Ian McKellen

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

208

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

  • Family Guy

    Family Guy

  • The Simpsons

    The Simpsons

  • Late Night with Seth Meyers

    Late Night with Seth Meyers

  • The Graham Norton Show

    The Graham Norton Show

  • The Graham Norton Show

    The Graham Norton Show

  • Coronation Street

    Coronation Street

  • Real Time with Bill Maher

    Real Time with Bill Maher

  • Sesame Street

    Sesame Street

  • Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live

  • Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

    Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

  • The One Show

    The One Show

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Golden Globe Awards

    Golden Globe Awards

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

    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

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

    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    Jimmy Kimmel Live!

  • The View

    The View

  • Have I Got News for You

    Have I Got News for You

  • Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

    Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

    The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

  • 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

  • Avengers: Doomsday

    Avengers: Doomsday

  • Parkinson

    Parkinson

  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

    The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

  • X-Men: Days of Future Past

    X-Men: Days of Future Past

  • Playhouse

    Playhouse

  • An Audience with...

    An Audience with...

  • Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

    Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

  • The Paul O'Grady Show

    The Paul O'Grady Show

  • The Da Vinci Code

    The Da Vinci Code

  • Beauty and the Beast

    Beauty and the Beast

  • ted

    ted

  • The Oscars

    The Oscars

  • Omnibus

    Omnibus

  • Who Do You Think You Are?

    Who Do You Think You Are?

  • Extras

    Extras

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

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

  • Flushed Away

    Flushed Away

  • Last Action Hero

    Last Action Hero

  • The Golden Compass

    The Golden Compass

  • 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'

