Acting · Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK · Born May 25, 1939
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.
MovieThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
2027
as Gandalf
MovieAvengers: Doomsday
2026
as Magneto
Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol
2026
as Jacob Marley
MovieLS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes
2026
as L S Lowry
MovieSchadenfreude
2025
as Continuity Announcer
MovieA World War II Fairy Tale: The Making of Michael Mann's 'The Keep'
2025
as Self (archive footage)
Dragged Through Time
2025
MovieThe Christophers
2025
as Julian Sklar
MovieKen Dodd: A Legacy of Happiness
2025
TVBilly & Dom Eat the World
2025
as Self
MovieThe Critic
2024
as Jimmy Erskine
MovieDragfox
2024
as Ginger Snap the Fox (Speaking) (voice)
MovieThe Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved
2024
MovieThe Life and Death of Lily Savage
2024
as Self
MovieHamlet
2024
as Hamlet
TVted
2024
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe One Note Man
2023
as Narrator (voice)
MovieQuintessentially British
2022
as Self
MovieFreedom: 50 Years of Pride
2022
as Self
MovieHamlet Within
2022
MovieHating Peter Tatchell
2021
as Self
TVAmol Rajan Interviews
2021
as Self - Interviewed Guest
TVGreat British Theatre
2021
MovieInfinitum: Subject Unknown
2021
as Dr. Charles Marland-White
MovieIan McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU
2020
TVReunited Apart
2020
as Self
MovieDu Fu: China's Greatest Poet
2020
MovieCats
2019
as Gus, the Theatre Cat
MovieThe Good Liar
2019
as Roy Courtnay
MovieOn Broadway
2019
as Self
MovieAll Is True
2018
as Earl of Southampton
MovieNational Theatre Live: King Lear
2018
as King Lear
MovieAnimal Crackers
2018
as Horatio P. Huntington (voice)
MovieMcKellen: Playing the Part
2018
as Self
MovieThe Paul O'Grady Story
2017
as Self
MovieHow a Kite Flies
2017
as Mr. Kite (voice)
MovieBeauty and the Beast
2017
as Cogsworth
MovieThe Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin
2017
as Self
MovieEdmund the Magnificent
2017
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieJudi Dench: All the World's Her Stage
2016
as Self
MovieNational Theatre Live: No Man's Land
2016
as Spooner
Play the Devil: Making Richard III
2016
Shakespeare on Stage, Screen and Elsewhere with Ian McKellen
2016
Shakespeare on Film
2016
MovieAll the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Film
2016
as Prospero's Speech Reader (voice)
MovieShakespeare Live! From the RSC
2016
as Self - Performer
MovieThe Roof
2016
as And Even Yet Another Fan
MovieKnights of Classic Drama at the BBC
2015
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Dresser
2015
as Norman
TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self - Guest
MovieMr. Holmes
2015
as Sherlock Holmes
TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actors
2014
as Self
MovieThe Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2014
as Gandalf the Grey
MovieDouble Take: Xavier & Magneto
2014
as Self
MovieNelson Mandela Redrawn
2014
as Self
TVTrailblazer Honors
2014
as Self - Speaker
MovieX-Men: Days of Future Past
2014
as Magneto
MovieMiss in Her Teens
2014
as The Prologue
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2013
as Gandalf the Grey
MovieThe Wolverine: Path of a Ronin
2013
as Self
MovieThe Five(ish) Doctors Reboot
2013
as Self
MovieMuse of Fire
2013
as Self
MovieThe Wolverine
2013
as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto (uncredited)
MovieThe Egg Trick
2013
as Magician
TVVicious
2013
