View source for Ian McKellen

{{short description|English actor (born 1939)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [[Sir]]
| name               = Ian McKellen
| honorific_suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=UK|size=100|CH|CBE}}
| image              = File:SDCC13 - Ian McKellen.jpg
| caption            = McKellen in 2013
| birth_name         = Ian Murray McKellen
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1939|05|25}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Monitor|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=25 May 2012|issue=1208|page=21}}</ref>
| birth_place        = [[Burnley]], Lancashire, England
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1958–present
| works              = [[Ian McKellen on screen and stage|Full list]]
| partner            = {{plainlist|
* Brian Taylor (1964–1972)
* [[Sean Mathias]] (1978–1988)}}
| education          = [[Bolton School]]
| alma_mater         = [[University of Cambridge]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<!--St Catharine's College doesn't award degrees-->
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Ian McKellen|Full list]]
| website            = {{URL|https://mckellen.com/}}
}}
'''Sir Ian Murray McKellen''' (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. He has played roles on the [[Ian McKellen on screen and stage|screen and stage]] in genres ranging from [[Shakespearean]] dramas and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is regarded as a [[Culture of the United Kingdom|British cultural icon]] and was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite news|title=British Actor Ian Mckellen in China for Shakespeare on Film|url=https://www.britishcouncil.cn/en/about/press/british-actor-ian-mckellen-china-shakespeare-film|agency=British Council|date=13 November 2016|access-date=13 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114165140/https://www.britishcouncil.cn/en/about/press/british-actor-ian-mckellen-china-shakespeare-film|archive-date=14 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Thirty of the very best of British|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10050832/Thirty-of-the-very-best-of-British.html|work=The Telegraph|date=13 November 2016|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409095024/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10050832/Thirty-of-the-very-best-of-British.html|archive-date=9 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He has received [[List of awards and nominations received by Ian McKellen|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 [[Primetime Emmy Awards|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 theatre|West End]] appearance. In 1969, he was invited to join the [[Prospect Theatre Company]] to play the lead parts in Shakespeare's ''[[Richard II (play)|Richard II]]'' and [[Christopher Marlowe|Marlowe]]'s ''[[Edward II (play)|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 (play)|The Alchemist]]'' (1978), ''[[Bent (play)|Bent]]'' (1979), ''[[Wild Honey (play)|Wild Honey]]'' (1984), and ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'' (1995). McKellen made his [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut in ''[[The Promise (1965 play)|The Promise]]'' (1965). He went on to receive the [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]] for his role as [[Antonio Salieri]] in ''[[Amadeus (play)|Amadeus]]'' (1980). He was further nominated for ''Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare'' (1984). He returned to Broadway in ''[[Wild Honey (play)|Wild Honey]]'' (1986), ''[[The Dance of Death (Strindberg play)|Dance of Death]]'' (1990), ''[[No Man's Land (play)|No Man's Land]]'' (2013), and ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' (2013), the latter two being a joint production with [[Patrick Stewart]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart head to Broadway together in two shows |url=https://ew.com/article/2013/01/24/ian-mckellen-patrick-stewart-broadway/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=24 January 2013 |access-date=19 May 2023 |archive-date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519125816/https://ew.com/article/2013/01/24/ian-mckellen-patrick-stewart-broadway/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

McKellen achieved worldwide fame for his film roles, including the [[Richard III of England|titular King]] in ''[[Richard III (1995 film)|Richard III]]'' (1995), [[James Whale]] in ''[[Gods and Monsters (film)|Gods and Monsters]]'' (1998), [[Magneto (film character)|Magneto]] in the [[X-Men (film series)|''X-Men'' films]], [[Cogsworth]] in ''[[Beauty and the Beast (2017 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' (2017) and [[Gandalf]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' (2001–2003) and ''[[The Hobbit (film series)|The Hobbit]]'' (2012–2014) trilogies. Other notable film roles include ''[[A Touch of Love (1969 film)|A Touch of Love]]'' (1969), ''[[Plenty (film)|Plenty]]'' (1985), ''[[Six Degrees of Separation (film)|Six Degrees of Separation]]'' (1993), ''[[Restoration (1995 film)|Restoration]]'' (1995), ''[[Flushed Away]]'' (2006), ''[[Mr. Holmes]]'' (2015), and ''[[The Good Liar]]'' (2019).

McKellen [[came out]] as gay in 1988, and has since championed [[LGBT social movements]] worldwide. He was awarded the [[Freedom of the City of London]] in October 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/ian-mckellen-receives-freedom-of-the-city-award-for-gay-rights-work-9830859.html |title=Ian McKellen receives Freedom of the City award for gay rights activism |work=The Independent |date=31 October 2014 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827075341/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/ian-mckellen-receives-freedom-of-the-city-award-for-gay-rights-work-9830859.html |archive-date=27 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> McKellen is a cofounder of [[Stonewall (UK)|Stonewall]], an LGBT rights [[Lobbying|lobby]] group in the United Kingdom, named after the [[Stonewall riots]].<ref name="albert" /> He is patron of [[LGBT History Month]],<ref name="history"/> [[Pride London]], Oxford Pride, GayGlos, [[LGBT Foundation]] and [[FFLAG]].<ref name="high">{{cite web |url=http://www.lgf.org.uk/sir-ian-mckellen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719022428/http://www.lgf.org.uk/sir-ian-mckellen |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 July 2011 |title=Aim High |publisher=the Lesbian & Gay Foundation |access-date=15 June 2009}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==

McKellen was born on 25 May 1939 in [[Burnley]], Lancashire,{{sfn|Barratt|2006|p=1}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mckellen.com/life/per.htm|title=Sir Ian McKellen Personal Bio – Prior to launch of his website|first=Keith|last=Stern/CompuWeb|website=mckellen.com|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109234900/http://www.mckellen.com/life/per.htm|archive-date=9 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> the son of Margery Lois (née Sutcliffe) and Denis Murray McKellen. He was their second child, with a sister, Jean, five years his senior.<ref name="from-the-beginning" /> At four months old, shortly before the outbreak of the [[Second World War]] in September 1939, his family moved to [[Wigan]]. They lived there until Ian was twelve years old, before relocating to [[Bolton]] in 1951 after his father had been promoted.<ref name="from-the-beginning" /><ref name=pierless>{{cite journal|title=Pierless Youth|url=http://www.mckellen.com/writings/pierless.htm|access-date=5 January 2014|journal=The Sunday Times Magazine|date=2 January 1977|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327123012/http://mckellen.com/writings/pierless.htm|archive-date=27 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The experience of living through the war as a young child had a lasting impact on him, and he later said that "only after peace resumed&nbsp;... did I realise that war wasn't normal".<ref name=pierless /> When an interviewer remarked that he seemed quite calm in the aftermath of the [[11 September attacks]], McKellen said: "Well, darling, you forget—I slept under a [[Morrison shelter|steel plate]] until I was four years old".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Steele |first1=Bruce C. |title=The Knight's Crusade |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DGMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40 |access-date=31 August 2020 |work=The Advocate |issue=853 |publisher=Liberation Publications Inc. |date=25 December 2001}}</ref>

McKellen's father was a civil engineer<ref>{{cite web|title=Sir Ian McKellen|url=https://www.biography.com/actor/ian-mckellen|website=biography.com|access-date=1 December 2021|archive-date=1 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201154406/https://www.biography.com/actor/ian-mckellen|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[lay preacher]], and was of [[Protestant Irish]] and [[Scottish Reformation|Scottish]] descent.<ref>''Ian McKellen: an unofficial biography'', Mark Barratt, Virgin Books, 2005, p. 2</ref> Both of McKellen's grandfathers were preachers, and his great-great-grandfather, James McKellen, was a "strict, evangelical [[Protestantism in Ireland|Protestant]] minister" in [[Ballymena, County Antrim]].<ref name=Ballymena>{{cite web|title=Ian McKellen traces roots to Ballymena|url=http://www.u.tv/entertainment/Ian-McKellen-traces-roots-to-Ballymena/71222a03-8837-41ce-863b-a53974c8dddb|publisher=[[UTV (TV channel)|UTV]]|access-date=3 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204050036/http://www.u.tv/entertainment/Ian-McKellen-traces-roots-to-Ballymena/71222a03-8837-41ce-863b-a53974c8dddb|archive-date=4 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> His home environment was strongly Christian, but non-orthodox. "My upbringing was of low nonconformist Christians who felt that you led the Christian life in part by behaving in a Christian manner to everybody you met".<ref name="advocate-2001">{{cite news |last=Steele |first=Bruce C. |title=The Knight's Crusade |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2001_Dec_25/ai_83451265 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914105120/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_2001_Dec_25/ai_83451265 |work=The Advocate |date=11 December 2001 |archive-date=14 September 2008 |pages=36–38, 40–45 |access-date=16 February 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> When he was 12, his mother died of breast cancer; his father died when he was 25. After his [[coming out]] as gay to his stepmother, Gladys McKellen, who was a [[Quaker]], he said, "Not only was she not fazed, but as a member of a society which declared its indifference to people's sexuality years back, I think she was just glad for my sake that I wasn't lying any more".<ref>{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Stephen |title=McKellen about his stepmother |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/6694627/Sir-Ian-McKellen-Not-telling-parents-I-was-gay-remains-my-greatest-regret.html |url-status=live |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=30 November 2009 |access-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301232139/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/6694627/Sir-Ian-McKellen-Not-telling-parents-I-was-gay-remains-my-greatest-regret.html |archive-date=1 March 2014}}</ref> His great-great-grandfather Robert J. Lowes was an activist and campaigner in the ultimately successful campaign for a [[Workweek and weekend|Saturday half-holiday]] in Manchester, the forerunner to the modern five-day work week, thus making Lowes a "grandfather of the modern weekend".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/15/sir-ian-mckellensgreat-great-grandfather-helped-invent-weekend/|title=Sir Ian McKellen's great-great-grandfather helped invent the weekend |last=Furness |first=Hannah |date=15 January 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=22 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124090228/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/15/sir-ian-mckellensgreat-great-grandfather-helped-invent-weekend/|archive-date=24 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

