Poor man.
He signed on thinking TNG would bomb (which it almost did), he’d make some quick cash, get out, and go back to doing theater like he really wanted.
Instead, TNG ran for the better part of a decade, it is by far his best-known role, and the show spawned several movies and a whole 'nother TV series focused on his character multiple decades later.
Patrick Stewart’s career did not proceed as planned.
He could leave at any moment, even with contracts. Hell “Best of Both Worlds” literally had Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes in the middle of contract negotiations - either one could have walked away at that moment and the story was ready for that. (Picard obviously, would have been consumed, Ryker was offered his own command).
It’s a bit condescending to say that we should pity him because of TNG. He’s said multiple times that while his initial reaction was what you said, he’s enjoyed it from there on.
The vast, vast majority of people don’t get jobs and think “Okay here is where my career is going”, they are along for the ride. Many, if not most people find that they enjoy other careers more than others and swap, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Don’t pity a man because he found something he loved doing and kept doing it, we should celebrate that.
I actually disagree. While that was his initial goal, his career spanned more and went farther than I’m sure he could have ever imagined. I think he’s rather proud of the roles that he’s been in and there’s a reason why he’s fought for, and been a champion of, Star Trek.
