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Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen

Acting

Born: May 25, 1939Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK

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
Filmography
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

Gandalf

2027
Avengers: Doomsday

Avengers: Doomsday

Magneto

2026

Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol

Jacob Marley

2026
The Christophers

The Christophers

Julian Sklar

2026
LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes

LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes

L S Lowry

2026
Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude

Continuity Announcer

2025
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'

Self (archive footage)

2025

Dragged Through Time

2025
Ken Dodd: A Legacy of Happiness

Ken Dodd: A Legacy of Happiness

2025
The Critic

The Critic

Jimmy Erskine

2024
Dragfox

Dragfox

Ginger Snap the Fox (Speaking) (voice)

2024
The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved

The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved

2024
The Life and Death of Lily Savage

The Life and Death of Lily Savage

Self

2024
Hamlet

Hamlet

Hamlet

2024
The One Note Man

The One Note Man

Narrator (voice)

2023
Quintessentially British

Quintessentially British

Self

2022
Freedom: 50 Years of Pride

Freedom: 50 Years of Pride

Self

2022
Hamlet Within

Hamlet Within

2022
Hating Peter Tatchell

Hating Peter Tatchell

Self

2021
Infinitum: Subject Unknown

Infinitum: Subject Unknown

Dr. Charles Marland-White

2021
Ian McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU

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

2020
Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet

Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet

2020
Cats

Cats

Gus, the Theatre Cat

2019
The Good Liar

The Good Liar

Roy Courtnay

2019
On Broadway

On Broadway

Self

2019
All Is True

All Is True

Earl of Southampton

2018
National Theatre Live: King Lear

National Theatre Live: King Lear

King Lear

2018
Animal Crackers

Animal Crackers

Horatio P. Huntington (voice)

2018
McKellen: Playing the Part

McKellen: Playing the Part

Self

2018
The Paul O'Grady Story

The Paul O'Grady Story

Self

2017
How a Kite Flies

How a Kite Flies

Mr. Kite (voice)

2017
Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast

Cogsworth

2017
The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

Self

2017
Edmund the Magnificent

Edmund the Magnificent

Self - Narrator (voice)

2017
Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage

Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage

Self

2016
National Theatre Live: No Man's Land

National Theatre Live: No Man's Land

Spooner

2016

Shakespeare on Stage, Screen and Elsewhere with Ian McKellen

2016

Shakespeare on Film

2016

Play the Devil: Making Richard III

2016
All the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Film

All the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Film

Prospero's Speech Reader (voice)

2016
Shakespeare Live! From the RSC

Shakespeare Live! From the RSC

Self - Performer

2016
The Roof

The Roof

And Even Yet Another Fan

2016
Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC

Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC

Self (archive footage)

2015
The Dresser

The Dresser

Norman

2015

Mutant vs. Machine: The Making of 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'

Self

2015
Mr. Holmes

Mr. Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

2015
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Gandalf the Grey

2014
Nelson Mandela Redrawn

Nelson Mandela Redrawn

Self

2014
X-Men: Days of Future Past

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Magneto

2014

Miss in Her Teens

The Prologue

2014
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Gandalf the Grey

2013
The Wolverine: Path of a Ronin

The Wolverine: Path of a Ronin

Self

2013
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot

The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot

Self

2013
Muse of Fire

Muse of Fire

Self

2013
The Wolverine

The Wolverine

Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto (uncredited)

2013
The Egg Trick

The Egg Trick

Magician

2013
Doctor Who: The Snowmen

Doctor Who: The Snowmen

The Great Intelligence (voice)

2012
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Gandalf the Grey

2012
London 2012: Paralympics Opening Ceremony

London 2012: Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Self

2012
Looking for Lowry

Looking for Lowry

Self

2011
The Betty Driver Story

The Betty Driver Story

Self

2011
Small-Time Revolutionary

Small-Time Revolutionary

Hamish Miller (voice)

2010
A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation

A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation

Narrator (voice)

2010
Theatreland

Theatreland

Self

2009
King Lear

King Lear

King Lear

2008
The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass

Iorek Byrnison (voice)

2007
Stardust

Stardust

Narrator (voice)

2007

The Art of Breaking Character

Self

2007

For the Love of God

The Jackdaw

2007
Guerrilla Distribution

Guerrilla Distribution

Self

2007
Flushed Away

Flushed Away

The Toad (voice)

2006
X-Men: The Last Stand

X-Men: The Last Stand

Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto

2006
The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code

Sir Leigh Teabing

2006
Saint of 9/11

Saint of 9/11

Narrator

2006
Doogal

Doogal

Zebedee (voice)

2006
Asylum

Asylum

Dr. Peter Cleave

2005
Neverwas

Neverwas

Gabriel Finch

2005
The Hobart Shakespeareans

The Hobart Shakespeareans

Self

2005
The Magic Roundabout

The Magic Roundabout

Zebedee (voice)

2005
Ringers: Lord of the Fans

Ringers: Lord of the Fans

Self

2005
Eighteen

Eighteen

Jason Anders (voice)

2005
A Filmmaker's Journey: Making 'The Return of the King'

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

Self

2004
My First Time

My First Time

Narrator

2004
Frodo Is Great... Who Is That?!!

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

Self

2004
The Making of 'The Return of the King'

The Making of 'The Return of the King'

Self

2004
Peter Tatchell: Just Who Does He Think He Is?

Peter Tatchell: Just Who Does He Think He Is?