McKellen attended [[Bolton School]] (Boys' Division),<ref>{{cite web|title=Famous Old Boltonians |url=http://www.boltonschool.com/senior-boys/old-boys/famous-old-boltonians |publisher=Bolton School |access-date=14 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119083833/http://www.boltonschool.com/senior-boys/old-boys/famous-old-boltonians |archive-date=19 January 2012 }}</ref> of which he is still a supporter, attending regularly to talk to pupils. McKellen's acting career started at [[Bolton Little Theatre]], of which he is now the patron.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blt.org.uk|title=Bolton Little Theatre|publisher=Bolton Little Theatre|access-date=14 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303161956/http://blt.org.uk/|archive-date=3 March 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> An early fascination with the theatre was encouraged by his parents, who took him on a family outing to ''[[Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up|Peter Pan]]'' at the [[Manchester Opera House]] when he was three.<ref name="from-the-beginning">{{cite web|title=Ian McKellen From the Beginning|url=http://www.mckellen.com/life/per.htm|work=Ian McKellen Official Website|access-date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109234900/http://www.mckellen.com/life/per.htm|archive-date=9 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> When he was nine, his main Christmas present was a fold-away wood and bakelite Victorian theatre from [[Pollock's Toy Museum|Pollocks Toy Theatres]], with cardboard scenery and wires to push on the cut-outs of Cinderella and of [[Laurence Olivier]]'s reenactment of Shakespeare's "Hamlet".<ref name="from-the-beginning"/>

His sister took him to his first Shakespeare play, ''[[Twelfth Night]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/pantos-grandest-dame-7280733.html|title=Panto's grandest Dame|last=Curtis|first=Nick|date=9 December 2005|work=[[Evening Standard]]|access-date=7 February 2010|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213191654/http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/pantos-grandest-dame-7280733.html|archive-date=13 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> by the amateurs of Wigan's Little Theatre, shortly followed by their ''[[Macbeth]]'' and Wigan High School for Girls' production of ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'', with music by [[Mendelssohn]], with the role of Bottom played by Jean McKellen, who continued to act, direct, and produce amateur theatre until her death.<ref>J. W. Braun, ''The Lord of the Films'' (ECW Press, 2009)</ref>

In 1958, McKellen, at the age of 18, won a [[scholarship]] to the [[University of Cambridge]] where he studied [[English literature]] as an undergraduate student of [[St Catharine's College, Cambridge]].<ref name="actors">''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]''. Bravo. 8 December 2002. No. 5, season 9</ref> He has since been made an [[List of Honorary Fellows of St Catharine's College, Cambridge|Honorary Fellow]] of the college. While at Cambridge, McKellen was a member of the [[Marlowe Society]], where he appeared in 23 plays over the course of 3 years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McKellen |first1=Ian |title=Cambridge University Undergraduate Productions October 1958 - August 1961 |url=https://mckellen.com/stage/index0.htm |website=mckellen.com |access-date=28 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref> At that young age he was already giving performances that have since become legendary such as his Justice Shallow in ''[[Henry IV, Part 2|Henry IV]]'' alongside [[Trevor Nunn]] and [[Derek Jacobi]] (March 1959), ''[[Cymbeline]]'' (as Posthumus, opposite [[Margaret Drabble]] as Imogen) and ''[[The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus|Doctor Faustus]]''.<ref name="trowbridge">{{cite book|title=Stratfordians|last=Trowbridge|first=Simon|year=2008|publisher=Editions Albert Creed|location=Oxford, England|isbn=978-0-9559830-1-6|pages=338–343}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/marlowe/chronology.html |title=Marlowe Chronology |publisher=Cambridge University Marlowe Dramatic Society |access-date=31 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615072500/http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/marlowe/chronology.html |archive-date=15 June 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Drabble">{{cite book|last=Drabble|first=Margaret|author-link=Margaret Drabble|editor=Novy, Marianne|title=Cross-cultural performances: differences in women's re-visions of Shakespeare|year=1993|publisher=University of Illinois Press|location=Urbana|isbn=0-252-06323-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/crossculturalper00novy/page/130 130]|chapter=Stratford revisited|chapter-url-access=registration|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/crossculturalper00novy/page/130}}</ref> During this period McKellen had already been directed by [[Peter Hall (director)|Peter Hall]], [[John Barton (director)|John Barton]] and [[Dadie Rylands]], all of whom would have a significant impact on McKellen's future career.{{sfn|Barratt|2006|p=21}}

==Career==

=== 1965–1985: National Theatre acclaim ===

[[File:Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen in Amadeus, 1980 or 1981.jpg|thumb|upright=1|McKellen (Antonio Salieri) alongside [[Jane Seymour (actress)|Jane Seymour]] (Constanze Mozart) in ''[[Amadeus (play)|Amadeus]]'', c. 1981]]

McKellen made his first professional appearance in 1961 at the [[Belgrade Theatre]] in [[Coventry]], as Roper in ''[[A Man for All Seasons (play)|A Man for All Seasons]]'', although an audio recording of the Marlowe Society's ''Cymbeline'' had gone on commercial sale as part of the [[Argo Records (UK)|Argo]] Shakespeare series.<ref name="trowbridge"/><ref name="Drabble"/> After four years in regional [[repertory|repertory theatres]], McKellen made his first [[West End theatre|West End]] appearance, in ''A Scent of Flowers'', regarded as a "notable success".<ref name="trowbridge" /> In 1965, he was a member of [[Laurence Olivier]]'s National Theatre Company at the [[Old Vic]], which led to roles at the [[Chichester Festival]]. With the [[Prospect Theatre Company]], McKellen made his breakthrough performances of [[Shakespeare]]'s [[Richard II (play)|''Richard II'']] (directed by [[Richard Cottrell (theatre director)|Richard Cottrell]]) and [[Christopher Marlowe]]'s [[Edward II (play)|''Edward II'']] (directed by [[Toby Robertson]]) at the [[Edinburgh Festival]] in 1969, the latter causing a storm of protest over the enactment of the homosexual Edward's lurid death.<ref name=Scotsman>{{cite web | url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-toby-robertson-obe-theatre-director-1-2400165 | access-date=16 September 2013 | date=6 September 2012 | title=Obituary: Toby Robertson, OBE, theatre director | first=Alasdair | last=Steven | work=The Scotsman | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821050238/http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-toby-robertson-obe-theatre-director-1-2400165 | archive-date=21 August 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

One of his first major roles on television was as the title character in [[David Copperfield (1966 TV serial)|the BBC's 1966 adaptation]] of ''[[David Copperfield]]'', which achieved 12 million viewers on its initial airings. After some rebroadcasting in the late 60s, the master videotapes for the serial were [[Lost television broadcast|wiped]], and only four scattered episodes (3, 8, 9 and 11) survive as [[telerecordings]], three of which feature McKellen as adult David. McKellen had taken film roles throughout his career—beginning in 1969 with his role of George Matthews in ''[[A Touch of Love (1969 film)|A Touch of Love]]'', and his first leading role was in 1980 as [[D. H. Lawrence]] in ''[[Priest of Love]]'',<ref>Cosmopolitan – "Ian McKellen bursts into film" – May 1981</ref> but it was not until the 1990s that he became more widely recognised in this medium after several roles in blockbuster Hollywood films.<ref name="actors"/> In 1969, McKellen starred in three films, [[Michael Hayes (director)|Michael Hayes]]'s ''[[The Promise (1969 film)|The Promise]]'', [[Clive Donner]]'s epic film ''[[Alfred the Great (film)|Alfred the Great]]'', and [[Waris Hussein]]'s ''[[A Touch of Love (1969 film)|A Touch of Love]]'' (1969).{{sfn|Barratt|2006|p=235}}

In the 1970s, McKellen became a well-known figure in British theatre, performing frequently at the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] and the [[Royal National Theatre]], where he played several leading Shakespearean roles. From 1973 to 1974, McKellen toured the United Kingdom and [[Brooklyn Academy of Music]] portraying Lady Wishfort's Footman, Kruschov, and Edgar in the [[William Congreve]] comedy ''[[The Way of the World]]'', [[Anton Chekhov]]'s comedic three-act play ''[[The Wood Demon]]'' and [[William Shakespeare]] tragedy ''[[King Lear]]''.{{sfn|Barratt|2006|pp=99–100}} The following year, he starred in [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[King John (play)|King John]]'', [[George Colman the Elder|George Colman]]'s ''[[The Clandestine Marriage]]'', and [[George Bernard Shaw]]'s ''[[Too True to Be Good]]''.{{sfn|Barratt|2006|pp=120–121}} From 1976 to 1977, he portrayed Romeo in the Shakespeare romance ''[[Romeo & Juliet]]'' at the [[Royal Shakespeare Theatre]]. The following year he played [[Leontes|King Leontes]] in ''[[The Winter's Tale]]''.{{sfn|Barratt|2006|p=122}}

In 1976, he played the title role in [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Macbeth]]'' at Stratford in a "gripping&nbsp;... out of the ordinary" production, with [[Judi Dench]], and [[Iago]] in ''[[Othello]]'', in award-winning productions directed by [[Trevor Nunn]].<ref name="trowbridge"/> Both of these productions were adapted into television films, also directed by Nunn. From 1978 to 1979, he toured in a double feature production of Shakespeare's ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', and [[Anton Chekov]]'s ''[[Three Sisters (play)|Three Sisters]]'' portraying Sir Toby Belch and Andrei, respectively.{{sfn|Barratt|2006|p=108}} In 1979, McKellen gained acclaim for his role as [[Antonio Salieri]] in the [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] transfer production of [[Peter Shaffer]]'s play ''[[Amadeus (play)|Amadeus]]''. It was an immensely popular play produced by the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] originally starring [[Paul Scofield]]. The transfer starred McKellen, [[Tim Curry]] as [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]], and [[Jane Seymour (British actress)|Jane Seymour]] as [[Constanze Mozart]]. ''[[The New York Times]]'' theatre critic [[Frank Rich]] wrote of McKellen's performance "In Mr. McKellen's superb performance, Salieri's descent into madness was portrayed in dark notes of almost bone-rattling terror".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/17/theater/the-theater-amadeus-with-3-new-principals.html|title= THE THEATER: 'AMADEUS,' WITH 3 NEW PRINCIPALS|website= [[The New York Times]]|date= 17 December 1981|access-date= 17 June 2021|last1= Rich|first1= Frank|archive-date= 24 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202836/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/17/theater/the-theater-amadeus-with-3-new-principals.html|url-status= live}}</ref> For his performance, McKellen received the [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Farber |first=Stephen |date=15 January 1984 |title=ENTER MCKELLEN, BEARING SHAKESPEARE |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/15/theater/enter-mckellen-bearing-shakespeare.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=24 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524153539/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/15/theater/enter-mckellen-bearing-shakespeare.html |archive-date=24 May 2015}}</ref>

