London's Young Vic Theatre in spring 2012.

Other[link]

1995: Played Prospero in ''The Tempest'' for the New York Shakespeare Festival, with the production later transferring to Broadway.

1997: The Shakespeare Theatre Company (Washington, D.C.), Stewart in a race-bending performance, in a "photo negative" production of a white ''Othello'' with an otherwise all-black cast. 2000: On 9 April 2000, Stewart opened in Arthur Miller's ''The Ride Down Mt. Morgan'' at the Broadway Ambassador Theatre. Lukewarm reviews and poor box office convinced the producers (including the Shubert Organisation) to post a closing notice and, in memorably impassioned Saturday matinée and evening curtain speeches, Stewart accused them of not being supportive, stating "Arthur Miller and I no longer have confidence in our producers' commitment to promote and publicise this extraordinarily provocative and vastly entertaining play." They subsequently took the matter to Actors Equity, which ruled that Stewart had to apologise publicly for his outburst.

2001: Played George in Edward Albee's play ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' at the Guthrie in Minneapolis. Also portrayed Robert Johnson in J.B. Priestley's play ''Johnson Over Jordan'' at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.

2003: Played the lead role of Halvard Solness in Henrik Ibsen's play ''The Master Builder'' at the Albery Theatre, London. Portrayed Davies in Harold Pinter's ''The Caretaker'' in Broadway's American Airlines Theatre

2006: Portrayed Prospero in ''The Tempest'' at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and then the Novello Theatre, and Mark Antony in ''Antony and Cleopatra'' at the Swan Theatre, for the Royal Shakespeare Company as part of the cycle performing all Shakespeare's works in a year.

2007: He appeared at Chichester Festival Theatre during the Summer 07 Festival playing the title role in Rupert Goold's acclaimed revival of ''Macbeth'' in the Minerva studio theatre, and as a grizzled Malvolio with a Scottish accent and kilt in Philip Franks' inventive main house staging of ''Twelfth Night''. The Chichester production of ''Macbeth'' transferred to the Gielgud Theatre in London's Shaftesbury Avenue, where his performance won him the Best Actor Award in the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2007. Goold also received the Best Director Award for the production.

2008: The title role in ''Macbeth'' at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City.

2008: The title role in ''Macbeth'' at the Lyceum Theatre, New York City. Stewart was nominated for the 2008 Tony award for Leading Actor in a Play, but lost out to fellow Shakespearean actor Mark Rylance. 2008: The roles of Claudius and the Ghost in ''Hamlet'' alongside David Tennant as the eponymous Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. This was later made into a television play and broadcast on BBC1 on 26 December 2009. The same production was broadcast in the U.S. as part of PBS' Great Performances series on 28 April 2010. 2009: Performed in ''Waiting for Godot'' in one of the two lead roles, Stewart as Vladimir (Didi) alongside Ian McKellen as Estragon (Gogo). 2010: Performed the part of William Shakespeare in ''Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death'' by Edward Bond at the Chichester Festival Theatre, a role he had first performed in 1976 at the Other Place, Stratford.

2010: Played Robert in a Broadway production of David Mamet's ''A Life in the Theatre'' in 2010.

2012: Stewart will be reprising the role of William Shakespeare in ''Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death'' by Edward Bond at the Young Vic Theatre in London (Feb – Mar 2012)

Filmography[link]

Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1967	''Coronation Street''	Fire Officer	1 Episode
1974	''Fall of Eagles''	Vladimir Lenin	Television mini-series
1974		Enobarbus	Television film
1975		Ejlert Løvborg
1975		Tilney
1976		Sejanus	Television mini-series
1979			Television mini-series
1980		Wilkins
1980		Claudius	Television film
1981		Leondegrance
1982	''''	Major	Voice role
1982			Television mini-series
1984	''Uindii''	Mr. Duffner
1984		Gurney Halleck
1985		Dr. Armstrong
1985	''Wild Geese II''	Russian General
1985	''Code Name: Emerald''	Colonel Peters
1985	''''	Professor Macklin
1985	''Walls of Glass''
1986		Henry Grey/Duke of Suffolk
1987-1994	''Star Trek: The Next Generation''	Captain Jean-Luc Picard	Television series
1987	''''	Anthony Anderson
1991	''L.A. Story''
	1993	''Robin Hood: Men in Tights''
	1993	''Death Train	Malcolm Philpott	Television film
1994		Loomis
1994	''Star Trek Generations''	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
1994	''''	Adventure	Voice role
1994	''Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos''	King Richard	Voice role / Video game
1994	''In Search of Dr. Seuss''	Sgt. Mulvaney	Puppet-voice over / Television film
1995		Sterling
1995		John
1995	''''	Number 1	Episode: "Homer the Great"
1995	''500 Nations''		Voice role / Television mini-series
1996	''Star Trek: First Contact''	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
1996	''''	Sir Simon de Canterville	Television film
1997		Dr. Jonas
1997		Rafe Bentley
1998	''Star Trek: The Experience: The Klingon Encounter''	Captain Jean-Luc Picard	Voice role
1998	''Dad Savage''	Dad Savage
1998			Television film
1998		Mace Sowell
1998	''Star Trek: Insurrection''	Captain Jean-Luc Picard	Also associate producer
1998	''''	Pharaoh Seti I	Voice role
1999	''''	Ebenezer Scrooge	Television film
1999			Voice role / Television film
2000		Professor Charles Xavier
2001		King Goobot	Voice role
2002	''Star Trek Nemesis''	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
2002	''King of Texas''	John Lear	Television film
2002	''X-Men: Next Dimension''	Professor Charles Xavier	Voice role / Video game
2003		Professor Charles Xavier
2003	''''		Television film
2003	''Frasier''	Alastair Burke
2004	''Boo, Zino & The Snurks''	Albert Drollinger	Voice role
2004	''Steamboy''	Dr. Lloyd Steam	English dubbing
2005	''''	Older Dent McSkimming
2005		Mr. Woolensworth	Voice role
2005			Television film
2005		Lord Yupa	English dubbing
2005	''''	The Raven	Voice role / Television film
2005-present	''American Dad''	Avery Bullock	Voice role / Television cartoon
2005	''Extras''	Himself	Television Series
2006	''Bambi II''	The Great Prince/Stag	Voice role
2006	''X-Men: The Last Stand''	Professor Charles Xavier
2006	''''	Emperor Uriel Septim VII	Voice role / video game
2007			Voice role
2007		Narrator	Voice role
2009	''X-Men Origins: Wolverine''	Professor Charles Xavier	Cameo
2009			Television film
2010	''Castlevania: Lords of Shadow''	Zobek / Narrator	Voice role
2010			Television film
2010	''Family Guy''	Dick Pump	Voice Role
2011	''Family Guy''	Himself	Voice Role
2011	''Gnomeo & Juliet''	William Shakespeare	Voice role
2011		Himself / Captain Jean-Luc Picard
2013		Tugg	Voice role
2012		John of Gaunt	TV film

Notes[link]

References[link]

Further reading[link]

External links[link]

Trek star's space travel unease BBC interview

Interview with Sue Lawley on Desert Island Discs

Mirfield – Patrick Stewart's birthplace

Patrick Stewart interview (www.independent.co.uk)

Patrick Stewart at Emmys.com

Category:1940 births Category:Living people Category:Academics of the University of Huddersfield Category:Alumni of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Category:English film actors Category:English stage actors Category:English television actors Category:English voice actors Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:Laurence Olivier Award winners Category:People from Mirfield Category:Royal Shakespeare Company members Category:Shakespearean actors Category:Knights Bachelor Category:Actors awarded British knighthoods Category:English socialists

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