2004
The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision

The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision

Self

2003
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Gandalf

2003
Beyond the Movie: The Return of the King

Beyond the Movie: The Return of the King

Self

2003
The Second Uncanny Issue of X-Men! Making X2

The Second Uncanny Issue of X-Men! Making X2

Self

2003
X2

X2

Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto

2003
The Making of 'The Two Towers'

The Making of 'The Two Towers'

2003
X-Men: Premieres Around the World

X-Men: Premieres Around the World

Self

2003
Evolution X - The Making of X-Men

Evolution X - The Making of X-Men

2003
Emile

Emile

Emile

2003
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Gandalf

2002
Beyond the Movie: The Fellowship of the Ring

Beyond the Movie: The Fellowship of the Ring

Self

2001
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Gandalf

2001
Passage to Middle-Earth: The Making of 'The Lord of the Rings'

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

Self

2001
Quest for the Ring

Quest for the Ring

Self

2001
Larry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love

Larry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love

Narrator (voice)

2001
Now You See Him: 'The Invisible Man' Revealed!

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

Self

2000
X-Men

X-Men

Magneto

2000
X-Men: The Mutant Watch

X-Men: The Mutant Watch

Self - 'Magneto'

2000
Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man

Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man

Narrator (voice)

2000
The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale

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

Self

1999
After Stonewall

After Stonewall

Self

1999
Apt Pupil

Apt Pupil

Kurt Dussander

1998
Gods and Monsters

Gods and Monsters

James Whale

1998
Swept from the Sea

Swept from the Sea

Dr. James Kennedy

1998
Bent

Bent

Uncle Freddie

1997
Surviving Friendly Fire

Surviving Friendly Fire

1997
A Bit Of Scarlet

A Bit Of Scarlet

Narrator

1997
An Evening with Lily Savage

An Evening with Lily Savage

Self

1996
Rasputin

Rasputin

Tsar Nicholas II

1996
Restoration

Restoration

Will Gates

1995
Richard III

Richard III

Richard III

1995
Jack & Sarah

Jack & Sarah

William

1995
Cold Comfort Farm

Cold Comfort Farm

Amos Starkadder

1995
To Die For

To Die For

Quilt Documentary Narrator (voice)

1994
Stonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and Protest

Stonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and Protest

Self

1994
Age of Dissent

Age of Dissent

Self

1994
The Shadow

The Shadow

Dr. Reinhardt Lane

1994
David Macaulay: Roman City

David Macaulay: Roman City

Augustus Caesar (voice)

1994
I'll Do Anything

I'll Do Anything

John Earl McAlpine

1994
Camp Christmas

Camp Christmas

1993
Six Degrees of Separation

Six Degrees of Separation

Geoffrey

1993
And the Band Played On

And the Band Played On

Bill Kraus

1993
The Ballad of Little Jo

The Ballad of Little Jo

Percy Corcoran

1993
Armistead Maupin Is a Man I Dreamt Up

Armistead Maupin Is a Man I Dreamt Up

Narration (voice)

1993
Last Action Hero

Last Action Hero

Death

1993
Gladio

Gladio

Aldo Moro (voice)

1992
Othello

Othello

Iago

1990
Countdown to War

Countdown to War

Adolf Hitler

1989
Scandal

Scandal

John Profumo

1989
Scarfe's Follies

Scarfe's Follies

1988
Süleyman the Magnificent

Süleyman the Magnificent

Narrator

1987
Zina

Zina

Kronfeld

1985
Plenty

Plenty

Sir Andrew Charleson

1985
The Keep

The Keep

Dr. Theodore Cuza

1983
Walter and June

Walter and June

Walter

1983
The Scarlet Pimpernel

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Chauvelin

1982
Walter

Walter

Walter

1982
Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare

Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare

1982
Priest of Love

Priest of Love

D.H. Lawrence

1981

Dying Day

Antony Skipling

1980
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

Alexander Ivanov

1979
Macbeth

Macbeth

Macbeth

1979

Graceless Go I

Tony

1974

Hedda Gabler

George Tesman

1972

Craven Arms

David Masterman

1972
Hamlet

Hamlet

Hamlet

1970
Edward II

Edward II

King Edward

1970
The Tragedy of King Richard II

The Tragedy of King Richard II

King Richard II

1970

The Promise

1969
Alfred the Great

Alfred the Great

Roger

1969
A Touch of Love

A Touch of Love

George

1969
The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne

The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne

Wolf

1965