In 1981, McKellen portrayed writer and poet [[D. H. Lawrence]] in the [[Christopher Miles]] directed biographical film, ''[[Priest of Love]]''.{{sfn|Barratt|2006|p=237}} He followed up with [[Michael Mann]]'s horror film ''[[The Keep (film)|The Keep]]'' (1983).{{sfn|Barratt|2006|p=239}} In 1985, he starred in ''[[Plenty (film)|Plenty]]'', the film adaptation of the [[David Hare (playwright)|David Hare]] [[Plenty (play)|play of the same name]]. The film was directed by [[Fred Schepisi]] and starred [[Meryl Streep]], [[Charles Dance]], [[John Gielgud]], and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]. The film spans nearly 20 years from the early 1940s to the 1960s, around an Englishwoman's experiences as a fighter for the [[French Resistance]] during [[World War II]] when she has a one-night stand with a British intelligence agent. The film received mixed reviews with [[Roger Ebert]] of ''[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]'' praising the film's ensemble cast writing, "The performances in the movie supply one brilliant solo after another; most of the big moments come as characters dominate the scenes they are in".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/plenty-1985|title= Plenty movie review|website= Rogerebert.com|access-date= 17 June 2021|archive-date= 24 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201951/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/plenty-1985|url-status= live}}</ref>

=== 1986–2000: Established actor ===

In 1986, he returned to Broadway in the revival of [[Anton Chekhov]]'s first play ''Wild Honey'' alongside [[Kim Cattrall]] and [[Kate Burton (actress)|Kate Burton]]. The play concerned a local Russian schoolteacher who struggles to remain faithful to his wife, despite the attention of three other women. McKellen received mixed reviews from critics in particular [[Frank Rich]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' who praised him for his "bravura and athletically graceful technique that provides everything except, perhaps, the thing that matters most—sustained laughter". He later wrote, "Mr. McKellen finds himself in the peculiar predicament of the star who strains to carry a frail supporting cast".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/19/theater/theater-mckellen-in-wild-honey.html|title= THEATER: MCKELLEN IN 'WILD HONEY'|website= [[The New York Times]]|date= 19 December 1986|access-date= 18 June 2021|last1= Rich|first1= Frank|archive-date= 24 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624212115/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/19/theater/theater-mckellen-in-wild-honey.html|url-status= live}}</ref> In 1989 he played [[Iago]] in production of ''[[Othello]]'' by the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]].{{sfn|Barratt|2006|pp=159–160}} McKellen starred in the British drama ''[[Scandal (1989 film)|Scandal]]'' (1989) a fictionalised account of the [[Profumo affair]] that rocked the government of British prime minister [[Harold Macmillan]]. McKellen portrayed [[John Profumo]]. The film starred [[Joanne Whalley]], and [[John Hurt]].<ref>{{cite news |last=von Tunzelmann |first=Alex |date=11 July 2012 |title=Scandal: someone was taking notes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jul/11/scandal-keeler-profumo |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227024920/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jul/11/scandal-keeler-profumo |archive-date=27 December 2015}}</ref> The film premiered at the [[1989 Cannes Film Festival]] and competed for the [[Palme d'Or]]. When his friend and colleague, [[Patrick Stewart]], decided to accept the role of [[Captain Jean-Luc Picard]] in the American television series, ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', McKellen strongly advised him not to throw away his respected theatrical career to work in television. However, McKellen later conceded that Stewart had been prudent in accepting the role, which made him a global star and later followed his example such as co-starring with Stewart in the ''[[X-Men (film series)|X-Men]]'' [[superhero film]] series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sharf |first1=Zack |title=Ian McKellen Told Patrick Stewart to Reject 'Star Trek' Offer and Stay in Theater, Admitted Later He Was Wrong: 'You Can't Throw That Away to Do TV. No!' |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/ian-mckellen-patrick-stewart-reject-star-trek-stay-in-theater-1235743624/ |work=Variety |date=3 October 2023 |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>

From 1990 to 1992, he acted in a world tour of a lauded revival of ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'', playing the [[Richard III|title character]]. The production played at the [[Brooklyn Academy of Music]] for two weeks before continuing its tour where Frank Rich of ''New York Times'' was able to review it. In his piece, he praised McKellen's performance writing, "Mr McKellen's highly sophisticated sense of theatre and fun drives him to reveal the secrets of how he pulls his victims' strings whether he is addressing the audience in a soliloquy or not".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/12/theater/review-theater-richard-iii-mckellen-s-richard-is-for-this-century.html|title= Review/Theatre;Richard III; McKellen's Richard Is for This Century|website= [[The New York Times]]|date= 12 June 1992|access-date= 18 June 2021|last1= Rich|first1= Frank|archive-date= 24 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624223540/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/12/theater/review-theater-richard-iii-mckellen-s-richard-is-for-this-century.html|url-status= live}}</ref> For his performance he received the [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Susan Heller |date=9 April 1991 |title=CHRONICLE |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/09/style/chronicle-004791.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=25 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525224611/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/09/style/chronicle-004791.html |archive-date=25 May 2015}}</ref>

In 1992, he acted in [[Pam Gems]]'s revival of Chekov's ''[[Uncle Vanya]]'' at the [[Royal National Theatre]] alongside [[Antony Sher]], and [[Janet McTeer]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Morley |first=Sheridan |date=4 March 1992 |title=Born-Again 'UncleVanya' Is Breathtaking |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/04/IHT-bornagain-unclevanya-is-breathtaking.html |work=[[International Herald Tribune]] |access-date=10 August 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250810224924/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/04/IHT-bornagain-unclevanya-is-breathtaking.html |archive-date=10 August 2025 |via=The New York Times}}</ref> In 1993, he starred in the film ''[[Six Degrees of Separation (film)|Six Degrees of Separation]]'' based on the [[Pulitzer Prize]] and [[Tony Award]] nominated [[Six Degrees of Separation (play)|play of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Klady |first=Leonard |date=30 November 1993 |title=Six Degrees of Separation |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/six-degrees-of-separation-3-1200435017/ |website=Variety |access-date=6 September 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906023135/https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/six-degrees-of-separation-3-1200435017/ |archive-date=6 September 2020}}</ref> McKellen starred alongside [[Will Smith]], [[Donald Sutherland]] and [[Stockard Channing]]. The film was a critical success.<ref>{{cite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |date=8 December 1993 |title=Review/Film: Six Degrees of Separation; John Guare's 'Six Degrees,' on Art And Life Stories, Real and Fake |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/08/movies/review-film-six-degrees-separation-john-guare-s-six-degrees-art-life-stories.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=11 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081515/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/08/movies/review-film-six-degrees-separation-john-guare-s-six-degrees-art-life-stories.html |archive-date=11 February 2017}}</ref> That same year, he appeared in the western ''[[The Ballad of Little Jo]]'' opposite [[Bob Hoskins]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Rainer |first=Peter |date=10 September 1993 |title=MOVIE REVIEW : 'Ballad of Little Jo': A Revisionist Western |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-10-ca-33418-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=5 July 2025}}</ref> and the action comedy ''[[Last Action Hero]]'' starring [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]. The following year, he appeared in the superhero film ''[[The Shadow (1994 film)|The Shadow]]'' with [[Alec Baldwin]]{{sfn|Barratt|2006|p=246}} and the [[James L. Brooks]] directed comedy ''[[I'll Do Anything]]'' starring [[Nick Nolte]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lowry |first=Brian |date=27 February 1994 |title=I'll Do Anything |url=https://variety.com/1994/film/reviews/i-ll-do-anything-1200435626/ |website=Variety |access-date=5 July 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250714025031/https://variety.com/1994/film/reviews/i-ll-do-anything-1200435626/ |archive-date=14 July 2025 }}</ref>

In 1995, McKellen made his screenwriting debut with ''[[Richard III (1995 film)|Richard III]]'', an ambitious adaptation of [[William Shakespeare]]'s [[Richard III|play of the same name]], directed by [[Richard Loncraine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1068177-richard_iii|title=Richard III (1995)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=15 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428191015/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1068177-richard_iii/|archive-date=28 April 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="richard">{{cite web|title=Notes |url=http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/richard/notes.htm |publisher=Ian McKellen Official Website |access-date=15 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430075105/http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/richard/notes.htm |archive-date=30 April 2009 }}</ref> The film reimagines the play's story and characters to a setting based on 1930s Britain, with Richard depicted as a fascist plotting to usurp the throne. McKellen stars in the title role alongside an ensemble cast including [[Annette Bening]], [[Robert Downey Jr.]], [[Jim Broadbent]], [[Kristen Scott Thomas]], [[Nigel Hawthorne]] and [[Dame Maggie Smith]]. As executive producer he returned his £50,000 fee to complete the filming of the final battle.<ref name="empire-2006">''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'', May 2006</ref> In his review of the film, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' film critic Hal Hinson called McKellen's performance a "lethally flamboyant incarnation" and said his "florid mastery&nbsp;... dominates everything".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/richardiii.htm#hinson|title=A Rich 'Richard III' Rules|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=19 January 1996|access-date=1 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324112052/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/richardiii.htm#hinson|archive-date=24 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' praised McKellen's adaptation and his performance in his four star review writing, "McKellen has a deep sympathy for the playwright&nbsp;... Here he brings to Shakespeare's most tortured villain a malevolence we are moved to pity. No man should be so evil, and know it. Hitler and others were more evil, but denied out to themselves. There is no escape for Richard. He is one of the first self-aware characters in the theatre, and for that distinction he must pay the price".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/richard-iii-1996-1|title= Richard III - Movie Review|website= Rogerebert.com|access-date= 17 June 2021|archive-date= 13 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210613103551/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/richard-iii-1996-1|url-status= live}}</ref> His performance in the title role garnered [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|BAFTA]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama|Golden Globe]] nominations for Best Actor and won the [[European Film Awards|European Film Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://europeanfilmawards.eu/en_EN/archive/1996/winner |title=EFA Night 1996 |publisher=[[European Film Awards]] |access-date=May 28, 2024 |archive-date=23 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923121356/http://www.europeanfilmawards.eu/en_EN/archive/1996/winner |url-status=dead }}</ref> His screenplay was nominated for the [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1997/film |title=BAFTA Awards: Film in 1997 |publisher=[[British Academy Film Awards]] |access-date=April 18, 2024}}</ref> That same year, he appeared in the historical drama ''[[Restoration (1995 film)|Restoration]]'' (1995) also starring Downey Jr., as well as [[Meg Ryan]], [[Hugh Grant]], and [[David Thewlis]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Kevin |date=29 December 1995 |title=MOVIE REVIEW : A 'Restoration' of Costume Drama: Too Old Fashioned |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-29-ca-18948-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=20 June 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620141440/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-29-ca-18948-story.html |archive-date=20 June 2019}}</ref> He appeared in the British romantic comedy ''[[Jack and Sarah]]'' (1995) starring [[Richard E. Grant]], [[Samantha Mathis]], and [[Judi Dench]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Mathews |first=Jack |date=22 March 1996 |title='Jack and Sarah' Looks at an Unhinged Life |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-22-ca-50114-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=27 June 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627021724/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-22-ca-50114-story.html |archive-date=27 June 2022 }}</ref>

