Complex sentence: Sir Ian McKellen, Commander of the order of the British Empire and Companion of Honour was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1979, and knighted in 1991 New Year Honours for his outstanding work and contributions to theatre.
Split into simpler sentences: Sir Ian McKellen, Commander of the order of the British Empire and Companion of Honour. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1979, and knighted in 1991 New Year Honours for his outstanding work and contributions to theatre.