profile

Ian McKellen

1939-05-25 (85 years old) in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK

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. McKellen made his stage debut in 1961 at the Belgrade Theatre as a member of its repertory company, and in 1965 he 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 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.

Movies

poster
The Critic
48 %|Sep 13, 2024
Thriller, Crime, Drama
poster
Hamlet
78 %|Feb 27, 2024
Drama, Thriller
poster
The One Note Man
70 %|Aug 8, 2023
Comedy
poster
Hamlet Within
0 %|May 21, 2022
Documentary
poster
Mr. Holmes
64.66 %|Jun 19, 2015
Drama, Crime, Family, Mystery
poster
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
73 %|Dec 10, 2014
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
poster
X-Men: Days of Future Past
75.32 %|May 15, 2014
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
actor
Miss in Her Teens
30 %|Apr 15, 2014
Comedy
poster
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
75.74 %|Dec 11, 2013
Fantasy, Adventure, Action
poster
Muse of Fire
65 %|Sep 26, 2013
Documentary
poster
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
73.57000000000001 %|Dec 12, 2012
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
poster
Theatreland
0 %|Jan 1, 2009
Documentary
poster
King Lear
67 %|Aug 6, 2008
Drama, TV Movie
poster
The Golden Compass
60.67 %|Dec 4, 2007
Adventure, Fantasy
poster
Stardust
72.75 %|Aug 9, 2007
Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Family
actor
For the Love of God
40 %|Feb 28, 2007
Animation, Comedy
poster
Flushed Away
63 %|Oct 22, 2006
Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
poster
X-Men: The Last Stand
64.1 %|May 24, 2006
Adventure, Action, Science Fiction, Thriller
poster
The Da Vinci Code
67.27000000000001 %|May 17, 2006
Thriller, Mystery
poster
Saint of 9/11
57 %|Apr 27, 2006
Documentary, History
poster
Doogal
49.349999999999994 %|Feb 24, 2006
Comedy, Family, Animation, Fantasy, Adventure
poster
Neverwas
63 %|Sep 9, 2005
Drama, Thriller
poster
Asylum
58 %|Sep 9, 2005
Drama, Thriller, Romance
poster
The Magic Roundabout
54 %|Feb 2, 2005
Animation, Family, Comedy
poster
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
85 %|Dec 17, 2003
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
poster
X2
70 %|Apr 27, 2003
Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
poster
Émile
59 %|Jan 1, 2003
Drama
poster
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
84 %|Dec 18, 2002
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
poster
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
84 %|Dec 18, 2001
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
poster
Larry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love
0 %|Sep 13, 2001
Documentary
poster
X-Men
70 %|Jul 13, 2000
Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
poster
Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man
70 %|May 5, 2000
Drama, Family, Music, Fantasy
poster
Apt Pupil
65.34 %|Oct 23, 1998
Drama, Thriller
poster
Gods and Monsters
69.45 %|Sep 12, 1998
Drama
poster
Swept from the Sea
65 %|Jan 23, 1998
Drama, Romance
poster
Bent
68.33 %|Nov 26, 1997
Drama, History, Romance
poster
Surviving Friendly Fire
10 %|Jun 21, 1997
actor
A Bit Of Scarlet
33.75 %|Jun 20, 1997
Documentary
poster
An Evening with Lily Savage
0 %|Nov 11, 1996
Comedy
poster
Rasputin
65 %|Mar 23, 1996
History, Drama, TV Movie
poster
Richard III
66.92999999999999 %|Dec 29, 1995
Drama, War
poster
Jack & Sarah
67 %|Jun 2, 1995
Comedy, Drama, Romance
poster
Cold Comfort Farm
67 %|Jan 1, 1995
Comedy, Romance
poster
To Die For
22 %|Dec 2, 1994
Comedy, Drama, Romance, Fantasy
poster
The Shadow
60.53 %|Jul 1, 1994
Fantasy, Action
poster
Six Degrees of Separation
64.14 %|Dec 8, 1993
Mystery, Drama, Comedy
poster
And the Band Played On
65 %|Sep 11, 1993
Drama, TV Movie
poster
The Ballad of Little Jo
58 %|Aug 20, 1993
Romance, Drama, Western
poster
Last Action Hero
64.62 %|Jun 18, 1993
Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Comedy, Family
poster
Gladio
70 %|Jul 10, 1992
Documentary
poster
Othello
70 %|Jun 23, 1990
Drama
poster
Scandal
59 %|Mar 3, 1989
Drama, History, Romance
poster
Zina
54 %|Nov 1, 1985
Drama
poster
Plenty
57 %|Sep 20, 1985
Drama, Romance
poster
The Keep
57.07 %|Dec 16, 1983
Horror, Fantasy
poster
Walter and June
70 %|Apr 30, 1983
Drama, TV Movie
poster
The Scarlet Pimpernel
69 %|Nov 9, 1982
Action, Drama, Romance, TV Movie
poster
Walter
51 %|Nov 2, 1982
Drama, TV Movie
poster
Priest of Love
50 %|Oct 11, 1981
Drama, Romance
poster
Macbeth
74 %|Feb 2, 1979
Drama, TV Movie
poster
Alfred the Great
43 %|Oct 8, 1969