In 1993, he appeared in minor roles in the television [[miniseries]] ''[[Tales of the City (1993 miniseries)|Tales of the City]]'', based on the novel by his friend [[Armistead Maupin]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoby |first=Hermione |date=4 January 2014 |title=Armistead Maupin: San Francisco's chronicler calls time on his saga |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/jan/04/profile-armistead-maupin |work=The Guardian |access-date=2 January 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102211052/https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/jan/04/profile-armistead-maupin |archive-date=2 January 2015}}</ref> Later that year, McKellen appeared in the [[HBO]] television film ''[[And the Band Played On (film)|And the Band Played On]]'' based on the [[And the Band Played On|acclaimed novel of the same name]] about the discovery of [[HIV/AIDS|HIV]]. For his performance as [[gay rights activist]] [[Bill Kraus]], McKellen received the [[CableACE Awards|CableACE Award for Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries]] and was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Ian McKellen |website = [[Emmy Award]] |date = n.d. |access-date = 24 March 2017 |url = http://www.emmys.com/bios/ian-mckellen |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171113233413/http://www.emmys.com/bios/ian-mckellen |archive-date = 13 November 2017 |url-status = live   }}</ref> From 1993 to 1997 McKellen toured in a one-man show entitled, ''A Knights Out'', about coming out as a gay man. Laurie Winer from ''[[The Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote, "Even if he is preaching to the converted, McKellen makes us aware of the vast and powerful intolerance outside the comfortable walls of the theatre. Endowed with a rare technique, he is a natural storyteller, an admirable human being and a hands-on activist".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-19-ca-60336-story.html|title= McKellen Offers a Comfortably Breezy Evening|website= [[Los Angeles Times]]|date= 19 May 1997|access-date= 18 June 2021|archive-date= 24 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202025/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-19-ca-60336-story.html|url-status= live}}</ref> From 1997 to 1998, he starred as Dr. Tomas Stockmann in a revival of [[Henrik Ibsen]]'s ''[[An Enemy of the People]]''.{{sfn|Barratt|2006|p=175}} Later that year he played Garry Essendine in the [[Noël Coward]] comedy ''[[Present Laughter]]'' at the [[West Yorkshire Playhouse]].{{sfn|Barratt|2006|p=178}} In 1998, he appeared in the modestly acclaimed psychological thriller ''[[Apt Pupil (film)|Apt Pupil]]'', which was directed by [[Bryan Singer]] and based on a story by [[Stephen King]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/apt_pupil|title=Apt Pupil (1998)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=15 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218015222/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/apt_pupil/|archive-date=18 February 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> McKellen portrayed a fugitive [[Nazi]] officer living under a [[false name]] in the US who is befriended by a curious teenager ([[Brad Renfro]]) who threatens to expose him unless he tells his story in detail.<ref>{{cite news |last=Maslin |first=Janet |date=23 October 1998 |title='Apt Pupil': In a Suburb, Echoes of the Third Reich |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/102398apt-film-review.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=15 February 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215160030/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/102398apt-film-review.html |archive-date=15 February 2019}}</ref> That same year, he played [[James Whale]], the director of ''[[Frankenstein (1931 film)|Frankenstein]]'' in the [[Bill Condon]] directed period drama ''[[Gods and Monsters (film)|Gods and Monsters]]'', a role for which he was subsequently nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]], losing it to [[Roberto Benigni]] in ''[[Life is Beautiful]]'' (1998).<ref name="actors"/>

In 1995, he appeared in the [[BBC]] television comedy film ''[[Cold Comfort Farm (film)|Cold Comfort Farm]]'' starring [[Kate Beckinsale]], [[Rufus Sewell]], and [[Stephen Fry]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Kevin |date=10 May 1996 |title=Inspired Comedy, Charm at 'Cold Comfort Farm' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-05-10-ca-2695-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=30 April 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430073030/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-05-10-ca-2695-story.html |archive-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> The following year he starred as [[Tsar Nicholas II]] in the [[HBO]] made-for-television movie ''[[Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny]]'' (1996) starring [[Alan Rickman]] as [[Rasputin]]. For his performance, McKellen earned a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie]] nomination and received a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film]] win.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ian McKellen |url=https://goldenglobes.com/person/ian-mckellen/ |website=[[Golden Globe Awards]] |access-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709021326/https://goldenglobes.com/person/ian-mckellen/ |archive-date=9 July 2019}}</ref> McKellen appeared as Mr Creakle in the [[BBC]] series ''[[David Copperfield (1999 film)|David Copperfield]]'' (1999) based on the [[Charles Dickens]] classic novel. The miniseries starred a pre-''[[Harry Potter]]'' [[Daniel Radcliffe]], [[Bob Hoskins]], and [[Dame Maggie Smith]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Potter star unfazed by stardom |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/890413.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=21 August 2000 |access-date=22 December 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222105707/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/890413.stm |archive-date=22 December 2008 }}</ref>

=== 2000–2011: International stardom ===

[[File:Ian McKellen.jpg|thumb|McKellen at the world premiere of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'' in [[Wellington]], 1&nbsp;December&nbsp;2003]]

In 1999, McKellen was cast, again under the direction of Bryan Singer, to play the comic book supervillain [[Magneto (Marvel Comics)|Magneto]] in the 2000 film ''[[X-Men (film)|X-Men]]'' and its sequels ''[[X2: X-Men United]]'' (2003) and ''[[X-Men: The Last Stand]]'' (2006).<ref name="actors"/> He later reprised his role of Magneto in 2014's ''[[X-Men: Days of Future Past]]'', sharing the role with [[Michael Fassbender]], who played a younger version of the character in 2011's ''[[X-Men: First Class]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://screenrant.com/x-men-days-of-future-past-cast-patrick-stewart-ian-mckellen|title=Patrick Stewart & Ian McKellen Join 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'|date=27 November 2012|last=Keyes|first=Rob|website=Screenrant|access-date=28 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128083518/http://screenrant.com/x-men-days-of-future-past-cast-patrick-stewart-ian-mckellen/|archive-date=28 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

While filming the first ''X-Men'' film in 1999, McKellen was cast as the [[Wizard (Middle-earth)|wizard]] [[Gandalf]] in [[Peter Jackson]]'s film trilogy adaptation of [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'']] (consisting of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers|The Two Towers]]'', and ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]''), released between 2001 and 2003. He won the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role|Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture]] for his work in ''The Fellowship of the Ring'' and was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for the same role. He provided the voice of Gandalf for several video game adaptations of the ''Lord of the Rings'' films.<ref>{{cite web|title=2000's|publisher=Ian McKellen Official Website|url=http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/index0.htm|access-date=25 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430204550/http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/index0.htm|archive-date=30 April 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

McKellen returned to the Broadway stage in 2001 in an [[August Strindberg]] play ''[[The Dance of Death (Strindberg play)|The Dance of Death]]'' alongside [[Helen Mirren]] and [[David Strathairn]] at the [[Broadhurst Theatre]]. ''The New York Times'' Theatre critic [[Ben Brantley]] praised McKellen's performance writing, "[McKellen] returns to Broadway to serve up an Elysian concoction we get to sample too little these days: a mixture of heroic stage presence, actorly intelligence, and rarefied theatrical technique".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/12/movies/theater-review-to-stay-alive-snipe-snipe.html|title= THEATER REVIEW; To Stay Alive, Snipe, Snipe|website= [[The New York Times]]|date= 12 October 2001|access-date= 18 June 2021|last1= Brantley|first1= Ben|archive-date= 24 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624214309/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/12/movies/theater-review-to-stay-alive-snipe-snipe.html|url-status= live}}</ref> McKellen toured with the production at the [[Lyric Theatre, London|Lyric Theatre]] in London's West End and to the Sydney Art's Festival in Australia. On 16 March 2002, he hosted ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=15 March 2002 |title=Ian McKellen Is 'Live from New York' March 16 |url=https://playbill.com/article/ian-mckellen-is-live-from-new-york-march-16-com-104497 |website=[[Playbill]] |access-date=17 May 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517223905/https://playbill.com/article/ian-mckellen-is-live-from-new-york-march-16-com-104497 |archive-date=17 May 2021 }}</ref>

In 2002 McKellen appeared in a solo performance at the [[Beverly Hills]] Canon Theatre, where he performed his personally written scene from a Shakespeare annex piece.<ref>{{citation |url=https://archive.org/details/ASG-Propositioning-Sir-Ian-McKellen-2025|title=Lit 21: Propositioning Sir Ian McKellen (2025)|publisher=Internet Archive|date=23 March 2025|access-date=25 March 2025}}</ref>

In 2003 McKellen made a guest appearance as himself on the American cartoon show ''[[The Simpsons]]'' in a special British-themed episode entitled "[[The Regina Monologues]]", along with the then UK Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] and author [[J. K. Rowling]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Blair lined up for Simpsons debut |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3222674.stm |work=BBC News |date=23 November 2003 |access-date=5 July 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031205135353/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3222674.stm |archive-date=5 December 2003}}</ref> In April and May 2005, he played the role of [[Mel Hutchwright]] in [[Granada Television]]'s long-running British soap opera, ''[[Coronation Street]]'', fulfilling a lifelong ambition, where in 2015 he was gifted a [[Cobblestone|cobble]] from the [[Coronation Street sets|soap's exterior set]] for his seventy-sixth birthday.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sir Ian McKellen gets a Coronation Street cobble for his 76th birthday|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a654009/sir-ian-mckellen-gets-a-coronation-street-cobble-for-his-76th-birthday/|last=Babbage |first=Rachel|work=[[Digital Spy]]|date=19 June 2015|access-date=23 July 2024}}</ref> He narrated [[Richard Bell (director)|Richard Bell]]'s film ''[[Eighteen (film)|Eighteen]]'' as a grandfather who leaves his World War II memoirs on audio-cassette for his teenage grandson.<ref>{{cite web |title=CANADA Production Listings - June 22 2004 |url=https://www.screendaily.com/canada-production-listings-june-22-2004/4019166.article |website=[[Screen International]] |date=21 June 2004 |access-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102032/https://www.screendaily.com/canada-production-listings-june-22-2004/4019166.article |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>

