Ian McKellen

Sir Ian Murray McKellen  (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. He has had a Tony Award and two Oscar nominations.

Life
McKellen was born on 25 May 1939 in Burnley, Lancashire. In 1939, he moved to Wigan. In 1951, he moved to Bolton.

His work has spanned genres from serious Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction movies.

In a television movie role in 1970 titled Edward II, he and his co-star, James Laurenson kissed in British television's first gay kiss.

Best known for his roles as Gandalf in the 2001-2003 Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, as Sir Leigh Teabing in The Da Vinci Code, and as Magneto in the X-Men series of movies. He appeared in The Hobbit (trilogy).

He is openly gay and is a prominent activist for the rights of LGBT people. He said that the reason why he took the role in the X-Men movies was because of his sexuality. He said: "Mutants are like gays. They’re cast out by society for no good reason".

He was made a CBE in 1979 and knighted in 1990 for his outstanding work and contributions to the theatre. In 2008 he was made a Companion of Honour.

McKellen said in 2012 that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006.

McKellen once signed an autograph to a fan stating "Fuck off, I’m gay." The person given the autograph was politician Michael Howard.

Movies
Apt Pupil (1998)
Gods and Monsters (1998)
X-Men (2000)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
X2: X-Men United (2003)
Emile (2005)
Asylum (2005)
The Magic Roundabout (2005)
Flushed Away (2006)
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
The Good Liar (2019)
Cats (2019)

 References 

 Other websites 

The papers of Sir Ian McKellen, actor are held by the Victoria and Albert Museum Theatre and Performance Department.


 Biography of Sir Ian McKellen, CH, CBE, Debrett's

Category:1939 births
Category:Living people
Category:Actors from Greater Manchester
Category:Actors from Lancashire
Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge
Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Companions of Honour
Category:Drama Desk Award winners
Category:English LGBT people
Category:English movie actors
Category:English stage actors
Category:English television actors
Category:English voice actors
Category:Gay men
Category:Golden Globe Award winning actors
Category:Knights Bachelor
Category:LGBT actors
Category:British LGBT rights activists
Category:People from Bolton
Category:Saturn Award winners
Category:Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:Tony Award winning actors
Category:Wigan