20 Things You Didn't Know About Star Trek Generations
7. The Death Of Picard's Family Was Patrick Stewart's Suggestion
One of the most memorable aspects of Generations' plot is the revelation that Picard's brother Robert and nephew René died in a fire, though Picard's anguish was originally considerably less dramatic than this.
The script initially had Picard learn that his brother had died of a heart attack while in his vineyard, but Patrick Stewart suggested that the news had to be more dire and upsetting than this by extending to the future of his family name.
Further still, Stewart also said it had to be a harsh, unpleasant means of death, hence the fire. To Stewart's credit he absolutely commits to the heartbreak of these scenes, deepening Picard's characterisation as a result.