01of 15Ian McKellen as a Young ManIan McKellen/instagramIan McKellen was born on May 25, 1939 to Margery and Dennis McKellen (both of whom died before McKellen turned 25). His family moved to Wigan, England shortly before World War II broke out, and lived there for 10 years before moving to Bolton, where McKellen developed an interest in theater. He got his start as a Shakespearean actor in his teens at the Bolton Little Theatre andcelebrated his 80th birthday there as a patron.
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Ian McKellen as a Young Man
Ian McKellen/instagram
Ian McKellen was born on May 25, 1939 to Margery and Dennis McKellen (both of whom died before McKellen turned 25). His family moved to Wigan, England shortly before World War II broke out, and lived there for 10 years before moving to Bolton, where McKellen developed an interest in theater. He got his start as a Shakespearean actor in his teens at the Bolton Little Theatre andcelebrated his 80th birthday there as a patron.
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Ian McKellen’s Early Career
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03of 15Ian McKellen in Edward IICentral Press/Getty.The actor was highly in demand for his skill with classical texts, as seen here playing Marlowe’sEdward IIopposite James Laurenson. The characters had a love scene in the 1970 production, which was filmed to air on the BBC and became the first gay kiss to air on British television. At the time, McKellen was not open about being gay, and he recently reflected on the impact the kiss had on him and others.“I didn’t do that play because I was on a mission to tell people about homosexuality and certainly not my own, I was closeted, that’s the word, I wasn’t honest about my sexuality,“he recalled in a BBC interview in March 2022. “Of course, since, I’ve heard from people I shall never meet saying, I’m so grateful to you for that kiss which I was watching in Indiana with my parents and we had a good conversation about it afterwards and I’m now a happily married gay man… So it was wonderful.”
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Ian McKellen in Edward II
Central Press/Getty.
The actor was highly in demand for his skill with classical texts, as seen here playing Marlowe’sEdward IIopposite James Laurenson. The characters had a love scene in the 1970 production, which was filmed to air on the BBC and became the first gay kiss to air on British television. At the time, McKellen was not open about being gay, and he recently reflected on the impact the kiss had on him and others.
“I didn’t do that play because I was on a mission to tell people about homosexuality and certainly not my own, I was closeted, that’s the word, I wasn’t honest about my sexuality,“he recalled in a BBC interview in March 2022. “Of course, since, I’ve heard from people I shall never meet saying, I’m so grateful to you for that kiss which I was watching in Indiana with my parents and we had a good conversation about it afterwards and I’m now a happily married gay man… So it was wonderful.”
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Ian McKellen Wins a Tony Award
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In 1981, McKellen received the Tony Award for best actor in a play for his role as Salieri inAmadeus.He’s seen alongside fellow acting winners Kevin Kline, Jane Lapotaire and Lauren Bacall.
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Ian McKellen/Instagram
“I fell in with Andy Warhol when I was on Broadway in ‘Amadeus,’ “McKellen wrote on Instagram. “He liked to snap people when he first met them, so this was probably taken when I visited his Factory in Union Square: 1981.”
06of 15Ian McKellen and Elizabeth Taylor’s Fun PhotoshootTerry O’Neill/Iconic ImagesThe two iconic actors hammed it up at a Paramount party in 1987. Though McKellen says he was out to friends in show business at the time, he did not publicly come out until 1988,during a radio conversation about a proposed bill that would forbid Britons from “promoting homosexuality"in which he inadvertently revealed that he himself was gay.On the 30th anniversary of the conversation,McKellen tweeted, “I’ve never met a gay person who regretted coming out – including myself. Life at last begins to make sense, when you are open and honest.”
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Ian McKellen and Elizabeth Taylor’s Fun Photoshoot
Terry O’Neill/Iconic Images
The two iconic actors hammed it up at a Paramount party in 1987. Though McKellen says he was out to friends in show business at the time, he did not publicly come out until 1988,during a radio conversation about a proposed bill that would forbid Britons from “promoting homosexuality"in which he inadvertently revealed that he himself was gay.
On the 30th anniversary of the conversation,McKellen tweeted, “I’ve never met a gay person who regretted coming out – including myself. Life at last begins to make sense, when you are open and honest.”
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Ian McKellen’s First Oscar Nomination
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08of 15Ian McKellen in Lord of the RingsPierre Vinet/New LineMcKellen was 60 when he landed what may be his most well-known role, that of wizard Gandalf in Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy.“I often thought my gravestone would say, ‘Here lies Gandalf. He came out,'“he said at a Buzzfeed event in 2014. “Those are two of the proudest achievements that I’ve got.”
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Ian McKellen in Lord of the Rings
Pierre Vinet/New Line
McKellen was 60 when he landed what may be his most well-known role, that of wizard Gandalf in Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy.
“I often thought my gravestone would say, ‘Here lies Gandalf. He came out,'“he said at a Buzzfeed event in 2014. “Those are two of the proudest achievements that I’ve got.”
