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Ian McKellen

Actor / Screenwriter | * 05/25/1939 (84) | Burnley, Lancashire, England (United Kingdom (UK))
1,000
Sir Ian Murray McKellen (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 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 ()
Photo of Ian McKellen

Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. He is the recipient of six Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BIF Award, two Saturn Awards, four Drama Desk Awards and two Critics' Choice Awards. He has also received two Academy Award nominations, eight BAFTA film and TV nominations and five Emmy Award nominations. McKellen's work spans genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. His notable film roles include Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies and Magneto in the X-Men films.

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Documentaries | Comedies

Known for these Movies & Shows

Frodo and Sam are trekking to Mordor to destroy the One Ring of Power while Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn search for the orc-captured Merry and Pippin. All along, nefarious wizard Saruman awaits the Fell ...

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Κ

2002 | 4.2/5 | 2h 59min
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
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Young hobbit Frodo Baggins, after inheriting a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo, must leave his home in order to keep it from falling into the hands of its evil creator. Along the way, a fellowshi ...

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Κ-12

2001 | 4.2/5 | 2h 59min
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
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Aragorn is revealed as the heir to the ancient kings as he, Gandalf and the other members of the broken fellowship struggle to save Gondor from Sauron's forces. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam take the ring ...

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Κ

2003 | 4.2/5 | 3h 21min
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
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It's 1957, and James Whale's heyday as the director of "Frankenstein," "Bride of Frankenstein" and "The Invisible Man" is long behind him. Retired and a semi-recluse, he lives his days accompanied onl ...

Gods and Monsters

Certification unknown

1998 | 3.5/5 | 1h 45min
Drama
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Awards & Nominations for Ian McKellen

2x Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a Revival Commander of The Order of The British Empire Donostia Award Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in a Feature Production Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor European Film Award for Best Actor Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film 2x Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a New Play Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor Empire Icon Award Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance Knight Bachelor Society of London Theatre Special Award Critics' Circle Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts GLAAD Stephen F. Kolzak Award Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for Best Actor British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor
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Movies with Ian McKellen as Actor(116)

as himself2024 The Life and Death of Lily Savage
as Hamlet2024 Hamlet
2023 Hamlet Revenant
as Narrator (voice)2023 The One Note Man
as Scrooge (rumored)2023 Marley
as Self (archive footage)2023 Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC
as Jimmy Erskine2023 The Critic
as himself2022 Quintessentially British
as himself2021 On Broadway
as Dr. Charles Marland-White2021 Infinitum: Subject Unknown
as himself2021 Hating Peter Tatchell
as Roy Courtnay2019 The Good Liar
as Gus, the Theatre Cat2019 Cats
as Earl of Southampton2018 All Is True
as King Lear2018 National Theatre Live: King Lear
as himself2018 McKellen: Playing the Part
as himself2017 The Paul O'Grady Story
as Cogsworth2017 Beauty and the Beast
as himself2017 The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin
as Narrator2017 Edmund the Magnificent
as Mr. Kite (voice)2017 How a Kite Flies
as Horatio P. Huntington (voice)2017 Animal Crackers
2016 Shakespeare Live! From the RSC
as And Even Yet Another Fan2016 The Roof
as himself2016 Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage
as Spooner2016 National Theatre Live: No Man's Land
2016 Play the Devil: Making Richard III
as Sherlock Holmes2015 Mr. Holmes
as Norman2015 The Dresser
as Gandalf2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
as The Prologue2014 Miss in Her Teens
as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto2014 X-Men: Days of Future Past
as Gandalf2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
as himself2013 The Wolverine: Path of a Ronin
as Magician2013 The Egg Trick
as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto (uncredited)2013 The Wolverine
as himself2013 The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot
as himself2013 Muse of Fire
as Gandalf2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
as The Great Intelligence (voice)2012 Doctor Who: The Snowmen
as Himself (as Sir Ian McKellan)2011 The Betty Driver Story
as himself2011 Looking for Lowry
as Self (archive footage)2010 Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
as Narrator (voice)2010 A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation
as Hamish Miller (voice)2010 Small-Time Revolutionary
as King Lear2008 King Lear
as Iorek Byrnison (voice)2007 The Golden Compass
as Narrator (voice)2007 Stardust
as The Jackdaw2007 For the Love of God
as Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto2006 X-Men: The Last Stand
as Sir Leigh Teabing2006 The Da Vinci Code
as Narrator2006 Saint of 9/11
as The Toad (voice)2006 Flushed Away
as Zebedee (voice)2006 Doogal
as Gabriel Finch2005 Neverwas
as himself2005 Ringers: Lord of the Fans
as Jason Anders (voice)2005 Eighteen
as himself2005 The Hobart Shakespeareans
as Dr. Peter Cleave2005 Asylum
as Zebedee (voice)2005 The Magic Roundabout
as himself2004 Frodo Is Great... Who Is That?!!
2004 Peter Tatchell: Just Who Does He Think He Is?
as Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto2003 X2
as himself2003 The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision
as himself2003 X-Men: Premieres Around the World
as Emile2003 Émile
as Gandalf2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
as Gandalf2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
as Gandalf2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
as Narrator (voice)2001 Larry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love
as himself2001 Beyond the Movie: The Fellowship of the Ring
as himself2001 Quest for the Ring
as himself2001 A Passage to Middle-earth: Making of 'Lord of the Rings'
as himself2001 X-Men: The Mutant Watch
as Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto2000 X-Men
as himself2000 Now You See Him: 'The Invisible Man' Revealed!
as Narrator (voice)2000 Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man
as himself1999 The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale
as James Whale1998 Gods and Monsters
as Dr. James Kennedy1998 Swept from the Sea
as Kurt Dussander1998 Apt Pupil
as Narrator1997 A Bit Of Scarlet
as Uncle Freddie1997 Bent
1997 Surviving Friendly Fire
as Tsar Nicholas II1996 Rasputin
as Amos Starkadder1995 Cold Comfort Farm
as William1995 Jack & Sarah
as Richard III1995 Richard III
as Will Gates1995 Restoration
as Quilt Documentary Narrator (voice)1994 To Die For
as Augustus Caesar (voice)1994 David Macaulay: Roman City
as John Earl McAlpine1994 I'll Do Anything
as Dr. Reinhardt Lane1994 The Shadow
as Percy Corcoran1993 The Ballad of Little Jo
as Geoffrey1993 Six Degrees of Separation
as Bill Kraus1993 And the Band Played On
as Death1993 Last Action Hero
as Iago1990 Othello
as John Profumo1989 Scandal
as Adolf Hitler1989 Countdown to War
as Sir Andrew Charleson1985 Plenty
as Kronfeld1985 Zina
as Dr. Theodore Cuza1983 The Keep
as Walter1983 Walter and June
as Chauvelin1982 The Scarlet Pimpernel
1982 Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare
as Walter1982 Walter
as D.H. Lawrence1981 Priest of Love
as Macbeth1979 Macbeth
1978 The Vanishing Army
as George Tesman1972 Hedda Gabler
as King Edward1970 Edward II
as King Richard II1970 The Tragedy of King Richard II
as Roger1969 Alfred the Great
as George1969 A Touch of Love
1969 The Promise

