Ian McKellen

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

211

Gender

Male

Birthday

1939-05-25 (86 years old)

Place of Birth

Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK

Ian McKellen

Biography

Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. He has played roles on the screen and stage in genres ranging from Shakespearean dramas and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is regarded as a British cultural icon and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. He has received numerous accolades, including a Tony Award, six Olivier Awards, and a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards and five Emmy Awards. McKellen made his stage debut in 1961 at the Belgrade Theatre as a member of its repertory company, and in 1965 made his first West End appearance. In 1969, he was invited to join the Prospect Theatre Company to play the lead parts in Shakespeare's Richard II and Marlowe's Edward II. In the 1970s, McKellen became a stalwart of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre of Great Britain. He has earned five Olivier Awards for his roles in Pillars of the Community (1977), The Alchemist (1978), Bent (1979), Wild Honey (1984), and Richard III (1995). McKellen made his Broadway debut in The Promise (1965). He received the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus (1980). He was further nominated for Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare (1984). He returned to Broadway in Wild Honey(1986), Dance of Death (1990), No Man's Land (2013), and Waiting for Godot (2013), the latter two being a joint production with Patrick Stewart. McKellen achieved worldwide fame for his film roles, including the titular King in Richard III(1995), James Whale in Gods and Monsters (1998), Magneto in the X-Men films, Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003) and The Hobbit (2012–2014) trilogies. Other notable film roles include A Touch of Love (1969), Plenty (1985), Six Degrees of Separation (1993), Restoration (1995), Flushed Away (2006), Mr. Holmes (2015), and The Good Liar (2019). McKellen came out as gay in 1988, and has since championed LGBT social movements worldwide. He was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in October 2014. McKellen is a cofounder of Stonewall, an LGBT rights lobby group in the United Kingdom, named after the Stonewall riots. He is also patron of LGBT History Month, Pride London, Oxford Pride, GayGlos, LGBT Foundation and FFLAG. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ian McKellen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

  • The Simpsons

    The Simpsons

  • Family Guy

    Family Guy

  • Late Night with Seth Meyers

    Late Night with Seth Meyers

  • Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live

  • Sesame Street

    Sesame Street

  • The Graham Norton Show

    The Graham Norton Show

  • The Graham Norton Show

    The Graham Norton Show

  • Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

    Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

  • Coronation Street

    Coronation Street

  • Real Time with Bill Maher

    Real Time with Bill Maher

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

  • The One Show

    The One Show

  • Golden Globe Awards

    Golden Globe Awards

  • Golden Globe Awards

    Golden Globe Awards

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • The View

    The View

  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

    The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    Jimmy Kimmel Live!

  • Have I Got News for You

    Have I Got News for You

  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

  • Avengers: Doomsday

    Avengers: Doomsday

  • Doogal

    Doogal

  • Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

    Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

  • Beauty and the Beast

    Beauty and the Beast

  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

    The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

  • The Da Vinci Code

    The Da Vinci Code

  • BBC Play of the Month

    BBC Play of the Month

  • BBC Play of the Month

    BBC Play of the Month

  • BBC Play of the Month

    BBC Play of the Month

  • BBC Play of the Month

    BBC Play of the Month

  • Omnibus

    Omnibus

  • Flushed Away

    Flushed Away

  • The Wednesday Play

    The Wednesday Play

  • X-Men: Days of Future Past

    X-Men: Days of Future Past

  • The Paul O'Grady Show

    The Paul O'Grady Show

  • ted

    ted

  • Playhouse

    Playhouse

  • X-Men: The Mutant Watch

    X-Men: The Mutant Watch

  • The Oscars

    The Oscars

  • The Shadow

    The Shadow

  • Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

    Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

  • The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision

    The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision

  • An Audience with...

    An Audience with...

  • Who Do You Think You Are?

    Who Do You Think You Are?