09of 15Ian McKellen as MagnetoIan McKellen/InstagramThe star also landed another blockbuster role almost simultaneously with hisLord of the Ringswork: that of supervillain Magneto in theX-Menfilms. (“I was intrigued to enter the world of franchises and plastic dolls. My duties included stress testing an early prototype of a Magneto toy, with the help of Bill Condon’s dog,“he captioned this funny throwback photoof him testing his action figure.)Of landing two huge parts within months of each other, McKellen told PEOPLE, “One would have been enough. But two? And [it] also nearly might not have happened … It’s all about luck – being there at the right time and ready for it.”
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Ian McKellen as Magneto
The star also landed another blockbuster role almost simultaneously with hisLord of the Ringswork: that of supervillain Magneto in theX-Menfilms. (“I was intrigued to enter the world of franchises and plastic dolls. My duties included stress testing an early prototype of a Magneto toy, with the help of Bill Condon’s dog,“he captioned this funny throwback photoof him testing his action figure.)
Of landing two huge parts within months of each other, McKellen told PEOPLE, “One would have been enough. But two? And [it] also nearly might not have happened … It’s all about luck – being there at the right time and ready for it.”
10of 15Ian McKellen on Saturday Night LiveNorman Ng/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyThough often associated with serious, Shakespearean theater, McKellen proved he could go for a laugh with the best of them during a 2002 appearance onSaturday Night Live.Here he does his best Dame Maggie Smith impressionwhile discussing Oscar nominations with Jimmy Fallon.
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Ian McKellen on Saturday Night Live
Norman Ng/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Though often associated with serious, Shakespearean theater, McKellen proved he could go for a laugh with the best of them during a 2002 appearance onSaturday Night Live.Here he does his best Dame Maggie Smith impressionwhile discussing Oscar nominations with Jimmy Fallon.
11of 15Ian McKellen Receives Companion of Honour MedalPA Images / Alamy Stock PhotoThe actor has been twice recognized in England for his contributions to the arts; in 1980 he was knighted, and in 2008Queen ElizabethII awarded him a Companion of Honour medal for his services to arts and equality.
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Ian McKellen Receives Companion of Honour Medal
PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo
The actor has been twice recognized in England for his contributions to the arts; in 1980 he was knighted, and in 2008Queen ElizabethII awarded him a Companion of Honour medal for his services to arts and equality.
12of 15Ian McKellen’s Olivier AwardsPA Images via GettyThe actor has also been the recipient of seven Laurence Olivier awards (Britain’s highest honor for theatrical acting), including two special honors in 2006 (pictured) and 2020.
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Ian McKellen’s Olivier Awards
PA Images via Getty
The actor has also been the recipient of seven Laurence Olivier awards (Britain’s highest honor for theatrical acting), including two special honors in 2006 (pictured) and 2020.
13of 15Ian McKellan’s Friendship with Patrick Stewartlya S. Savenok/GettyThelongtime friendsmade the internet jealous of their bromance when theyposted a series of funny pictures around New York Cityin 2013 while costarring inWaiting for Godoton Broadway. Theyhave no trouble showing PDA, and are so close thatMcKellen even officiated Stewart’s 2013 wedding to Sunny Ozell.
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Ian McKellan’s Friendship with Patrick Stewart
lya S. Savenok/Getty
Thelongtime friendsmade the internet jealous of their bromance when theyposted a series of funny pictures around New York Cityin 2013 while costarring inWaiting for Godoton Broadway. Theyhave no trouble showing PDA, and are so close thatMcKellen even officiated Stewart’s 2013 wedding to Sunny Ozell.
14of 15Ian McKellen at a Pride EventMike Marsland/WireImageThe actor is a vocal champion of civil rights and LGBTQ+ equality, and can often be seen participating in Pride events (like this one in London in 2019). “Waving the banner for full and total equality, and love, is something that has my total support,” he said.That same year,he helped launch a program called Pride in Ageing, which was dedicated to supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community who are over 50.
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Ian McKellen at a Pride Event
Mike Marsland/WireImage
The actor is a vocal champion of civil rights and LGBTQ+ equality, and can often be seen participating in Pride events (like this one in London in 2019). “Waving the banner for full and total equality, and love, is something that has my total support,” he said.
That same year,he helped launch a program called Pride in Ageing, which was dedicated to supporting members of the LGBTQ+ community who are over 50.
15of 15Ian McKellen’s Recent CareerGareth Cattermole/GettyThe actor, who turns 84 on May 25, remains active in theater (he’s seen here at a photocall forHamletin summer 2021) and on social media (perhaps you saw him knitting with a member of ABBA?), and recently filmed a project calledHamlet Within.And he doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon,he toldThe Guardianahead of hisHamletrun. “As you get older, inside, you’re ageless. Inside? Quite honestly? I feel about 12,” he said. “I’ve been having the time of my life.”
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Ian McKellen’s Recent Career
Gareth Cattermole/Getty
The actor, who turns 84 on May 25, remains active in theater (he’s seen here at a photocall forHamletin summer 2021) and on social media (perhaps you saw him knitting with a member of ABBA?), and recently filmed a project calledHamlet Within.
And he doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon,he toldThe Guardianahead of hisHamletrun. “As you get older, inside, you’re ageless. Inside? Quite honestly? I feel about 12,” he said. “I’ve been having the time of my life.”
source: people.com