History
actor
Richard II
0 %|Invalid Date
poster
Schadenfreude
0 %|Invalid Date
poster
Dragfox
0 %|Aug 29, 2024
Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Music
poster
The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved
0 %|Jun 9, 2024
Documentary
poster
The Life and Death of Lily Savage
0 %|Mar 29, 2024
Documentary, Comedy
poster
Quintessentially British
32 %|Oct 27, 2022
Documentary
poster
Animal Crackers
62 %|Jun 23, 2017
Comedy, Animation, Adventure, Family
poster
Beauty and the Beast
70 %|Mar 16, 2017
Family, Fantasy, Romance
poster
Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage
78 %|Dec 30, 2016
Documentary, TV Movie
poster
Shakespeare Live! From the RSC
75 %|Apr 23, 2016
Music, TV Movie, Documentary
poster
The Roof
63 %|Mar 31, 2016
Comedy
poster
Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC
0 %|Nov 1, 2015
Documentary, TV Movie
poster
The Dresser
63 %|Oct 31, 2015
Drama, TV Movie
poster
Nelson Mandela Redrawn
0 %|Jul 18, 2014
Documentary
poster
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot
79 %|Nov 23, 2013
Comedy, TV Movie
poster
The Wolverine
64 %|Jul 21, 2013
Action, Science Fiction, Adventure
poster
Doctor Who: The Snowmen
77 %|Dec 25, 2012
TV Movie, Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama, Family
poster
Looking for Lowry
0 %|Apr 24, 2011
Documentary
poster
Lady Grey London
70 %|Dec 8, 2010
Romance, Fantasy
poster
A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation
70 %|Jun 25, 2010
Animation
actor
The Art of Breaking Character
0 %|Mar 26, 2007
Comedy, Documentary
poster
The Hobart Shakespeareans
40 %|Sep 6, 2005
Documentary
poster
Beyond the Movie: The Return of the King
77 %|Dec 12, 2003
Documentary, History, TV Movie
poster
Evolution X - The Making of X-Men
70 %|Feb 11, 2003
Documentary
poster
X-Men: Premieres Around the World
61 %|Feb 11, 2003
Documentary
poster
A Passage to Middle-Earth: Making of 'Lord of the Rings'
72 %|Dec 9, 2001
Documentary, TV Movie, Fantasy, Adventure
poster
Quest for the Ring
56 %|Nov 29, 2001
Documentary, TV Movie
poster
Restoration
60.44 %|Dec 29, 1995
Drama, Romance
poster
I'll Do Anything
56 %|Feb 4, 1994
Comedy, Drama
poster
Armistead Maupin Is a Man I Dreamt Up
0 %|Jun 23, 1993
Documentary
poster
Hamlet
0 %|Nov 7, 1970
Drama
actor
Untitled Anthony Hopkins Documentary
0 %|Invalid Date
Documentary
actor
Hedda Gabler
0 %|Oct 20, 1972
poster
Edward II
40 %|Aug 6, 1970
Drama, History, TV Movie
actor
The Promise
0 %|Dec 1, 1969
poster
Hamlet Revenant
0 %|Invalid Date
Drama
poster
Hating Peter Tatchell
42 %|Nov 1, 2021
Documentary
poster
Infinitum: Subject Unknown
54 %|Mar 3, 2021
Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery
poster
Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet
100 %|Apr 5, 2020
Documentary
poster
Cats
40.76 %|Dec 19, 2019
Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
poster
The Good Liar
66.82000000000001 %|Nov 8, 2019
Crime
poster
On Broadway
87 %|Oct 12, 2019
Documentary
poster
All Is True
61 %|Dec 21, 2018
Drama, History
poster
National Theatre Live: King Lear
82 %|Sep 27, 2018
Drama
poster
McKellen: Playing the Part
73 %|May 25, 2018
Documentary, History
poster
The Paul O'Grady Story
83 %|Jun 23, 2017
Documentary
poster
How a Kite Flies
0 %|Apr 28, 2017
Drama, Comedy
poster
The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin
64 %|Mar 11, 2017
Documentary
poster
Edmund the Magnificent
72 %|Mar 1, 2017
Comedy
actor
Shakespeare on Film
60 %|May 31, 2016
Documentary
actor
Play the Devil: Making Richard III
0 %|May 31, 2016
Documentary
poster
The Wolverine: Path of a Ronin
69 %|Dec 3, 2013
Documentary
poster
The Egg Trick
60 %|Jun 21, 2013
Comedy, Drama
poster
The Betty Driver Story
100 %|Feb 1, 2011
Documentary
poster
Small-Time Revolutionary
40 %|Jul 22, 2010
poster
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
78 %|May 4, 2010
Documentary
poster
Ringers: Lord of the Fans
63 %|Jan 21, 2005
Documentary
poster
Eighteen
45 %|Jan 1, 2005
Drama, War, Romance
poster
Frodo Is Great... Who Is That?!!
67 %|Jul 23, 2004
Documentary
poster
The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision
64 %|Dec 26, 2003
Documentary, TV Movie
poster
David Macaulay: Roman City
0 %|Feb 15, 1994
Documentary, History
poster
Marley
0 %|Invalid Date
Family, Fantasy, Drama
poster
X-Men: The Mutant Watch
69.89 %|Jul 2, 2000
Documentary
poster
Countdown to War
50 %|Apr 7, 1989
Drama, History, War
actor
Scarfe's Follies
0 %|Jan 28, 1988
poster
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
0 %|Nov 14, 1979
TV Movie
poster
The Tragedy of King Richard II
0 %|Jul 30, 1970
Drama
poster
A Touch of Love
64 %|Sep 1, 1969
Drama

Series

poster
ted
80 %|Jan 11, 2024
Comedy
poster
Great British Theatre
0 %|Jun 12, 2021
poster
Reunited Apart
55 %|Apr 27, 2020
Talk
poster
Trailblazer Honors
75 %|Jun 27, 2014
Documentary
poster
Late Night with Seth Meyers
54.349999999999994 %|Feb 25, 2014
Talk, Comedy
poster
Vicious
75.46000000000001 %|Apr 29, 2013
Comedy
actor
Perspectives
0 %|Apr 24, 2011
Documentary
poster
The Prisoner
57 %|Nov 15, 2009
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
poster
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
49 %|Jul 16, 2009
Talk, Comedy
poster
The Graham Norton Show
72 %|Feb 22, 2007
Comedy, Talk
poster
The Graham Norton Show
72 %|Feb 22, 2007
Comedy, Talk
poster
The One Show
46 %|Aug 14, 2006
Talk
poster
Extras
77.67999999999999 %|Jul 21, 2005
Comedy
poster
Doctor Who
75 %|Mar 26, 2005
Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
poster
Who Do You Think You Are?
65 %|Oct 12, 2004
Documentary, Family
poster
The Paul O'Grady Show
46.36 %|Oct 11, 2004
Comedy, Talk
poster
Churchill
70 %|Oct 8, 2003
Documentary
poster
Real Time with Bill Maher
60 %|Feb 21, 2003
Comedy, Talk
poster
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
55 %|Jan 26, 2003
Talk, Comedy
poster
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
59 %|Jun 8, 2002
Comedy, Family
poster
David Copperfield
71 %|Dec 25, 1999
Drama
poster
Family Guy
73.66 %|Jan 31, 1999
Animation, Comedy
poster
Parkinson
0 %|Jan 9, 1998
Talk
poster
The View
45 %|Aug 11, 1997
Talk
poster
Inside the Actors Studio
73 %|Aug 14, 1994
Talk
poster
Tales of the City
79 %|Sep 28, 1993
Drama, Mystery
poster
Have I Got News for You
71.05000000000001 %|Sep 28, 1990
Comedy, News
poster
The Simpsons
80 %|Dec 17, 1989
Family, Animation, Comedy
poster
Windmills of the Gods
58 %|Feb 7, 1988
poster
Playing Shakespeare
100 %|Jul 29, 1984
Documentary
poster
Pillar of Fire
95 %|Nov 10, 1981
Documentary, War & Politics
poster
Armchair Thriller
42 %|Feb 21, 1978
Drama
poster
An Audience with...
53 %|Jan 8, 1978
Talk
poster
Saturday Night Live
69.42 %|Oct 11, 1975
Comedy, News
actor
Playhouse
70 %|Mar 13, 1974
Drama
poster
Country Matters
30 %|Aug 20, 1972
Drama
poster
Sesame Street
70.96000000000001 %|Nov 10, 1969
Kids, Comedy
actor
David Copperfield
50 %|Jan 16, 1966
poster
BBC Play of the Month
50 %|Oct 19, 1965
Drama
poster
Coronation Street
52 %|Dec 9, 1960
Soap
poster
The Oscars
70 %|Mar 19, 1953
actor
Billy And Dom Eat The World
0 %|Invalid Date
Documentary
poster
Amol Rajan Interviews
0 %|Invalid Date
Documentary, Talk