as Freddie Thornhill
MovieDoctor Who: The Snowmen
2012
as The Great Intelligence (voice)
MovieThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
2012
as Gandalf the Grey
MovieLondon 2012: Paralympics Opening Ceremony
2012
as Self
MovieLooking for Lowry
2011
as Self
TVPerspectives
2011
MovieThe Betty Driver Story
2011
as Self
TVThe Talk
2010
as Self
MovieSmall-Time Revolutionary
2010
as Hamish Miller (voice)
MovieA Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation
2010
as Narrator (voice)
TVThe Prisoner
2009
as 2 / Curtis
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
MovieTheatreland
2009
as Self
MovieKing Lear
2008
as King Lear
MovieThe Golden Compass
2007
as Iorek Byrnison (voice)
MovieStardust
2007
as Narrator (voice)
The Art of Breaking Character
2007
as Self
For the Love of God
2007
as The Jackdaw
TVThe Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self - Guest
MovieGuerrilla Distribution
2007
as Self
MovieFlushed Away
2006
as The Toad (voice)
TVThe One Show
2006
as Self - Guest
MovieX-Men: The Last Stand
2006
as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto
MovieThe Da Vinci Code
2006
as Sir Leigh Teabing
MovieSaint of 9/11
2006
as Narrator
MovieDoogal
2006
as Zebedee (voice)
MovieNeverwas
2005
as Gabriel Finch
MovieAsylum
2005
as Dr. Peter Cleave
MovieThe Hobart Shakespeareans
2005
as Self
TVExtras
2005
as Ian McKellen
MovieThe Magic Roundabout
2005
as Zebedee (voice)
MovieRingers: Lord of the Fans
2005
as Self
MovieEighteen
2005
as Jason Anders (voice)
MovieA Filmmaker's Journey: Making 'The Return of the King'
2004
as Self
MovieMy First Time
2004
as Narrator
TVWho Do You Think You Are?
2004
as Self
TVThe Paul O'Grady Show
2004
MovieFrodo Is Great... Who Is That?!!
2004
as Self
MovieThe Making of 'The Return of the King'
2004
as Self
MoviePeter Tatchell: Just Who Does He Think He Is?
2004
MovieThe Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision
2003
as Self
MovieThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2003
as Gandalf
MovieBeyond the Movie: The Return of the King
2003
as Self
MovieThe Second Uncanny Issue of X-Men! Making X2
2003
as Self
TVChurchill
2003
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieX2
2003
as Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto
MovieThe Making of 'The Two Towers'
2003
TVReal Time with Bill Maher
2003
as Self
MovieEvolution X - The Making of X-Men
2003
MovieX-Men: Premieres Around the World
2003
as Self
TVJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
MovieEmile
2003
as Emile
MovieThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2002
as Gandalf
MovieThe Fellowship of the Ring: From Book to Script
2002
as Self
MovieThe Fellowship of the Ring: Designing and Building Middle-earth + Weta Workshop + Costume Design
2002
as Self
MovieThe Fellowship of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Cast
2002
as Self
MovieThe Fellowship of the Ring: Cameras in Middle-earth
2002
as Self
MovieThe Fellowship of the Ring: Scale
2002
as Self
MovieThe Fellowship of the Ring: The Road Goes Ever On..
2002
as Self
TVAnt & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
2002
as Self
MovieBeyond the Movie: The Fellowship of the Ring
2001
as Self
MovieThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2001
as Gandalf
MoviePassage to Middle-Earth: The Making of 'The Lord of the Rings'
2001
as Self
MovieQuest for the Ring
2001
as Self
MovieLarry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love
2001
as Narrator (voice)
MovieNow You See Him: 'The Invisible Man' Revealed!