[[File:BAFTA 2007 (387064580).jpg|thumb|left|McKellen with [[Kate Winslet]] at the [[60th British Academy Film Awards]] in 2007]]

He has appeared in limited release films, such as ''[[Emile (film)|Emile]]'' (which was shot in three weeks following the ''X2'' shoot),<ref name="emile-words">{{cite web|url=http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/emile/words.htm|title=Adrian Salpeter interviews Ian McKellen about Emile|work=Ian McKellen Official Website|access-date=27 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105013927/http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/emile/words.htm|archive-date=5 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Neverwas]]'' and ''[[Asylum (2005 film)|Asylum]]''. In 2006, he appeared as Sir Leigh Teabing in ''[[The Da Vinci Code (film)|The Da Vinci Code]]'' opposite [[Tom Hanks]] as [[Robert Langdon]]. During a 17 May 2006 interview on ''[[The Today Show]]'' with the ''Da Vinci Code'' cast and director [[Ron Howard]], [[Matt Lauer]] posed a question to the group about how they would have felt if the film had borne a prominent disclaimer that it is a work of fiction, as some religious groups wanted.<ref name="suspend"/> McKellen responded, "I've often thought the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying 'This is fiction'. I mean, walking on water? It takes&nbsp;... an act of faith. And I have faith in this movie—not that it's true, not that it's factual, but that it's a jolly good story". He continued, "And I think audiences are clever enough and bright enough to separate out fact and fiction, and discuss the thing when they've seen it".<ref name="suspend">{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/blog/2006/05/17/ian-mckellen-unable-to-suspend-disbelief-while-reading-the-bible/ |title=Ian McKellen Unable to Suspend Disbelief While Reading the Bible. |access-date=20 May 2006 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614150617/http://www.usmagazine.com/blog/2006/05/17/ian-mckellen-unable-to-suspend-disbelief-while-reading-the-bible/ |archive-date=14 June 2006 }} ''Us Weekly''. 17 May 2006.</ref>

McKellen appeared in the 2006 BBC series of [[Ricky Gervais]]'s comedy series ''[[Extras (TV series)|Extras]]'', where he played himself directing Gervais's character [[Andy Millman]] in a play about gay lovers. McKellen received a 2007 [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor – Comedy Series]] nomination for his performance.<ref name="televisionacademy">{{cite web |title=Ian McKellen |url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/ian-mckellen |website=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |access-date=11 August 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250811004717/https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/ian-mckellen |archive-date=11 August 2025}}</ref> In 2007, McKellen narrated the romantic fantasy adventure film ''[[Stardust (2007 film)|Stardust]]'' starring [[Charlie Cox]] and [[Claire Danes]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Ernio |date=2 January 2007 |title=McKellen to Narrate Upcoming Comic-Turned-Film "Stardust" |url=https://playbill.com/article/mckellen-to-narrate-upcoming-comic-turned-film-stardust-com-137409 |website=Playbill |access-date=5 July 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022014733/https://playbill.com/article/mckellen-to-narrate-upcoming-comic-turned-film-stardust-com-137409 |archive-date=22 October 2020}}</ref> which was a critical and financial success.<ref>{{cite web |last=Still |first=Jennifer |date=10 August 2017 |title=The Eternal Magic of Stardust, as Explained by Charlie Cox |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/08/stardust-movie-charlie-cox-daredevil-neil-gaiman-anniversary |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=5 July 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020064713/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/08/stardust-movie-charlie-cox-daredevil-neil-gaiman-anniversary |archive-date=20 October 2020}}</ref> That same year, he lent his voice to the armoured bear [[Iorek Byrnison]] in the [[Chris Weitz]]-directed fantasy film ''[[The Golden Compass (film)|The Golden Compass]]'' based on the acclaimed [[Philip Pullman]] novel ''[[Northern Lights (Pullman novel)|Northern Lights]]'' and starred [[Nicole Kidman]] and [[Daniel Craig]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Lemire |first=Christy |date=5 December 2007 |title='Golden Compass' Is Beautiful But Cold |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/golden-compass-is-beautiful-but-cold/ |work=[[CBS News]] |access-date=5 July 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250714042220/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/golden-compass-is-beautiful-but-cold/ |archive-date=14 July 2025 }}</ref> The film received mixed reviews<ref>{{cite news |last=Vice |first=Jeff |date=7 December 2007 |title=Film review: Mediocre 'Compass' lacks magic |url=https://www.deseret.com/2007/12/7/20092651/film-review-mediocre-compass-lacks-magic/ |work=[[Deseret News]] |access-date=5 July 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250714042952/https://www.deseret.com/2007/12/7/20092651/film-review-mediocre-compass-lacks-magic/ |archive-date=14 July 2025 }}</ref> but was a financial success.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Entertainment/2008/01/15/compass_passes_300m_mark_at_box_office/9772/ |title='Compass' passes $300M mark at box office |publisher=[[United Press International]] |date=15 January 2008 |access-date=29 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119175754/http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Entertainment/2008/01/15/compass_passes_300m_mark_at_box_office/9772/ |archive-date=19 January 2008}}</ref>

[[File:BAFTA 2007 (387059718).jpg|thumb|right|McKellen at the 2007 [[BAFTA Awards]] ]]

In 2007, he returned to the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], in productions of ''[[King Lear]]'' and ''[[The Seagull]]'', both directed by [[Trevor Nunn]]. In 2009 he portrayed Number Two in ''[[The Prisoner (2009 miniseries)|The Prisoner]]'', a remake of the 1967 cult series ''[[The Prisoner]]''.<ref name="Wilson2010">{{cite news|title=The Prisoner: remake of a 1960s TV classic|last=Wilson|first=Benji|date=11 April 2010|work=The Sunday Times|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article7091471.ece|location=London|access-date=13 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615094550/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article7091471.ece|archive-date=15 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2009, he appeared in a very popular revival of ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' at London's [[Haymarket Theatre]], directed by [[Sean Mathias]], and playing opposite [[Patrick Stewart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821225446926|title=McKellen & Stewart Wait in Haymarket Godot|last=Paddock|first=Terri|date=31 October 2008|publisher=Whatsonstage.com|access-date=8 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616065547/http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821225446926|archive-date=16 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/arts/08iht-LON8.html|title=McKellen and Stewart Deliver a 'Godot' With a Difference|last=Wolf|first=Matt|date=7 May 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date =8 July 2009}}</ref> From 2013 to 2014, McKellen and Stewart starred in a double production of [[Samuel Beckett]]'s ''Waiting for Godot'' and [[Harold Pinter]]'s ''[[No Man's Land (play)|No Man's Land]]'' on [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] at the [[Cort Theatre]]. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' theatre critic Marilyn Stasio praised the dual production writing, "McKellen and Stewart find plenty of consoling comedy in two masterpieces of existential despair".<ref name="broadway-review-land-godot">{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2013/legit/reviews/broadway-review-no-mans-landwaiting-for-godot-1200851722/|title= Broadway Review: 'No Man's Land/Waiting for Godot'|website= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date= 25 November 2013|access-date= 18 June 2021|archive-date= 24 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200919/https://variety.com/2013/legit/reviews/broadway-review-no-mans-landwaiting-for-godot-1200851722/|url-status= live}}</ref> In both productions of Stasio claims, "the two thespians play the parts they were meant to play".<ref name="broadway-review-land-godot" /> He is Patron of [[English Touring Theatre]] and also President and Patron of the [[Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain]], an association of amateur theatre organisations throughout the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://littletheatreguild.org/our-patron-sir-ian-mckellen-ch/|title=The Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain|publisher=Littletheatreguild.org|access-date=15 December 2016|date=23 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220172322/http://littletheatreguild.org/our-patron-sir-ian-mckellen-ch/|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In late August 2012, he took part in the [[2012 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]] of the [[London Paralympics]], portraying [[Prospero]] from ''[[The Tempest]]''.<ref name=paralympics-opening>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19411225|title=Paralympics: Games opening promises 'journey of discovery'|work=BBC News|date=29 August 2012|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829190233/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19411225|archive-date=29 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Since 2012: Career expansion ===

[[File:9.24.13WaitingForGodot-NoMansLandPressJunketByLuigiNovi8.jpg|thumb|McKellen with [[Billy Crudup]] and [[Patrick Stewart]] promoting ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' and ''[[No Man's Land (play)|No Man's Land]]'' (2013)]]

McKellen reprised the role of Gandalf on screen in Peter Jackson's three-part film adaptation of ''[[The Hobbit (film series)|The Hobbit]]'' starting with ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'' (2012), followed by ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]'' (2013), and finally ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'' (2014).<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Rottenberg|first=Josh|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/01/10/the-hobbit-scoop-ian-mckellan-and-andy-serkis-on-board/|title=Hobbit' scoop: Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis on board|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=10 January 2011|access-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204084239/http://www.ew.com/article/2011/01/10/the-hobbit-scoop-ian-mckellan-and-andy-serkis-on-board|archive-date=4 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite the series receiving mixed reviews, it emerged as a financial success. McKellen 
reprised his role as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto in [[James Mangold]]'s ''[[The Wolverine (film)|The Wolverine]]'' (2013), and Singer's ''[[X-Men: Days of Future Past]]'' (2014).  In November 2013, McKellen appeared in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' 50th anniversary comedy homage ''[[The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot]]''.<ref>"[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03lv3mj The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019111019/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03lv3mj |date=19 October 2019 }}", BBC programmes. Retrieved 26 November 2013</ref> From 2013 to 2016, McKellen co-starred in the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] sitcom ''[[Vicious (TV series)|Vicious]]'' as Freddie Thornhill, alongside [[Derek Jacobi]]. The series revolves around an elderly gay couple who have been together for 50 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week23/vicious|title=Vicious|website=ITV Press Centre|publisher=ITV|access-date=4 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035447/http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week23/vicious|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a509391/vicious-renewed-for-second-series-by-itv-job-lot-moving-to-itv2.html|title='Vicious' renewed for second series by ITV, 'Job Lot' moving to ITV2|website=[[Digital Spy]]|date=23 August 2013|access-date=7 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911032718/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a509391/vicious-renewed-for-second-series-by-itv-job-lot-moving-to-itv2.html|archive-date=11 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The show's original title was "Vicious Old Queens". There are ongoing jokes about McKellen's career as a relatively unsuccessful character actor who owns a tux because he stole it after doing a guest spot on "Downton Abbey" and that he holds the title of "10th Most Popular 'Doctor Who' Villain". Liz Shannon Miller of ''[[IndieWire]]'' noted that while the concept seemed "weird as hell", "Once you come to accept McKellen and Jacobi in a multi-camera format, there is a lot to respect about their performances; specifically, the way that those decades of classical training adapt themselves to the sitcom world. Much has been written before about how the tradition of the multi-cam, filmed in front of a studio audience, relates to theatre, and McKellen and Jacobi know how to play to a live crowd".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.indiewire.com/2015/09/review-vicious-is-a-real-tv-show-we-promise-and-its-weird-as-hell-58335/|title= Review: 'Vicious' Is a Real TV Show, We Promise, And It's Weird as Hell|website= [[IndieWire]]|date= 10 September 2015|access-date= 17 June 2021|archive-date= 30 July 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210730120059/https://www.indiewire.com/2015/09/review-vicious-is-a-real-tv-show-we-promise-and-its-weird-as-hell-58335/|url-status= live}}</ref>

In 2015, McKellen reunited with director Bill Condon playing an elderly [[Sherlock Holmes]] in the mystery film ''[[Mr. Holmes]]'' alongside [[Laura Linney]]. In the film based on the novel ''[[A Slight Trick of the Mind]]'' (2005), Holmes now 93, struggles to recall the details of his final case because his mind is slowly deteriorating. The film premiered at the [[65th Berlin International Film Festival]] with McKellen receiving acclaim for his performance. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' film critic [[Peter Travers]] praised his performance writing, "Don't think you can take another Hollywood version of Sherlock Holmes? Snap out of it. Apologies to Robert Downey Jr. and [[Benedict Cumberbatch]], but what Ian McKellen does with Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective in Mr Holmes is nothing short of magnificent&nbsp;... Director Bill Condon, who teamed superbly with McKellen on the Oscar-winning Gods and Monsters, brings us a riveting character study of a lion not going gentle into winter".<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/mr-holmes-248772/|title= Mr. Holmes - Movie Review|magazine= [[Rolling Stone]]|date= 15 July 2015|access-date= 17 June 2021|archive-date= 24 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201114/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/mr-holmes-248772/|url-status= live}}</ref> In October 2015, McKellen appeared as Norman to [[Anthony Hopkins]]'s Sir in a [[BBC Two]] production of [[Ronald Harwood]]'s ''[[The Dresser (2015 film)|The Dresser]]'', alongside [[Edward Fox (actor)|Edward Fox]], [[Vanessa Kirby]], and [[Emily Watson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34660715 |title=Ian McKellen: 'Working with Anthony Hopkins was bliss' |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=31 October 2015 |access-date=31 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030211959/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34660715 |archive-date=30 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Television critic Tim Goodman of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' praised the film and the central performances writing, "there's no escaping that Hopkins and McKellen are the central figures here, giving wonderfully nuanced performances, onscreen together for their first time in their acclaimed careers".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/review-starzs-dresser-starring-ian-898297/|title= The Dresser: TV Review|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date= 30 May 2016|access-date= 17 June 2021|archive-date= 24 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200138/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/review-starzs-dresser-starring-ian-898297/|url-status= live}}</ref> For his performance McKellen received a [[British Academy Television Award]] nomination for his performance.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lazarus |first=Susanna |date=8 May 2016 |title=BAFTA Television Awards 2016 – winners in full |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/bafta-television-awards-2016-winners-in-full/ |website=[[Radio Times]] |access-date=14 April 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414115127/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/bafta-television-awards-2016-winners-in-full/ |archive-date=14 April 2021 }}</ref>

[[File:McKellenRichmnd040219-13 (46275366854) (cropped).jpg|thumb|McKellen in 2019]]

In 2017, McKellen portrayed in a supporting role as [[Cogsworth]] (originally voiced by [[David Ogden Stiers]] in the [[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|1991 animated film]]) in the live-action adaptation of [[Disney]]'s ''[[Beauty and the Beast (2017 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'', directed by Bill Condon (which marked the third collaboration between Condon and McKellen, after ''Gods and Monsters'' and ''Mr. Holmes'') and co-starred alongside [[Emma Watson]] and [[Dan Stevens]].<ref name=McKellenCast>{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Ian McKellen to Play Cogsworth in Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast'|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/beauty-beast-ian-mckellen-cogsworth-1201464763/|access-date=11 April 2015|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=10 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411192321/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/beauty-beast-ian-mckellen-cogsworth-1201464763/|archive-date=11 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was released to positive reviews and grossed $1.2{{nbsp}}billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing live-action musical film, the [[2017 in film|second highest-grossing film of 2017]], and the [[List of highest-grossing films|17th highest-grossing film]] of all time.<ref name="BeautyandtheBeastReception">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beauty_and_the_beast_2017 |title=Beauty and the Beast (2017) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=11 December 2017 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211204754/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beauty_and_the_beast_2017/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=beautyandthebeast2017.htm |title=Beauty and the Beast (2017) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=18 September 2017 |archive-date=26 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826163452/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=beautyandthebeast2017.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/beauty-and-the-beast-review-9971177|title=Beauty and the Beast review: Irresistible charm shows no one casts a spell quite like Disney|first=Chris|last=Hunneysett|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|date=17 March 2017|access-date=27 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170910200005/http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/beauty-and-the-beast-review-9971177|archive-date=10 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Lavish 'Beauty and the Beast' true as it can be to original|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/3/15/18322097/lavish-beauty-and-the-beast-true-as-it-can-be-to-original|last=Roeper|first=Richard|date=15 March 2017|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en|access-date=25 May 2020|archive-date=10 September 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170910202458/http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/lavish-beauty-and-the-beast-true-as-it-can-be-to-original/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, McKellen appeared in the documentary ''McKellen: Playing the Part'', directed by director Joe Stephenson. The documentary explores McKellen's life and career as an actor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Cath |date=25 May 2018 |title=McKellen: Playing the Part review – engaging portrait of a wizard Shakespearean actor |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/25/mckellen-playing-the-part-review-ian-mckellen-documentary-joe-stephenson |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=26 January 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305183028/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/25/mckellen-playing-the-part-review-ian-mckellen-documentary-joe-stephenson |archive-date=5 March 2019 }}</ref>

In October 2017, McKellen played [[King Lear]] at the [[Chichester Festival Theatre]], a role which he said was likely to be his "last big Shakespearean part".<ref name=king-lear>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-41531398|title=Sir Ian McKellen says King Lear is his 'last big Shakespeare part'|work=BBC News|date=7 October 2017|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730152416/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-41531398|archive-date=30 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He performed the play at the [[Duke of York's Theatre]] in London's West End during the summer of 2018.<ref name=king-lear-west-end>{{cite news|url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/ian-mckellen-to-play-king-lear-in-londons-west-end-this-summer|title=Ian McKellen to play King Lear in London's West End this summer|work=LondonTheatre.co.uk|date=8 February 2018|access-date=8 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614195041/https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/ian-mckellen-to-play-king-lear-in-londons-west-end-this-summer|archive-date=14 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=king-lear-west-end2>{{cite web | url=https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/king-lear-ian-mackellen | access-date=9 February 2018 | date=9 February 2018 | title=Don't miss Sir Ian McKellen as King Lear | first=Phil | last=Willmott | work=LondonBoxOffice.co.uk | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182510/https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/king-lear-ian-mackellen | archive-date=9 February 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> McKellen voiced Dr. Cecil Pritchfield the [[Developmental psychology|child psychiatrist]] for [[Stewie Griffin]] in the ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "[[Send in Stewie, Please]]" in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2018/tv/features/family-guy-stewie-therapy-sir-ian-mckellen-1202725999/ |title= How 'Family Guy' Crafted Its Limited-Interruption, Stewie-Centric Episode |website= Variety |date= 16 March 2018 |accessdate= 10 February 2024}}</ref> He appeared in [[Kenneth Branagh]]'s historical drama ''[[All is True (film)|All is True]]'' (2018) portraying [[Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton]], opposite Branagh and Judi Dench. [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote that Judi Dench and he "offer solid support" and added that his role is a "colossal, emphatically wigged cameo".<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/dec/21/all-is-true-review-ben-elton-kenneth-branagh-shakespeare|title= All Is True review – Kenneth Branagh and Ben Elton's poignant Bard biopic|newspaper= The Guardian|date= 21 December 2018|last1= Bradshaw|first1= Peter}}</ref> To celebrate his 80th birthday, in 2019 McKellen performed in a one-man stage show titled ''[[Ian McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU]]'' celebrating the various performances throughout his career. The show toured across the UK and Ireland (raising money for each venue and organisation's charity) before a [[West End theatre|West End]] run at the [[Harold Pinter Theatre]] and was performed for one night only on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] at the [[Hudson Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wiegand|first=Chris|date=14 June 2019|title=Ian McKellen announces 80 West End dates for 80th birthday show|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/jun/14/ian-mckellen-announces-80-west-end-dates-for-80th-birthday-show|access-date=13 May 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601150804/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/jun/14/ian-mckellen-announces-80-west-end-dates-for-80th-birthday-show|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, he reunited with Condon for a fourth time in the mystery thriller ''[[The Good Liar]]'' opposite [[Helen Mirren]], who received praise for their onscreen chemistry.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/previews/2479568/the-good-liar |title=The Good Liar - CINEMABLEND |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922173403/https://www.cinemablend.com/previews/2479568/the-good-liar |archive-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year, he appeared as [[Gus the Theatre Cat]] in the movie musical adaptation of ''[[Cats (2019 film)|Cats]]'' directed by [[Tom Hooper]]. The film featured performances from [[Jennifer Hudson]], [[James Corden]], [[Rebel Wilson]], [[Idris Elba]], and Judi Dench. The film was widely panned for its poor visual effects, editing, performances, screenplay, and was a [[box office disaster]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/jennifer-hudson-taylor-swift-james-corden-ian-mckellen-cats-movie-andrew-lloyd-webber-1202430100/|title=Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift, James Corden & Ian McKellen Line Up For 'Cats' Movie – Miaow|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|date=20 July 2018|website=Deadline|access-date=21 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720125150/https://deadline.com/2018/07/jennifer-hudson-taylor-swift-james-corden-ian-mckellen-cats-movie-andrew-lloyd-webber-1202430100/|archive-date=20 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, he played the title role in an age-blind production of ''[[Hamlet]]'' (having previously played the part in a UK and European tour in 1971), followed by the role of Firs in Chekov's ''[[The Cherry Orchard]]'' at the [[Theatre Royal, Windsor]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ian-McKellen-Joins-HAMLET-and-THE-CHERRY-ORCHARD-at-Theatre-Royal-Windsor-20210318|title= Ian McKellen Joins HAMLET and THE CHERRY ORCHARD at Theatre Royal Windsor|website= Theatreworld|access-date= 18 June 2021|archive-date= 24 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201814/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ian-McKellen-Joins-HAMLET-and-THE-CHERRY-ORCHARD-at-Theatre-Royal-Windsor-20210318|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/mar/19/ian-mckellen-hamlet-cherry-orchard-theatre-royal-windsor|title= Ian McKellen's long-awaited return as Hamlet set for June|website= [[The Guardian]]|date= 19 March 2021|access-date= 18 June 2021|archive-date= 14 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210614224320/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2021/mar/19/ian-mckellen-hamlet-cherry-orchard-theatre-royal-windsor|url-status= live}}</ref> Since November 2021, McKellen and ABBA member [[Björn Ulvaeus]] have posted [[Instagram]] videos featuring the pair [[knitting]] [[Christmas jumper]]s and other festive attire.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/abbas-bjorn-ulvaeus-knit-christmas-jumpers-sir-ian-mckellen-3103040|title=Watch Sir Ian McKellen knit Christmas jumpers with ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus|last=Starkey|first=Adam|date=23 November 2021|work=[[NME]]|accessdate=27 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/ian-mckellen-and-abbas-bjorn-ulvaeus-return-in-new-festive-knitting-video-3359823|title=Ian McKellen and ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus return in new festive knitting video|last=Jones|first=Damian|date=2 December 2022|work=[[NME]]|accessdate=27 November 2023}}</ref> In 2023, it was revealed that Ulvaeus and McKellen would be knitting stagewear for Kylie Minogue as part of her ''[[More Than Just a Residency]]'' [[concert residency]] at Voltaire at [[The Venetian Las Vegas]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-famous-knitting-brothers-ian-mckellen-and-abbas-bjorn-ulvaeus-agree-to-knit-stagewear-for-kylie-minogue-3548811|title=Watch 'famous knitting brothers' Ian McKellen and ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus agree to knit stagewear for Kylie Minogue|last=Dunworth|first=Liberty|date=24 November 2023|work=[[NME]]|accessdate=27 November 2023}}</ref>

