Ian McKellen
British actor · United Kingdom · Actors · Born 1939 · age 87
Ian McKellen is read about 10,455 times a day, in 81 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 22 October 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 397 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?He's Gandalf and Magneto to millions, but long before wizards and mutants, McKellen was a stage virtuoso who could make Shakespeare crackle - then came out in 1988 and turned his fame into a lever for rights most actors still won't name.
A life in dates
Avengers: DoomsdayFilm, Magneto2024
tedSeries, Narrator (voice)2019
CatsFilm, Gus, the Theatre Cat2018“Well, nobody looks to Hollywood for social commentary, do they? They only recently discovered that there were black people in the world.”In their words23 May 2018The Guardian, 23 May 2018“Hollywood has mistreated women in every possible way throughout its history. Gay men don't exist.”In their words23 May 2018The Guardian, 23 May 2018
All Is TrueFilm, 2018Earl of Southampton2015
Mr. HolmesFilm, Sherlock Holmes2014
Late Night with Seth MeyersSeries
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five ArmiesFilm, 2014Gandalf the Grey2012
Doctor Who: The SnowmenFilm, The Great Intelligence (voice)2010Empire Icon AwardAward2008Companion of HonourAward2007
The Graham Norton ShowSeries2006Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature ProductionAward
Flushed AwayFilm, 2006The Toad (voice)2005
AsylumFilm, Dr. Peter Cleave2003Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureAward
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Series, 20032002
The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersFilm, Gandalf2001Saturn Award for Best Supporting ActorAward2000
X-MenFilm, Magneto1998Saturn Award for Best Supporting ActorAward
Apt PupilFilm, 1998Kurt Dussander1997
The ViewSeries1996Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television FilmAward1995
RestorationFilm, Will Gates1994
The ShadowFilm, Dr. Reinhardt Lane1993GLAAD Stephen F. Kolzak AwardAward1991Knight BachelorAward1989
The SimpsonsSeries, Ian McKellen (voice)1984Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a RevivalAward1983
The KeepFilm, Dr. Theodore Cuza1981Tony Award for Best Actor in a PlayAward1979Commander of the Order of the British EmpireAwardLaurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a New PlayAward1978
The South Bank ShowSeries1977Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a RevivalAward1969
Sesame StreetSeries1960
Coronation StreetSeries, Mel Hutchwright1944
Golden Globe AwardsSeries1939Born25 May 1939Also in Deutsch
Photos 10
McKellen (Antonio Salieri) alongside Jane Seymour (Constanze Mozart) in Amadeus, c. 1981
McKellen at the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in Wellington, 1 December 2003
McKellen with Kate Winslet at the 60th British Academy Film Awards in 2007
McKellen at the 2007 BAFTA Awards
McKellen with Billy Crudup and Patrick Stewart promoting Waiting for Godot and No Man's Land (2013)
McKellen in 2019
McKellen at Manchester Pride 2010In their own words 8
, Well, nobody looks to Hollywood for social commentary, do they? They only recently discovered that there were black people in the world.
Hollywood has mistreated women in every possible way throughout its history. Gay men don't exist.
Any actor who has had his marriage photographed by the press has proclaimed his heterosexuality.
Filmography 40
ADAvengers: Doomsday
TCThe Christophers
EBEbenezer
TCThe Critic
TLThe Good LiarCACats
ACAnimal CrackersATAll Is True
BBBeauty and the BeastMHMr. Holmes
TDThe DresserTAThe Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
XPX-Men: Days of Future Past
TSThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
TWThe Wolverine
TJThe Hobbit: An Unexpected JourneyDSDoctor Who: The Snowmen
TCThe Golden Compass
STStardust
TCThe Da Vinci CodeFAFlushed Away
XSX-Men: The Last Stand
TRThe Magic Roundabout
NENeverwasASAsylum
TKThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
XX2TTThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
TRThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingXMX-MenAPApt Pupil
GMGods and Monsters
BEBent
RIRichard IIIRERestorationTSThe Shadow
LHLast Action Hero
SSSix Degrees of Separation
AOAnd the Band Played OnTKThe Keep241 credits on file
Television 24
TEted
TCThe Late Show with Stephen ColbertLMLate Night with Seth Meyers
TTThe Talk
WCWatch What Happens Live with Andy CohenTSThe Graham Norton Show
TSThe One Show
RMReal Time with Bill MaherJLJimmy Kimmel Live!
FGFamily GuyTVThe View
LLLate Show with David Letterman
LBLate Night with Conan O'Brien
HYHave I Got News for YouTSThe Simpsons
APAmerican PlayhouseTSThe South Bank Show
SLSaturday Night LiveSSSesame Street
BMBBC Play of the Month
TPThe Wednesday PlayCSCoronation Street
TATony AwardsGAGolden Globe AwardsAwards
About this person
McKellen made his stage debut in 1961 at the Belgrade Theatre and by 1969 was playing lead Shakespearean roles for Prospect Theatre Company. Through the 1970s he became a fixture at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, collecting five Olivier Awards along the way for work in plays like Bent and Richard III. He won a Tony in 1980 for Amadeus on Broadway. His film breakthrough came in 1998 with Gods and Monsters, but worldwide recognition arrived when he took on Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy starting in 2001 and Magneto in the X-Men franchise from 2000 onward. He came out publicly in 1988 and cofounded Stonewall, the UK LGBT rights lobby group, becoming as much an activist as an actor. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 1991.
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