2000
as Self
MovieX-Men
2000
as Magneto
MovieX-Men: The Mutant Watch
2000
as Self - 'Magneto'
MovieCirque du Soleil: Journey of Man
2000
as Narrator (voice)
TVDavid Copperfield
1999
as Creakle
MovieThe World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale
1999
as Self
MovieAfter Stonewall
1999
as Self
TVFamily Guy
1999
as Dr. Cecil Pritchfield (voice)
MovieApt Pupil
1998
as Kurt Dussander
MovieGods and Monsters
1998
as James Whale
MovieSwept from the Sea
1998
as Dr. James Kennedy
TVParkinson
1998
as Self
MovieBent
1997
as Uncle Freddie
TVThe View
1997
as Self - Guest
MovieSurviving Friendly Fire
1997
MovieA Bit Of Scarlet
1997
as Narrator
TVHARDtalk
1997
MovieAn Evening with Lily Savage
1996
as Self
MovieRasputin
1996
as Tsar Nicholas II
MovieRichard III
1995
as Richard III
MovieRestoration
1995
as Will Gates
MovieJack & Sarah
1995
as William
MovieCold Comfort Farm
1995
as Amos Starkadder
MovieTo Die For
1994
as Quilt Documentary Narrator (voice)
MovieStonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and Protest
1994
as Self
TVInside the Actors Studio
1994
as Self
MovieAge of Dissent
1994
as Self
MovieThe Shadow
1994
as Dr. Reinhardt Lane
MovieDavid Macaulay: Roman City
1994
as Augustus Caesar (voice)
MovieI'll Do Anything
1994
as John Earl McAlpine
TVSydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
1994
as Self
MovieCamp Christmas
1993
MovieSix Degrees of Separation
1993
as Geoffrey
MovieA Simple Matter of Justice
1993
as Self
TVTales of the City
1993
as Archibald Anson Gidde
TVLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
as Self - Guest
MovieAnd the Band Played On
1993
as Bill Kraus
TVLate Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Ballad of Little Jo
1993
as Percy Corcoran
MovieArmistead Maupin Is a Man I Dreamt Up
1993
as Narration (voice)
MovieLast Action Hero
1993
as Death
MovieGladio
1992
as Aldo Moro (voice)
TVHave I Got News for You
1990
as Self
MovieOthello
1990
as Iago
TVThe Simpsons
1989
as Ian McKellen (voice)
MovieCountdown to War
1989
as Adolf Hitler
MovieScandal
1989
as John Profumo
TVWindmills of the Gods
1988
as Chairman
MovieScarfe's Follies
1988
MovieSüleyman the Magnificent
1987
as Narrator
MovieZina
1985
as Kronfeld
MoviePlenty
1985
as Sir Andrew Charleson
TVPlaying Shakespeare
1984
MovieThe Keep
1983
as Dr. Theodore Cuza
MovieWalter and June
1983
as Walter
MovieThe Scarlet Pimpernel
1982
as Chauvelin
MovieWalter
1982
as Walter
MovieIan McKellen: Acting Shakespeare
1982
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Archibald Anson Gidde
TVPillar of Fire
1981
as Narrator
MoviePriest of Love
1981
as D.H. Lawrence
Dying Day
1980
as Antony Skipling
MovieEvery Good Boy Deserves Favour
1979
as Alexander Ivanov
MovieMacbeth
1979
as Macbeth
TVAn Audience with...
1978
as Self
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host
Graceless Go I
1974
as Tony
TVPlayhouse
1974
as Alexander
Hedda Gabler
1972
as George Tesman
Craven Arms
1972
as David Masterman
TVCountry Matters
1972
as David Masterman
Film '72
1971
as Self
MovieHamlet
1970
as Hamlet
MovieEdward II
1970
as King Edward
MovieThe Tragedy of King Richard II
1970
as King Richard II
Solo
1970
The Promise
1969
TVSesame Street
1969
as Self
MovieAlfred the Great
1969
as Roger
MovieA Touch of Love
1969
as George
TVITV Saturday Night Theatre
1969
as Lyov
TVOmnibus
1967
as Self - Reading Poetry
TVITV Playhouse
1967
as Tony
David Copperfield
1966
as David Copperfield
MovieThe Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne
1965
as Wolf
TVBBC Play of the Month
1965
as Captain Plume
TVThe Wednesday Play
1964
as Wolf
TVCoronation Street
1960
as Mel Hutchwright
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Winner
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Presenter
Richard II
as Richard II
Untitled Anthony Hopkins Documentary
as Self
No Man's Land
as Spooner
Frank and Percy
as Percy