In 2023, he starred in the period thriller ''[[The Critic (2023 film)|The Critic]]'' directed by [[Anand Tucker]]. The film is written by [[Patrick Marber]] adapted off the 2015 novel ''Curtain Call'' by Anthony Quinn. The film premiered at the [[2023 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=7 September 2023 |title=Ian McKellen on Not Retiring, Not Being the First Choice for Gandalf and Going Evil for 'The Critic': 'The Devil Has the Best Lines' |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/features/ian-mckellen-retirement-gandalf-the-critic-toronto-1235710798/ |access-date=7 September 2023 |website=Variety}}</ref>

In April 2024, McKellen starred as [[John Falstaff]] in ''Player Kings (''an adaptation of [[Shakespeare's]] ''[[Henry IV, Part 1|Henry IV Parts 1]] [[Henry IV, Part 2|and 2]])'' opposite [[Richard Coyle]] and [[Toheeb Jimoh]] at the [[Noël Coward Theatre]] in [[West End theatre|London's West End]] and received rave reviews (following runs at [[New Wimbledon Theatre]] and [[Manchester Opera House]]).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Akbar |first=Arifa |date=11 April 2024 |title=Player Kings review – Ian McKellen's richly complex Falstaff is magnetic |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/apr/11/player-kings-review-ian-mckellen-falstaff-noel-coward-theatre-london |access-date=17 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Ian McKellen is an unforgettable Falstaff in Player Kings — review |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7dbd7c6e-4083-4dc3-b90b-bec112855dc0 |access-date=17 June 2024 |website=Financial Times|date=12 April 2024 |last1=Hemming |first1=Sarah }}</ref> The production was scheduled to run until 22 June before touring to [[Bristol]], Birmingham, [[Norwich]] and [[Newcastle upon Tyne]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benedict |first=David |date=12 April 2024 |title='Player Kings' Review: Ian McKellen and Toheeb Jimoh Give Star Turns in a Chilly New Take on Shakespeare's 'Henry IV' |url=https://variety.com/2024/legit/reviews/player-kings-review-ian-mckellen-falstaff-1235968505/ |access-date=17 June 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> however during the performance on 17 June, McKellen fell off the front of the stage during a fight scene and called for assistance; the performance was cancelled and the audience dismissed. He was later reported to have recovered and to be "in good spirits."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Aleks |date=18 June 2024 |title=Ian McKellen 'in good spirits' after falling off stage during performance |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx88v15r41jo |access-date=18 June 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> He subsequently pulled out of the remaining West End and tour performances on medical advice.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3grxyw4pg9o|title=McKellen won't return for play's tour after injury|work=BBC News|first=Steven|last=McIntosh|date=1 July 2024|access-date=1 July 2024}}</ref>

The 2025 Christmas pantomime at the [[Pleasance Islington|Pleasance Theatre]], Islington, features a [[cameo appearance]] on video of McKellen as the dog [[Toto (Oz)|Toto]] in ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz-lington'', a show derived from ''[[Wicked (musical)|Wicked]]'' and ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Khomami |first1=Nadia |author1-link=Nadia Khomami |title=Wonderful Wizard of Oz-lington |work=[[The Guardian]] |page=19|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/nov/22/jeremy-corbyn-ian-mckellen-pantomine-wizard-oz-islington}}</ref>

McKellen is set to reprise his role as Magneto in ''[[Avengers: Doomsday]]'' (2026).<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=26 March 2025 |title=Marvel Confirming 'Avengers: Doomsday' Cast: Patrick Stewart, Tom Hiddleston, Hannah John-Kamen, Joseph Quinn, Lewis Pullman, Kelsey Grammer & More |url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/avengers-doomsday-cast-1236351122/ |access-date=26 March 2025 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==

McKellen and his first partner, Brian Taylor, a history teacher from [[Bolton]], began their relationship in 1964.<ref name="tiscali-biog">{{cite news|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/ian_mckellen_biog.html |title=Ian McKellen profile at Tiscali |work=Tiscali Film and TV |access-date=11 April 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050217093636/http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/ian_mckellen_biog.html |archive-date=17 February 2005 }}</ref> Their relationship lasted for eight years, ending in 1972.<ref name="mckellen.com">{{cite web |title=Ian McKellen's Personal Biography through 1998 |url=https://mckellen.com/life/per.htm |website=mckellen.com |access-date=10 September 2023}}</ref> They lived in [[Earls Terrace]], Kensington, London, where McKellen continued to pursue his career as an actor.<ref name="mckellen.com"/> In 1978, he met his second partner, [[Sean Mathias]], at the [[Edinburgh Festival]]. This relationship lasted until 1988, and according to Mathias, it was tempestuous, with conflicts over McKellen's success in acting versus Mathias's somewhat less-successful career. The two remained friends, with Mathias later directing McKellen in ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' at the [[Theatre Royal Haymarket]] in 2009. The pair entered into a business partnership with [[Evgeny Lebedev]], purchasing the lease of [[The Grapes, Limehouse|The Grapes]] public house in Narrow Street.<ref name=thegrapes>"[http://thegrapes.co.uk/history.php The Grapes History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106235022/http://www.thegrapes.co.uk/history.php |date=6 November 2011 }}", thegrapes.co.uk.</ref> As of 2005, McKellen had been living in [[Narrow Street]], [[Limehouse]], for more than 25 years, more than a decade of which had been spent in a five-storey Victorian house.<ref name="times-2005">{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/sir-ian-mckellen-nq978xrbdbf|title=Sir Ian McKellen|work=[[The Times]]|date=27 August 2005|access-date=15 July 2021|location=London|archive-date=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715203239/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sir-ian-mckellen-nq978xrbdbf|url-status=live}}</ref>

He is an [[atheist]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Famous atheists and their beliefs|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/25/living/gallery/atheists/|publisher=CNN|date=26 May 2013 |access-date=12 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101143034/http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/25/living/gallery/atheists|archive-date=1 November 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In the late 1980s, he lost his appetite for every kind of meat but fish, and has since followed a mainly [[pescetarian]] diet.<ref>[http://www.mckellen.com/epost/m000905.htm ''Correspondence with Ian McKellen – Vegetarianism''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102203821/http://www.mckellen.com/epost/m000905.htm |date=2 January 2009 }} from ''Ian McKellen Official Website''. Retrieved 4 February 2008.</ref> In 2001, he received the Artist Citizen of the World Award (France).<ref>[https://institutcitoyenducinema.wordpress.com/artiste-citoyen-du-monde/ "Artist winners Prize Citizen of the World"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418093331/https://institutcitoyenducinema.wordpress.com/artiste-citoyen-du-monde/ |date=18 April 2015 }}. Institut Citoyen du Cinéma</ref> He has a tattoo of the Elvish number nine, written using [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s [[constructed script]] of [[Tengwar]], on his shoulder in reference to his involvement in the ''Lord of the Rings'' and the fact that his character was one of the original nine companions of the [[Fellowship of the Ring (characters)|Fellowship of the Ring]]. All but one of the other actors of "The Fellowship" ([[Elijah Wood]], [[Sean Astin]], [[Orlando Bloom]], [[Billy Boyd]], [[Sean Bean]], [[Dominic Monaghan]] and [[Viggo Mortensen]]) have the same tattoo ([[John Rhys-Davies]] did not get the tattoo, but his stunt double Brett Beattie did).<ref name="tattoo">{{cite web| url =http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue348/interview.html |title = The stars of The Lord of the Rings trilogy reach their journey's end| publisher =SciFi.com| access-date =31 May 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070306100400/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue348/interview.html |archive-date = 6 March 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Grebey|first=James|date=16 June 2021|title=Lord of the Rings' uncredited Gimli double finally tells his tale|url=https://www.polygon.com/lord-of-the-rings/22535564/lotr-gimli-actor-double-brett-beattie-cast-fellowship-tattoo|access-date=23 January 2022|website=Polygon|language=en-US|archive-date=23 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123033033/https://www.polygon.com/lord-of-the-rings/22535564/lotr-gimli-actor-double-brett-beattie-cast-fellowship-tattoo|url-status=live}}</ref>