  • Parkinson

    Parkinson

  • All Is True

    All Is True

  • A World War II Fairy Tale: The Making of Michael Mann's 'The Keep'

    A World War II Fairy Tale: The Making of Michael Mann's 'The Keep'

  • Extras

    Extras

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

    The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

  • The Golden Compass

    The Golden Compass

  • Stardust

    Stardust

  • Hamlet

    Hamlet

  • The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale

    The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale

  • A Filmmaker's Journey: Making 'The Return of the King'

    A Filmmaker's Journey: Making 'The Return of the King'

  • Last Action Hero

    Last Action Hero

  • Hamlet Within

    Hamlet Within

  • Cats

    Cats

  • Passage to Middle-Earth: The Making of 'The Lord of the Rings'

    Passage to Middle-Earth: The Making of 'The Lord of the Rings'

  • The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot

    The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot

  • Asylum

    Asylum

  • The Good Liar

    The Good Liar

  • Scandal

    Scandal

  • Apt Pupil

    Apt Pupil

  • Walter

    Walter

  • Emile

    Emile

  • The Dresser

    The Dresser

  • Zina

    Zina

  • Reunited Apart

    Reunited Apart

  • Edward II

    Edward II

  • The Critic

    The Critic

  • Richard III

    Richard III

  • King Lear

    King Lear

  • A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation

    A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation

  • Bent

    Bent

  • Hamlet

    Hamlet

  • David Copperfield

    David Copperfield

  • Vicious

    Vicious

  • The Magic Roundabout

    The Magic Roundabout

  • Plenty

    Plenty

  • Neverwas

    Neverwas

  • Tales of the City

    Tales of the City

  • And the Band Played On

    And the Band Played On

  • Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol

    Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol

  • Jack & Sarah

    Jack & Sarah

  • Trailblazer Honors

    Trailblazer Honors

  • The Keep

    The Keep

  • The Prisoner

    The Prisoner

  • Mr. Holmes

    Mr. Holmes

  • Animal Crackers

    Animal Crackers

  • Camp Christmas

    Camp Christmas

  • The Wolverine: Path of a Ronin

    The Wolverine: Path of a Ronin

  • Othello

    Othello

  • The Scarlet Pimpernel

    The Scarlet Pimpernel

  • Gods and Monsters

    Gods and Monsters

  • I'll Do Anything

    I'll Do Anything

  • The Making of 'The Return of the King'

    The Making of 'The Return of the King'

  • Alfred the Great

    Alfred the Great

  • Freedom: 50 Years of Pride

    Freedom: 50 Years of Pride

  • All the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Film

    All the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Film

  • Six Degrees of Separation

    Six Degrees of Separation

  • Eighteen

    Eighteen

  • Hating Peter Tatchell

    Hating Peter Tatchell

  • Swept from the Sea

    Swept from the Sea

  • The Ballad of Little Jo

    The Ballad of Little Jo

  • Cold Comfort Farm

    Cold Comfort Farm

  • The Wolverine

    The Wolverine

  • A Touch of Love

    A Touch of Love

  • Beyond the Movie: The Return of the King

    Beyond the Movie: The Return of the King

  • Priest of Love

    Priest of Love

  • The Christophers

    The Christophers

  • Peter Tatchell: Just Who Does He Think He Is?

    Peter Tatchell: Just Who Does He Think He Is?

  • Shakespeare on Stage, Screen and Elsewhere with Ian McKellen

    Shakespeare on Stage, Screen and Elsewhere with Ian McKellen

  • Beyond the Movie: The Fellowship of the Ring

    Beyond the Movie: The Fellowship of the Ring

  • Walter and June

    Walter and June

  • Macbeth

    Macbeth

  • Ringers: Lord of the Fans

    Ringers: Lord of the Fans

  • Quintessentially British

    Quintessentially British

  • McKellen: Playing the Part

    McKellen: Playing the Part

  • Shakespeare Live! From the RSC

    Shakespeare Live! From the RSC

  • The Betty Driver Story

    The Betty Driver Story

  • The Art of Breaking Character

    The Art of Breaking Character

  • National Theatre Live: King Lear

    National Theatre Live: King Lear

  • Muse of Fire

    Muse of Fire

  • An Evening with Lily Savage

    An Evening with Lily Savage

  • Infinitum: Subject Unknown

    Infinitum: Subject Unknown

  • To Die For

    To Die For

  • David Copperfield

    David Copperfield

  • Now You See Him: 'The Invisible Man' Revealed!

    Now You See Him: 'The Invisible Man' Revealed!

