Ian McKellen

Sir Ian Murray McKellen is a British actor known for a long career in stage and screen performance, especially Shakespearean theatre and major fantasy and superhero film roles.

Sir Ian Murray McKellen is a British actor known for a long career in stage and screen performance, especially Shakespearean theatre and major fantasy and superhero film roles. He is widely recognised for playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films and Magneto in the X-Men film series. McKellen is also known for his LGBTQ+ activism and for co-founding Stonewall.

Early life and education

Ian McKellen was born in Burnley, Lancashire, in 1939 and later attended Cambridge University. He began acting at school and with amateur groups before moving into professional theatre.

Stage career

McKellen became a major figure in British theatre through work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and the West End. He is especially associated with Shakespearean roles and classical repertory.

Film and television career

McKellen’s screen career expanded from the 1960s onward and reached international prominence in the 1990s and 2000s. His best-known film roles include Gandalf and Magneto, along with acclaimed performances in Gods and Monsters and Mr. Holmes.

Activism and honours

McKellen has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and helped found Stonewall. His honours include a CBE, a knighthood, and appointment to the Order of the Companions of Honour.