Conversation so far:
who played gandalf in the first lord of the rings
Ian McKellen has played Gandalf, the wise wizard in Peter Jackson's Tolkien films, since The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring began filming in 1999.
what else is ian mckellen known for besides playing gandalf
Ian McKellen achieved worldwide fame for his film roles, including the titular King in Richard III, James Whale in Gods and Monsters, and Magneto in the X-Men films.
is ian mckellen gay
Ian McKellen has been openly gay since 1988.
what awards does ian mckellen have in the uk
Ian McKellen has won six Laurence Olivier Awards, a British Independent Film Award, and two Evening Standard Awards.

Question: when did the actor's career start
Self-contained rewrite: when did ian mckellen's career start