  • Stardust

    Stardust

  • National Theatre Live: No Man's Land

    National Theatre Live: No Man's Land

  • The Scarlet Pimpernel

    The Scarlet Pimpernel

  • Small-Time Revolutionary

    Small-Time Revolutionary

  • Beyond the Movie: The Return of the King

    Beyond the Movie: The Return of the King

  • Mr. Holmes

    Mr. Holmes

  • The Keep

    The Keep

  • Reunited Apart

    Reunited Apart

  • Macbeth

    Macbeth

  • The Ballad of Little Jo

    The Ballad of Little Jo

  • Hamlet

    Hamlet

  • National Theatre Live: King Lear

    National Theatre Live: King Lear

  • Hamlet Within

    Hamlet Within

  • Scandal

    Scandal

  • Apt Pupil

    Apt Pupil

  • Tales of the City

    Tales of the City

  • The Making of the Return of the King

    The Making of the Return of the King

  • Animal Crackers

    Animal Crackers

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

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

  • The Wolverine: Path of a Ronin

    The Wolverine: Path of a Ronin

  • David Copperfield

    David Copperfield

  • Quintessentially British

    Quintessentially British

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

    The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

  • And the Band Played On

    And the Band Played On

  • A Bit Of Scarlet

    A Bit Of Scarlet

  • Walter

    Walter

  • The Critic

    The Critic

  • The Good Liar

    The Good Liar

  • Countdown to War

    Countdown to War

  • The Betty Driver Story

    The Betty Driver Story

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

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

  • Nelson Mandela Redrawn

    Nelson Mandela Redrawn

  • Freedom: 50 Years of Pride

    Freedom: 50 Years of Pride

  • Vicious

    Vicious

  • The Shadow

    The Shadow

  • Beyond the Movie: The Fellowship of the Ring

    Beyond the Movie: The Fellowship of the Ring

  • Dying Day

    Dying Day

  • The Magic Roundabout

    The Magic Roundabout

  • Shakespeare Live! From the RSC

    Shakespeare Live! From the RSC

  • Trailblazer Honors

    Trailblazer Honors

  • The Dresser

    The Dresser

  • Edmund the Magnificent

    Edmund the Magnificent

  • McKellen: Playing the Part

    McKellen: Playing the Part

  • Edward II

    Edward II

  • Jack & Sarah

    Jack & Sarah

  • Asylum

    Asylum

  • Priest of Love

    Priest of Love

  • Rasputin

    Rasputin

  • Plenty

    Plenty

  • Armchair Thriller

    Armchair Thriller

  • Neverwas

    Neverwas

  • Hating Peter Tatchell

    Hating Peter Tatchell

  • Playing Shakespeare

    Playing Shakespeare

  • Schadenfreude

    Schadenfreude

  • The Prisoner

    The Prisoner

  • The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot

    The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot

  • The Hobart Shakespeareans

    The Hobart Shakespeareans

  • Perspectives

    Perspectives

  • X-Men: The Mutant Watch

    X-Men: The Mutant Watch

  • Richard III

    Richard III

  • Gods and Monsters

    Gods and Monsters

  • An Evening with Lily Savage

    An Evening with Lily Savage

  • Bent

    Bent

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

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

  • Guerrilla Distribution

    Guerrilla Distribution

  • I'll Do Anything

    I'll Do Anything

  • King Lear

    King Lear

  • Cold Comfort Farm

    Cold Comfort Farm

  • David Macaulay: Roman City

    David Macaulay: Roman City

  • Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man

    Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man

  • Cats

    Cats

  • The One Note Man

    The One Note Man

  • Hamlet

    Hamlet

  • David Copperfield

    David Copperfield

  • A Touch of Love

    A Touch of Love

  • Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

    Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

  • The Tragedy of King Richard II

    The Tragedy of King Richard II

  • Graceless Go I

    Graceless Go I

  • Zina

    Zina

  • Walter and June

    Walter and June

  • The Christophers

    The Christophers

  • Eighteen

    Eighteen

  • All Is True

    All Is True

  • Ringers: Lord of the Fans

    Ringers: Lord of the Fans

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

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

  • The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne

    The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne

  • Swept from the Sea

    Swept from the Sea

  • To Die For

    To Die For

  • Camp Christmas

    Camp Christmas

  • For the Love of God

    For the Love of God

  • X-Men: Premieres Around the World

    X-Men: Premieres Around the World

  • The Art of Breaking Character

    The Art of Breaking Character

  • Windmills of the Gods

    Windmills of the Gods

  • The Wolverine

    The Wolverine

  • Six Degrees of Separation

    Six Degrees of Separation

  • Billy & Dom Eat the World

    Billy & Dom Eat the World

  • Country Matters

    Country Matters

  • Pillar of Fire

    Pillar of Fire

  • Muse of Fire

    Muse of Fire

  • Frodo Is Great... Who Is That?!!

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

  • Lady Grey London

    Lady Grey London

  • Inside the Actors Studio

    Inside the Actors Studio

  • My First Time

    My First Time

  • Restoration

    Restoration

  • Doogal

    Doogal

  • Othello

    Othello

  • Churchill

    Churchill

  • Theatreland

    Theatreland

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

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

  • Scarfe's Follies

    Scarfe's Follies

  • The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision

    The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision

  • Film Collectibles: Capturing Movie Memories

    Film Collectibles: Capturing Movie Memories

  • Hedda Gabler

    Hedda Gabler

  • Infinitum: Subject Unknown

    Infinitum: Subject Unknown

  • Untitled Anthony Hopkins Documentary

    Untitled Anthony Hopkins Documentary

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

    Peter Tatchell: Just Who Does He Think He Is?

  • Émile

    Émile

  • Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

    Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras

  • Great British Theatre

    Great British Theatre

  • Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC

    Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC

  • Alfred the Great

    Alfred the Great

  • The Promise

    The Promise

  • Looking for Lowry

    Looking for Lowry

  • The Making of The Two Towers

    The Making of The Two Towers

  • Doctor Who: The Snowmen

    Doctor Who: The Snowmen

  • On Broadway

    On Broadway

  • Dragfox

    Dragfox

  • The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved

    The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved

  • Evolution X - The Making of X-Men

    Evolution X - The Making of X-Men

  • X-Men: The Last Stand

    X-Men: The Last Stand

  • The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

    The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

  • Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage

    Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage

  • X-Men

    X-Men

  • Saint of 9/11

    Saint of 9/11

  • The Egg Trick

    The Egg Trick

  • Quest for the Ring

    Quest for the Ring

  • After Stonewall

    After Stonewall

  • X2

    X2

  • How a Kite Flies

    How a Kite Flies

  • The Roof

    The Roof

  • Ken Dodd: A Legacy of Happiness

    Ken Dodd: A Legacy of Happiness

  • The Life and Death of Lily Savage

    The Life and Death of Lily Savage

  • London 2012: Paralympics Opening Ceremony

    London 2012: Paralympics Opening Ceremony

  • Larry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love

    Larry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love

  • Stonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and Protest

    Stonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and Protest

  • No Man's Land

    No Man's Land

  • Miss in Her Teens

    Miss in Her Teens

  • Play the Devil: Making Richard III

    Play the Devil: Making Richard III

  • The Paul O'Grady Story

    The Paul O'Grady Story

  • Dragged Through Time

    Dragged Through Time

  • Shakespeare on Stage, Screen and Elsewhere with Ian McKellen

    Shakespeare on Stage, Screen and Elsewhere with Ian McKellen

  • Süleyman the Magnificent

    Süleyman the Magnificent

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

    All the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Film

  • A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation

    A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation

  • Armistead Maupin Is a Man I Dreamt Up

    Armistead Maupin Is a Man I Dreamt Up

  • Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet

    Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet

  • Shakespeare on Film

    Shakespeare on Film

  • Richard II

    Richard II

  • Gladio

    Gladio

  • Surviving Friendly Fire

    Surviving Friendly Fire

  • Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare

    Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare