Ian McKellen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ian McKellen
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McKellen in 2013
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Ian Murray McKellen
25 May 1939 Burnley, Lancashire, England
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| Education | St Catharine's College, Cambridge (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1958–present |
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Full list |
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| Awards | Full list |
Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born May 25, 1939) is a famous English actor. He has been acting for over sixty years! He is known for his roles in both plays and movies. These include serious Shakespearean dramas and popular fantasy films. Many people see him as a British cultural icon. Queen Elizabeth II even made him a knight in 1991.
Sir Ian has won many awards for his acting. These include a Tony Award (for plays), six Olivier Awards (also for plays), and a Golden Globe Award (for movies). He has also been nominated for two Academy Awards (Oscars).
He started his acting career on stage in 1961. He first appeared in London's West End in 1965. In the 1970s, he became a key actor for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre of Great Britain. He won several Olivier Awards for his stage roles. He also won a Tony Award for his role as Antonio Salieri in the play Amadeus in 1980.
McKellen became famous worldwide for his movie roles. These include playing King Richard in Richard III (1995). He also played James Whale in Gods and Monsters (1998). Many know him as Magneto in the X-Men films. He was also Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast (2017). But perhaps his most famous role is Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003) and The Hobbit (2012–2014) movies.
Sir Ian is also a strong supporter of equal rights for all people. He helped start Stonewall, a group that works for fairness in the United Kingdom.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ian McKellen was born on May 25, 1939, in Burnley, England. His parents were Margery Lois and Denis Murray McKellen. He had an older sister named Jean. Just before World War II began in 1939, his family moved to Wigan. They lived there until Ian was twelve. Then, they moved to Bolton in 1951 because his father got a promotion.
Living through the war as a child had a big effect on him. He later said he realized "war wasn't normal" only after peace came. When asked about staying calm after the September 11 attacks, McKellen said he "slept under a steel plate until I was four years old." This showed how used he was to difficult times.
McKellen's father was a civil engineer and a lay preacher. His family was very Christian, but not in a strict way. He said his upbringing taught him to "behave in a Christian manner to everybody you met." When he was 12, his mother died from breast cancer. His father passed away when Ian was 25. His great-great-grandfather, Robert J. Lowes, helped create the modern five-day work week.
McKellen went to Bolton School (Boys' Division). He still supports the school and visits students often. His acting journey began at Bolton Little Theatre, where he is now a patron. His parents encouraged his early love for theatre. When he was three, they took him to see Peter Pan in Manchester. For Christmas when he was nine, he received a toy theatre. It had cardboard scenery and characters like Cinderella.
His sister took him to his first Shakespeare play, Twelfth Night. She also acted in amateur theatre herself.
In 1958, at age 18, McKellen won a scholarship to St Catharine's College, Cambridge. He studied English literature there. He is now an Honorary Fellow of the college. At Cambridge, he was part of the Marlowe Society. He acted in 23 plays in just three years. Even then, his performances were impressive. He was directed by famous people like Peter Hall and Derek Jacobi. These directors would later be important in his career.
Acting Career
Early Stage Success (1965–1985)
Ian McKellen's first professional acting job was in 1961. He played Roper in A Man for All Seasons at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. After four years in regional theatres, he made his first London appearance in A Scent of Flowers. In 1965, he joined Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company.
In 1969, McKellen had a big breakthrough at the Edinburgh International Festival. He starred in Shakespeare's Richard II and Marlowe's Edward II. The play Edward II caused some debate because of its portrayal of the king's death.
One of his first major TV roles was in the BBC's 1966 show David Copperfield. It was watched by 12 million people. McKellen started acting in films in 1969 with A Touch of Love. His first main movie role was in 1980 as D. H. Lawrence in Priest of Love. But he became widely known in movies only in the 1990s.
In the 1970s, McKellen became a major star in British theatre. He often performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. He played many leading Shakespearean roles. From 1973 to 1974, he toured the UK in plays like The Way of the World and King Lear. The next year, he starred in King John. From 1976 to 1977, he played Romeo in Romeo & Juliet. He also played King Leontes in The Winter's Tale.
In 1976, McKellen played the main role in Shakespeare's Macbeth. He also played Iago in Othello. Both of these plays were turned into TV films. In 1979, McKellen received great praise for his role as Antonio Salieri in the play Amadeus on Broadway. The New York Times called his performance "superb." For this role, McKellen won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.
In 1981, McKellen played writer D. H. Lawrence in the film Priest of Love. He then appeared in the horror film The Keep (1983). In 1985, he starred in Plenty, a film with Meryl Streep. Critics praised the strong acting in the movie.
Becoming a Recognized Actor (1986–2000)
In 1986, McKellen returned to Broadway in the play Wild Honey. He acted alongside Kim Cattrall. In 1989, he played Iago again in Othello. McKellen also starred in the British film Scandal (1989). He played John Profumo in this movie about a political scandal.
His friend Patrick Stewart decided to join the American TV show Star Trek: The Next Generation. McKellen advised him not to leave his theatre career for TV. But McKellen later admitted Stewart made a good choice. McKellen himself later joined Stewart in the X-Men superhero film series.
From 1990 to 1992, McKellen toured the world in a praised production of Richard III. He played the main character. He won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for this role.
In 1993, he starred in the film Six Degrees of Separation. He acted with Will Smith and Stockard Channing. The film was very successful with critics. That same year, he was in the western The Ballad of Little Jo and the action comedy Last Action Hero with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The next year, he appeared in The Shadow and I'll Do Anything.
In 1995, McKellen also wrote the screenplay for Richard III. This was a new version of Shakespeare's play. It was set in 1930s Britain, with Richard as a fascist leader. McKellen starred in the main role. Critics praised his performance. The Washington Post called his acting "lethally flamboyant." He was nominated for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for his performance. He also won the European Film Award for Best Actor. That year, he also appeared in the historical drama Restoration and the romantic comedy Jack and Sarah.
In 1993, he had small roles in the TV show Tales of the City. Later, he appeared in the HBO TV film And the Band Played On. This film was about the discovery of HIV. For his role as Bill Kraus, McKellen won a CableACE Award. From 1993 to 1997, McKellen toured with a one-man show called A Knights Out. In 1998, he was in the thriller Apt Pupil, directed by Bryan Singer. McKellen played a former Nazi officer. That same year, he played James Whale in Gods and Monsters. For this role, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 1995, he was in the BBC TV film Cold Comfort Farm. The next year, he played Tsar Nicholas II in the HBO movie Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996). He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for this role. McKellen also appeared as Mr. Creakle in the BBC series David Copperfield (1999). This show starred a young Daniel Radcliffe.
Global Stardom (2000–2011)
In 1999, Bryan Singer cast McKellen as the supervillain Magneto in the 2000 film X-Men. He played Magneto again in X2: X-Men United (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). He returned as Magneto in 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past.
While filming X-Men in 1999, McKellen was also cast as the wizard Gandalf in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. These films were The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. They were released from 2001 to 2003. He won a Screen Actors Guild Award for his work in The Fellowship of the Ring. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the same role. He also voiced Gandalf in several Lord of the Rings video games.
McKellen returned to Broadway in 2001 in the play The Dance of Death with Helen Mirren. The New York Times praised his "heroic stage presence." McKellen toured with this play in London and Australia. On March 16, 2002, he hosted Saturday Night Live. In 2003, McKellen appeared as himself on The Simpsons in a British-themed episode. In 2005, he played Mel Hutchwright in the British soap opera Coronation Street.
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McKellen has appeared in smaller films like Emile and Asylum. In 2006, he played Sir Leigh Teabing in The Da Vinci Code with Tom Hanks. During an interview, McKellen said he thought the Bible should have a disclaimer saying "This is fiction." He believed audiences are smart enough to tell fact from fiction.
McKellen appeared in the 2006 BBC comedy series Extras. He played himself directing a play. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for this role. In 2007, McKellen narrated the film Stardust. That same year, he voiced the armored bear Iorek Byrnison in The Golden Compass.
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In 2007, he returned to the Royal Shakespeare Company for King Lear and The Seagull. In 2009, he played Number Two in The Prisoner, a remake of a classic TV series. In 2009, he appeared in a popular play Waiting for Godot with Patrick Stewart. From 2013 to 2014, McKellen and Stewart starred together in Waiting for Godot and No Man's Land on Broadway. Critics praised their performances. McKellen is also a patron of several theatre groups. In 2012, he took part in the opening ceremony of the London Paralympics. He played Prospero from Shakespeare's The Tempest.
Recent Career (Since 2012)
McKellen played Gandalf again in Peter Jackson's three Hobbit films. These were The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). The series was a big financial success. McKellen also returned as Magneto in The Wolverine (2013) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). In November 2013, McKellen appeared in a Doctor Who comedy tribute. From 2013 to 2016, McKellen co-starred in the TV show Vicious with Derek Jacobi. They played an elderly couple who had been together for 50 years.
In 2015, McKellen worked again with director Bill Condon. He played an elderly Sherlock Holmes in the film Mr. Holmes with Laura Linney. In the movie, Holmes, at 93, struggles to remember his last case. Critics praised McKellen's performance. Rolling Stone called his acting "magnificent." In October 2015, McKellen appeared in a BBC Two production of The Dresser with Anthony Hopkins. Critics praised their performances. McKellen was nominated for a British Academy Television Award.
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In 2017, McKellen played Cogsworth in the live-action Disney film Beauty and the Beast. This was his third time working with director Bill Condon. The film was very successful, earning over $1.2 billion worldwide. In 2017, McKellen was featured in the documentary McKellen: Playing the Part, which explored his life and career.
In October 2017, McKellen played King Lear at the Chichester Festival Theatre. He said this would likely be his "last big Shakespearean part." He performed the play in London in 2018. McKellen voiced Dr. Cecil Pritchfield in an episode of Family Guy in 2018. He also appeared in the historical drama All is True (2018). To celebrate his 80th birthday in 2019, McKellen performed a one-man show called Ian McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU. The show toured the UK and Ireland, raising money for charities.
In 2019, he worked with Condon again in the thriller The Good Liar with Helen Mirren. That same year, he played Gus the Theatre Cat in the movie musical Cats. The film received many negative reviews. In 2021, he played the main role in a new production of Hamlet. He also played Firs in Chekov's The Cherry Orchard. Since November 2021, McKellen and ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus have posted videos of themselves knitting Christmas sweaters. In 2023, they were even knitting stage clothes for Kylie Minogue.
In 2023, he starred in the thriller The Critic. The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
In April 2024, McKellen starred as John Falstaff in Player Kings. This play was based on Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. He received great reviews. However, during a performance on June 17, McKellen fell off the stage. The show was cancelled, but he was reported to be "in good spirits." He later had to leave the remaining shows on medical advice.
Personal Life
Ian McKellen's first partner was Brian Taylor, a history teacher. Their relationship lasted from 1964 to 1972. In 1978, he met his second partner, Sean Mathias. This relationship ended in 1988, but they remained friends. Mathias later directed McKellen in the play Waiting for Godot. McKellen lives in Narrow Street, Limehouse, London.
McKellen is an atheist. He does not eat meat, only fish, since the late 1980s.
In 2001, Ian McKellen received the Artist Citizen of the World Award from France.
McKellen has a tattoo of the Elvish number nine on his shoulder. This is a reference to his role in Lord of the Rings. His character, Gandalf, was one of the nine companions in the Fellowship of the Ring. Most of the other actors who played the Fellowship members also have the same tattoo.
McKellen was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006. In 2012, he shared on his blog that "There is no cause for alarm. I am examined regularly and the cancer is contained. I've not needed any treatment."
In 2013, McKellen became an ordained minister to marry his friend and X-Men co-star Patrick Stewart to singer Sunny Ozell.
McKellen received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Cambridge University in 2014. He was also made a Freeman of the City of London in 2014. He is also an emeritus Fellow of St Catherine's College, Oxford.
Activism and Charity Work
Working for Equality
Ian McKellen has always been open about his identity with fellow actors. In 1988, he spoke publicly about his identity. This happened when a law called Section 28 was being discussed in the British Parliament. This law would have stopped local authorities from promoting positive views of different family relationships. McKellen felt it was important to speak out against it. He said his involvement helped others feel more comfortable. Section 28 was eventually removed from law in 2000 in Scotland and 2003 in England and Wales.
McKellen has continued to be very active in working for equal rights for all people. He once said he focuses on "legal and social equality for gay people worldwide."
McKellen helped start Stonewall, a group that works for equal rights in the UK. He is also a patron of LGBT History Month, Pride London, and other groups that support fairness.
In 1994, at the closing ceremony of the Gay Games, he jokingly called himself "Serena." This nickname was given to him by Stephen Fry after McKellen became a knight. In 2002, he was the Celebrity Grand Marshal of the San Francisco Pride Parade. In 2006, McKellen supported the UK's LGBT History Month. In 2007, he became a patron of The Albert Kennedy Trust. This group helps young people who are homeless or having trouble.
McKellen has also taken his activism to other countries. In Singapore, he once asked about a gay bar during a TV interview, which caused the show to end quickly. In 2008, he was named in Out magazine's list of influential people.
In 2010, McKellen supported Liverpool's Homotopia festival. Teenagers created a campaign against unfair treatment for schools. In 2011, he called Sergey Sobyanin, Moscow's mayor, a "coward" for not allowing gay parades. In 2014, he was named in the top 10 of the World Pride Power list.
Helping Others
In April 2010, McKellen appeared in TV ads for Age UK. This charity helps older people. He gave his time for free.
McKellen is a big fan of cricket. In March 2011, he was an umpire for a charity cricket match in New Zealand. This was to help victims of an earthquake.
He is also an honorary board member for Only Make Believe. This group performs plays in children's hospitals. He was honored by them in 2012.
McKellen also supports individual theatres. In 2012, while filming The Hobbit in New Zealand, he did a special tour. The money raised helped save the Isaac Theatre Royal, which was damaged in an earthquake. In 2017, he performed a one-man show at Park Theatre (London) and donated the money to the theatre.
On June 1, 2020, McKellen joined a YouTube series called Reunited Apart. He reunited with his Lord of the Rings co-stars. The show encouraged donations to charities.
Other Work
McKellen was a friend of actor Ian Charleson. He wrote a chapter in a book honoring Charleson. You can hear McKellen's voice before performances at the Royal Festival Hall. He reminds people to turn off their phones. He also took part in the 2012 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony in London.
Accolades and Honours
Ian McKellen has been nominated for two Academy Awards (Oscars). These were for Gods and Monsters (1999) and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). He has also been nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards. McKellen has received two Tony Award nominations, winning for Best Actor in a Play for Amadeus in 1981. He has also won six Laurence Olivier Awards (Olivier Awards) for his stage performances.
He has also received many honorary awards. These include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pride International Film Festival in 2004. He also received the Olivier Awards's Society Special Award in 2006. The BBC has said his "performances have guaranteed him a place in the canon of English stage and film actors."
McKellen was awarded a CBE in 1979. He was knighted in 1991 for his services to acting. In 2008, he was made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for his work in drama and for equality.
See also
In Spanish: Ian McKellen para niños
- List of British Academy Award nominees and winners
- List of actors with Academy Award nominations
- List of actors with two or more Academy Award nominations in acting categories
- List of LGBTQ Academy Award winners and nominees
