<p><br /> Hollywood star Patrick Stewart paid tribute to his former English teacher after he was knighted by the Queen.<br /> </p><p><br /> Stewart said he owes "literally everything" to Cecil Dormand, his secondary school teacher who encouraged him to act professionally.<br /> </p><p><br /> "Although many people in my life and career have had a great influence on me, without this one man, none of it would have happened", he said.<br /> </p><p><br /> Sixty-nine-year-old Stewart has enjoyed a 50-year-career in movies, TV and theatre.<br /> </p><p><br /> On the big screen he is best known as Professor Charles Xavier in Hollywood's X-Men blockbusters.<br /> </p><p><br /> But it was on the sci-fi TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation that the Yorkshireman shot to fame in the late 1980's.<br /> </p><p><br /> Stewart worked as a furniture salesman and journalist before joining the Royal Shakespeare company in his mid 20s.<br /> </p><p><br /> The Queen is reported to be a fan of Sir Patrick, who will join the likes of Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Alec Guinness as knighted actors<br /> </p>
