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BIO

Sir Ian Murray McKellen CH CBE (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. With a career spanning more than sixty years, he is noted for his 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. He most recently starred as John Falstaff in Player Kings (an adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry VI Parts 1 and 2) opposite Richard Coyle and Toheeb Jimoh at the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End.



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 went on to receive 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, 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), 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 co-founder 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, GAY-GLOS, LGBT Foundation and FFLAG.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

Player Kings Player Kings
[West End]
2024
Falstaff
Mother Goose - Duke of York's Theatre Mother Goose - Duke of York's Theatre
[West End]
2022
Mother Goose [Replacement]
Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 2 Whodunnit [Unrehearsed] 2
[West End]
London Production, 2022
Voice
Ian McKellen On Stage Ian McKellen On Stage
[West End]
Original West End Production, 2019
Cast
King Lear King Lear
[West End]
Chichester Festival Theatre West End Revival, 2018
King Lear
Figures of Speech Figures of Speech
[West End]
Almeida Theatre Original Film Project, 2017
Performer
No Man's Land No Man's Land
[West End]
West End Production, 2016
Spooner
No Man's Land No Man's Land
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2013
Spooner
Waiting for Godot Waiting for Godot
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2013
Estragon
Dance Of Death
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2001
Edgar
Wild Honey
[Broadway]
1986
Platonov
Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare
[Broadway]
1984
Performer
Amadeus
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1980
Antonio Salieri
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
[London Fringe]
Original London Production, 1977
Performer
The Promise
[Broadway]
1967
Leonidik

Movies

A Touch of Love
[ 1969 ] George
The Promise
[ 1969 ] Leonidik
Alfred the Great
[ 1969 ] Roger
Priest of Love
[ 1981 ] D.H. Lawrence
The Keep
[ 1983 ] Dr. Theodore Cuza
Zina
[ 1985 ] Kronfeld
Plenty
[ 1985 ] Sir Andrew Charleson
Scandal
[ 1989 ] John Profumo
Last Action Hero
[ 1993 ] Death Sir Ian McKellan
Six Degrees of Separation
[ 1993 ] Geoffrey
The Ballad of Little Jo
[ 1993 ] Percy Corcoran
I'll Do Anything
[ 1994 ] John Earl McAlpine
Heaven's a Drag
[ 1994 ] Quilt Documentary Narrator
The Shadow
[ 1994 ] Reinhardt Lane
Richard III
[ 1995 ] Richard III - Duke of Gloucester
Restoration
[ 1995 ] Will Gates
Jack & Sarah
[ 1995 ] William
Swept from the Sea
[ 1997 ] Dr. James Kennedy
Bent
[ 1997 ] Uncle Freddie
Gods and Monsters
[ 1998 ] James Whale
Apt Pupil
[ 1998 ] Kurt Dussander
The Book That Wrote Itself
[ 1999 ] Mr. McKellen
X-Men
[ 2000 ] Eric Lensherr, Magneto
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
[ 2001 ] Gandalf
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
[ 2002 ] Gandalf
Emile
[ 2003 ] Emile
X2: X-Men United
[ 2003 ] Eric Lehnsherr, Magneto
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
[ 2003 ] Gandalf
Asylum
[ 2005 ] Dr. Peter Cleave
Neverwas
[ 2005 ] Gabriel Finch
Eighteen
[ 2005 ] Jon Anders
Sprung! The Magic Roundabout
[ 2005 ] Zebedee
X-Men: The Last Stand
[ 2006 ] Erik Lehnsherr, Magneto
The Da Vinci Code
[ 2006 ] Sir Leigh Teabing
Flushed Away
[ 2006 ] The Toad
Doogal
[ 2006 ] Zebedee
Displaced
[ 2006 ] voice
The Golden Compass
[ 2007 ] Iorek Byrnison
Stardust
[ 2007 ] Narrator
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
[ 2012 ] Gandalf
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
[ 2013 ] Gandalf
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
[ 2014 ] Gandalf
X-Men: Days of Future Past
[ 2014 ] Magneto
Miss in Her Teens
[ 2014 ] The Prologue
Mr. Holmes
[ 2015 ] Sherlock Holmes
Look Back in Anger
[ 2016 ] Colonel
Beauty and the Beast
[ 2017 ] Cogsworth
Animal Crackers
[ 2017 ] Horatio P. Huntington
All Is True
[ 2018 ] Earl of Southampton
National Theatre Live: King Lear
[ 2018 ] King Lear
Cats
[ 2019 ] Gus the Theatre Cat
The Good Liar
[ 2019 ] Roy Courtnay
Infinitum: Subject Unknown
[ 2021 ] Dr. Charles Marland-White
The Critic
[ 2023 ] Jimmy Erskine

TV Shows

Vicious
Freddie Thornhill

Awards and Nominations

Olivier Awards - 2017 - Best Actor

Ian McKellen, No Man's Land

Videos

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News


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Lady Anne Dodd To Introduce A New Documentary On Ken Dodd At Darlington Hippodrome

Lady Anne Dodd introduces a new documentary on the life and work of Ken Dodd at Darlington Hippodrome, celebrating the legacy of the legendary comedian.
Cast Announced For National Tour Of ABIGAIL'S PARTY Launching This Autumn Photo
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The cast for the national tour of ABIGAIL'S PARTY this autumn has been revealed.
THE CRITIC, Starring Ian McKellan, Lands North American Release Date Photo
THE CRITIC, Starring Ian McKellan, Lands North American Release Date