TV Shows/Series with Ian McKellen as Actor(32)

2021 Great British Theatre
as himself2014 Late Night with Seth Meyers
as Freddie Thornhill2013 Vicious
as 2 / Curtis2009 The Prisoner
as himself2007 The Graham Norton Show
as Self - Guest2007 The Graham Norton Show
as Self - Guest2006 The One Show
as Voice of the Snowman2005 Doctor Who
as himself2005 Extras
as himself2004 Who Do You Think You Are?
2004 The Paul O'Grady Show
as himself2003 Real Time with Bill Maher
2003 Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Himself - Narrator (voice)2003 Churchill
as himself2002 Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
as Dr. Cecil Pritchfield (voice)1999 Family Guy
as Self - Guest1997 The View
as himself1994 Inside the Actors Studio
as Archibald Anson Gidde1993 Tales of the City
1989 The Simpsons
as Chairman1988 Windmills of the Gods
1984 Playing Shakespeare
as Narrator1981 Pillar of Fire
as Anthony Skipling1978 Armchair Thriller
as himself1978 An Audience with...
as Self - Host1975 Saturday Night Live
1974 Playhouse
as David Masterman1972 Country Matters
as himself1969 Sesame Street
as David Copperfield1966 David Copperfield
as Captain Plume1965 Play of the Month
as Mel Hutchwright1960 Coronation Street

Movies with Ian McKellen as Crew(2)

Production/Executive Producer1995 Richard III
Writing/Screenplay1995 Richard III

Additional Information

Full Name: Ian Murray McKellen
Citizenship: United Kingdom (UK)
Born: Thursday, 05/25 1939 (May) in Burnley, Lancashire, England (United Kingdom (UK)) (current age: 84 years + 338 days)
Zodiac sign: Gemini (Chinese zodiac sign: Rabbit)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Educated at: St Catharine's College, Cambridge, Bolton School
Member of: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Other names for Ian McKellen (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Иэн МакКеллен"
"Sir Ian McKellen"
"伊恩·麦克莱恩"
"Sir Ian Murray McKellen"
"Σερ Ίαν Μάρεϊ ΜακΚέλεν"
"Ίαν ΜακΚέλεν"
"Ίαν Μάρεϊ ΜακΚέλεν"
"Ian McKellern"
"이안 맥켈런"
"イアン・マッケラン"
"Ian Murray McKellen"
Ian McKellen frequently works together with these people:
Kevin Michael Richardson (68x, Actor)
Rachael MacFarlane (63x, Actress)
John Viener (38x, Actor)
Tress MacNeille (36x, Actress)
Andy Samberg (33x, Actor)
Peter Jackson (32x, Crew)
Ralph Garman (32x, Actor)
Phil LaMarr (31x, Actor)
Alec Sulkin (31x, Actor)
Steve Callaghan (29x, Actor)
Danny Smith (29x, Actor)
Alexandra Breckenridge (27x, Actress)
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WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:173, Added: 03/23/2018, Last updated: 04/24/2024