  • National Theatre Live: No Man's Land

    National Theatre Live: No Man's Land

  • Playing Shakespeare

    Playing Shakespeare

  • Small-Time Revolutionary

    Small-Time Revolutionary

  • Perspectives

    Perspectives

  • For the Love of God

    For the Love of God

  • The Second Uncanny Issue of X-Men! Making 'X2'

    The Second Uncanny Issue of X-Men! Making 'X2'

  • The One Note Man

    The One Note Man

  • David Macaulay: Roman City

    David Macaulay: Roman City

  • Country Matters

    Country Matters

  • Frank and Percy

    Frank and Percy

  • Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man

    Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man

  • The Tragedy of King Richard II

    The Tragedy of King Richard II

  • How a Kite Flies

    How a Kite Flies

  • Countdown to War

    Countdown to War

  • Armchair Thriller

    Armchair Thriller

  • Nelson Mandela Redrawn

    Nelson Mandela Redrawn

  • Frodo Is Great... Who Is That?!!

    Frodo Is Great... Who Is That?!!

  • My First Time

    My First Time

  • The Hobart Shakespeareans

    The Hobart Shakespeareans

  • The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

    The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

  • Restoration

    Restoration

  • Looking for Lowry

    Looking for Lowry

  • Windmills of the Gods

    Windmills of the Gods

  • Pillar of Fire

    Pillar of Fire

  • A Bit Of Scarlet

    A Bit Of Scarlet

  • The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne

    The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne

  • Rasputin

    Rasputin

  • The Egg Trick

    The Egg Trick

  • On Broadway

    On Broadway

  • Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

    Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

  • Theatreland

    Theatreland

  • Lady Grey London

    Lady Grey London

  • Untitled Anthony Hopkins Documentary

    Untitled Anthony Hopkins Documentary

  • The Roof

    The Roof

  • Churchill

    Churchill

  • Billy & Dom Eat the World

    Billy & Dom Eat the World

  • Quest for the Ring

    Quest for the Ring

  • Doctor Who: The Snowmen

    Doctor Who: The Snowmen

  • The Making of 'The Two Towers'

    The Making of 'The Two Towers'

  • Inside the Actors Studio

    Inside the Actors Studio

  • Ken Dodd: A Legacy of Happiness

    Ken Dodd: A Legacy of Happiness

  • Saint of 9/11

    Saint of 9/11

  • Ian McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU

    Ian McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU

  • X-Men: The Last Stand

    X-Men: The Last Stand

  • X-Men

    X-Men

  • Evolution X - The Making of X-Men

    Evolution X - The Making of X-Men

  • Armistead Maupin Is a Man I Dreamt Up

    Armistead Maupin Is a Man I Dreamt Up

  • Dragfox

    Dragfox

  • After Stonewall

    After Stonewall

  • Great British Theatre

    Great British Theatre

  • Graceless Go I

    Graceless Go I

  • Miss in Her Teens

    Miss in Her Teens

  • Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage

    Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage

  • X2

    X2

  • Schadenfreude

    Schadenfreude

  • Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC

    Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC

  • The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved

    The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved

  • X-Men: Premieres Around the World

    X-Men: Premieres Around the World

  • Larry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love

    Larry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love

  • Hedda Gabler

    Hedda Gabler

  • Dying Day

    Dying Day

  • The Promise

    The Promise

  • The Paul O'Grady Story

    The Paul O'Grady Story

  • Gladio

    Gladio

  • The Life and Death of Lily Savage

    The Life and Death of Lily Savage

  • Stonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and Protest

    Stonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and Protest

  • Scarfe's Follies

    Scarfe's Follies

  • Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

    Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

  • Süleyman the Magnificent

    Süleyman the Magnificent

  • Play the Devil: Making Richard III

    Play the Devil: Making Richard III

  • Edmund the Magnificent

    Edmund the Magnificent

  • Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet

    Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet

  • Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare

    Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare

  • No Man's Land

    No Man's Land

  • Guerrilla Distribution

    Guerrilla Distribution

  • London 2012: Paralympics Opening Ceremony

    London 2012: Paralympics Opening Ceremony

  • Surviving Friendly Fire

    Surviving Friendly Fire

  • Dragged Through Time

    Dragged Through Time

  • Richard II

    Richard II

  • Shakespeare on Film

    Shakespeare on Film