The Critic, the upcoming thriller starring Ian McKellen, will be released on September 13, 2014 in North America. Greenwich Entertainment has acquired the rights for the film, which is based on the novel Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn.​​​​​​​ The movie is set to premiere in the UK on the same day. 
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Theater Latté Da Presents SCOTLAND, PA At The Ritz Theater This September

Theater Latté Da brings SCOTLAND, PA to The Ritz Theater from September 18 to October 20, 2024. Enjoy this dark comedy adaptation of Shakespeare's MACBETH set in a 1970s Pennsylvania diner.
Matt Forde Will Embark On Tour Ahead Of Month-long Run At The Edinburgh Festival Frin Photo
Matt Forde Will Embark On Tour Ahead Of Month-long Run At The Edinburgh Festival Fringe

After enduring what he thought was sciatica during the last Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Matt Forde (Spitting Image, HIGNFY, British Scandal) was diagnosed with cancer. A few weeks later he was having the base of his spine removed.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld July 2, 2024 Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld July 2, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is July 2, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Video: Watch Trailer for THE CRITIC With Ian McKellen Photo
Video: Watch Trailer for THE CRITIC With Ian McKellen

The trailer for The Critic, the upcoming dark and sharp-witted thriller starring Ian McKellen, has just dropped. The film features an all-star British cast including McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Ben Barnes, Alfred Enoch, Romola Garai and Lesley Manville.
Sir Ian McKellen Pulls Out of PLAYER KINGS Tour Following Onstage Fall Photo
Sir Ian McKellen Pulls Out of PLAYER KINGS Tour Following Onstage Fall

Sir Ian McKellen, who previously suffered a fall during a performance of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in London, has pulled out of the production's national tour. Learn more.
Ian McKellen and Divina De Campo Star in Animated Musical DRAGFOX Photo
Ian McKellen and Divina De Campo Star in Animated Musical DRAGFOX

Sir Ian McKellen and RuPaul's Drag Race U.K. star Divina de Campo are set to appear together in the new stop-motion musical short Dragfox, which follows the young transgender character of Sam as they struggle with their identity.
Wolverhampton Grand Launches 130th Anniversary With Original Pantomime Poster From 18 Photo
Wolverhampton Grand Launches 130th Anniversary With Original Pantomime Poster From 1894

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has launched its 130th anniversary celebrations today, 130 years after the foundation stone was laid on 28 June 1894, with the display of the original pantomime poster and programme from its inaugural pantomime, Sinbad the Sailor.
Presale Tickets Available For Jonathan Bailey in RICHARD II Photo
Presale Tickets Available For Jonathan Bailey in RICHARD II

Get your tickets to see Jonathan Bailey in Richard II at the Bridge Theatre during our exclusive presale!
THE LIGHTNING THIEF to Have London Premiere at The Other Palace Photo
THE LIGHTNING THIEF to Have London Premiere at The Other Palace

Bill Kenwright Ltd and Paul Taylor-Mills will present the London Premiere of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical adapted from Rick Riordan's 2005 best-selling book series at The Other Palace this Autumn.
Jonathan Bailey Will Lead RICHARD II at the Bridge Theatre Photo
Jonathan Bailey Will Lead RICHARD II at the Bridge Theatre

A brand-new production of Richard II will open 10 February 2025 and run until 10 May 2025 at the Bridge Theatre. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, Jonathan Bailey will star in the title role.
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Update: Sir Ian McKellen Will Not Return to PLAYER KINGS in London Following Onstage Fall

It has been announced that Sir Ian McKellen will not return to Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in London after he suffered a fall during a performance earlier this week.
Sir Ian McKellen Delays Return To PLAYER KINGS After Falling Off Stage Photo
Sir Ian McKellen Delays Return To PLAYER KINGS After Falling Off Stage

While Sir Ian McKellen is expected to make a full recovery following an on-stage accident during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre in London, the production has announced that McKellen's return to the show will be delayed an additional day.
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Review: DROP THE DEAD DONKEY: THE REAWAKENING, Richmond Theatre

Starring original cast members Susannah Doyle, Robert Duncan, Ingrid Lacey, Neil Pearson, Jeff Rawle, Stephen Tompkinson and Victoria Wicks, this new stage version sees the team are thrust back together in the world of 24-hour rolling news, social media and algorithms at a new TV station with the distinctly tongue-in-cheek name, Truth News. 
Sir Ian McKellen To Make Full Recovery After On-Stage Fall; PLAYER KINGS Tuesday Perf Photo
Sir Ian McKellen To Make Full Recovery After On-Stage Fall; PLAYER KINGS Tuesday Performance Canceled

Sir Ian McKellen is expected to make a full recovery following an on-stage accident during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.
Sir Ian McKellen Hospitalized After On-Stage Fall During PLAYER KINGS at Noël Coward Photo
Sir Ian McKellen Hospitalized After On-Stage Fall During PLAYER KINGS at Noël Coward Theatre

Sir Ian McKellen, the esteemed 85-year-old actor, has been hospitalized following an on-stage accident during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld June 18, 2024 Photo
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld June 18, 2024

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Ian McKellen been in?

Ian McKellen has appeared on Broadway in 8 shows.

How many West End shows has Ian McKellen been in?

Ian McKellen has appeared on London's West End in 7 shows.

What was Ian McKellen's first West End show?

Ian McKellen's first West End show was No Man's Land which opened in 2016

What awards has Ian McKellen been nominated for?

and Best Actor (Olivier Awards) for No Man's Land.

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