He was diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sherna |last=Noah |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/sir-ian-mckellen-speaks-of-prostate-cancer-shock-8405396.html |title=Sir Ian McKellen speaks of prostate cancer shock |work=The Independent |date=11 December 2012 |access-date=5 August 2013 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913172733/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/sir-ian-mckellen-speaks-of-prostate-cancer-shock-8405396.html |archive-date=13 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, he stated on his blog that "There is no cause for alarm. I am examined regularly and the cancer is contained. I've not needed any treatment".<ref>{{cite news |last=Gwynedd |first=Myrddin |date=14 December 2012 |title=Ian McKellen clarifies prostate cancer reports |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10853970 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |publisher=APN New Zealand |access-date=2 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903122210/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10853970 |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> He registered as a marriage officiant in early 2013<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2013/03/19/sir-ian-mckellen-to-marry-sir-patrick-stewart-no-not-like-that/ |title=Patrick Stewart's Wedding and Ian McKellen |magazine=Time |date=19 March 2013 |access-date=25 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002056/http://entertainment.time.com/2013/03/19/sir-ian-mckellen-to-marry-sir-patrick-stewart-no-not-like-that/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> to preside over the marriage of his friend and ''X-Men'' co-star [[Patrick Stewart]] to the singer [[Sunny Ozell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/09/09/patrick-stewart-sunny-ozell-wedding-ian-mckellen/2785053/|title=Patrick Stewart weds girlfriend; Ian McKellen officiates|last=Blum|first=Haley|date=9 September 2013|work=USA Today|access-date=22 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201202742/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/09/09/patrick-stewart-sunny-ozell-wedding-ian-mckellen/2785053/|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

McKellen was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters by the [[University of Cambridge]] on 18 June 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/news/honorary-degrees-2014|title=Honorary degrees 2014|newspaper=Alumni|access-date=19 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622001255/http://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/news/honorary-degrees-2014|archive-date=22 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He was made a [[Freedom of the City|Freeman of the City of London]] on 30 October 2014. The ceremony took place at [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]] in London. He was nominated by London's Lord Mayor [[Fiona Woolf]], who said he was an "exceptional actor" and "tireless campaigner for equality".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-the-city/what-we-do/media-centre/news-releases/2014/Pages/sir-ian-mckellen-receives-freedom-of-the-city-of-london.aspx|title=Sir Ian McKellen receives Freedom of the City of London|work=cityoflondon.gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030191346/https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-the-city/what-we-do/media-centre/news-releases/2014/Pages/sir-ian-mckellen-receives-freedom-of-the-city-of-london.aspx|archive-date=30 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is an emeritus Fellow of [[St Catherine's College, Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stcatz.ox.ac.uk/Academic-Staff/Emeritus-Fellows|title=Emeritus Fellows – www.stcatz.ox.ac.uk|publisher=University of Oxford|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014065341/https://www.stcatz.ox.ac.uk/Academic-Staff/Emeritus-Fellows|archive-date=14 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Activism==

===LGBT rights===

[[File:McKellen 2010.jpg|thumb|McKellen at [[Manchester Pride]] 2010]]

While McKellen had made his [[sexual orientation]] known to fellow actors early on in his stage career, it was not until 1988 that he [[came out]] to the general public while appearing on the [[BBC Radio]] programme ''Third Ear'' hosted by conservative journalist [[Peregrine Worsthorne]].<ref>An archived recording of the programme is online: [https://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/gay_rights/12012.shtml "''Third Ear'': Section 28"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518143125/http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/gay_rights/12012.shtml |date=18 May 2019 }}, BBC Radio 3, 27 January 1988</ref> The context that prompted McKellen's decision, overriding any concerns about a possible negative effect on his career, was that the controversial [[Section 28]] of the ''[[Local Government Act 1988]]'', was then under consideration in the [[British Parliament]].<ref name="actors" /> Section 28 proposed prohibiting local authorities from promoting homosexuality "... as a kind of pretended family relationship".<ref name="4letter">{{cite news|date=20 January 2000|publisher=BBC|title=When gay became a four-letter word|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/611704.stm|access-date=5 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528040056/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/611704.stm|archive-date=28 May 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="actors" /><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/gay_rights/12012.shtml "''Third Ear'': Section 28"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518143125/http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/gay_rights/12012.shtml |date=18 May 2019 }}, BBC Radio 3, 27 January 1988</ref> McKellen has stated that he was influenced in his decision by the advice and support of his friends, among them noted gay author [[Armistead Maupin]].<ref name="actors" /> In a 1998 interview that discusses the 29th anniversary of the [[Stonewall riots]], McKellen commented, <blockquote>I have many regrets about not having come out earlier, but one of them might be that I didn't engage myself in the politicking.<ref>Mendelsohn, Scott, [http://bombsite.com/issues/65/articles/2189 "Ian McKellen"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525125837/http://bombsite.com/issues/65/articles/2189 |date=25 May 2012 }}, ''[[BOMB Magazine]]''. Fall 1998. Retrieved on [18 July 2012.]</ref></blockquote> He has said of this period: <blockquote>My own participating in that campaign was a focus for people [to] take comfort that if Ian McKellen was on board for this, perhaps it would be all right for other people to be as well, gay and straight.<ref name="advocate-2001" /></blockquote>

In 2003, during an appearance on ''[[Have I Got News For You]]'', McKellen claimed when he visited [[Michael Howard]], then [[Secretary of State for the Environment|Environment Secretary]] (responsible for local government), in 1988 to lobby against Section 28, Howard refused to change his position but did ask him to leave an autograph for his children. McKellen agreed, but wrote, "Fuck off, I'm gay".<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3266571.stm 10 things we didn't know this time last week] . BBC News. 14 November 2003.</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=HIGNFY S26E04 Jimmy Carr, Ross Noble & Ian McKellen| date=17 June 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0BuNjCZYoU|language=en|access-date=28 January 2022|archive-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128184936/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0BuNjCZYoU|url-status=live}}</ref> McKellen described Howard's junior ministers, Conservatives [[David Wilshire]] and [[Jill Knight]], who were the architects of Section 28, as the 'ugly sisters' of a political pantomime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mckellen.com/writings/activism/8807section28.htm|title=Section 28|publisher=Ian McKellen Official Website|date=1 July 1988|access-date=20 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233538/http://www.mckellen.com/writings/activism/8807section28.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Ian McKellen at Europride 2003 Parade.jpg|thumb|McKellen at [[Europride]] 2003 in [[Manchester]]]]

McKellen has continued to be very active in [[LGBT rights]] efforts. In a statement on his website regarding his activism, the actor commented:
{{blockquote|I have been reluctant to lobby on other issues I most care about—nuclear weapons (against), religion (atheist), capital punishment (anti), AIDS (fund-raiser) because I never want to be forever spouting, diluting the impact of addressing my most urgent concern: legal and social equality for gay people worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mckellen.com/activism/index.htm|title=Activism|publisher=Ian McKellen Official Website|access-date=13 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819152224/http://mckellen.com/activism/index.htm|archive-date=19 August 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

McKellen is a co-founder of [[Stonewall (UK)|Stonewall]], an LGBT rights [[Lobbying|lobby]] group in the United Kingdom, named after the [[Stonewall riots]].<ref name="albert" /> McKellen is also patron of [[LGBT History Month]],<ref name="history"/> [[Pride London]], Oxford Pride, GAY-GLOS, [[LGBT Foundation]]<ref name="high"/> and [[FFLAG]] where he appears in their video "Parents Talking".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fflag.org.uk|title=Home|author=Toby|work=fflag.org.uk|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809012041/https://www.fflag.org.uk/|archive-date=9 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1994, at the closing ceremony of the [[Gay Games]], he briefly took the stage to address the crowd, saying, "I'm Sir Ian McKellen, but you can call me Serena": This nickname, given to him by [[Stephen Fry]], had been circulating within the gay community since McKellen's knighthood was conferred.<ref name="advocate-2001"/> In 2002, he was the Celebrity Grand Marshal of the [[San Francisco Pride Parade]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mckellen.com/events/sfpride.htm|title=SF Pride 2002 {{!}} San Francisco {{!}} Ian McKellen|date=n.d.|website=www.mckellen.com|access-date=2 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320171431/http://www.mckellen.com/events/sfpride.htm|archive-date=20 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and he attended the Academy Awards with his then-boyfriend, New Zealander Nick Cuthell. In 2006, McKellen spoke at the pre-launch of the 2007 LGBT History Month in the UK, lending his support to the organisation and its founder, [[Sue Sanders]].<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/prelaunch.htm|title=LGBT History Month 2007 PreLaunch|publisher=LGBT History Month|date=20 November 2006|access-date=15 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304070143/http://www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/prelaunch.htm|archive-date=4 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, he became a patron of [[The Albert Kennedy Trust]], an organisation that provides support to young, homeless and troubled LGBT people.<ref name="albert">{{cite web|url=http://www.akt.org.uk/latest-news.htm|title=Ian McKellen becomes the Albert Kennedy Trust's new patron|publisher=The Albert Kennedy Trust|date=5 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211033940/http://www.akt.org.uk/latest-news.htm|archive-date=11 February 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2006, he became a patron of Oxford Pride, stating:<blockquote>I send my love to all members of Oxford Pride, their sponsors and supporters, of which I am proud to be one&nbsp;... Onlookers can be impressed by our confidence and determination to be ourselves and gay people, of whatever age, can be comforted by the occasion to take the first steps towards coming out and leaving the closet forever behind.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/4754409.stm |title=Sir Ian becomes gay pride patron |work=BBC News |date=10 May 2006 |access-date=5 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111101207/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/4754409.stm |archive-date=11 November 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

McKellen has taken his activism internationally, and caused a major stir in Singapore, where he was invited to do an interview on a morning show and shocked the interviewer by asking if they could recommend him a [[gay bar]]; the programme immediately ended.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hudson|first1=Chrys|title=Ian McKellen's gay comment causes a stir on Singaporean TV|url=http://www.gmax.co.za/feel07/10/22-ianmc.html|access-date=12 April 2017|work=GMax.co.za|date=22 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523050230/http://www.gmax.co.za/feel07/10/22-ianmc.html|archive-date=23 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In December 2008, he was named in ''[[Out (magazine)|Out]]''{{'s}} annual Out 100 list.<ref>[http://out.com/out100/nominees_8.asp "Ian McKellen."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225232142/http://out.com/out100/nominees_8.asp |date=25 February 2009 }} ''[[Out (magazine)|Out]]''. December 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2009.</ref>

In 2010, McKellen extended his support for [[Liverpool]]'s [[Homotopia (festival)|Homotopia]] festival in which a group of gay and lesbian [[Merseyside]] teenagers helped to produce an anti-[[homophobia]] campaign pack for schools and youth centres across the city.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/03/10/ian-mckellen-backs-liverpool-anti-homophobia-effort|title=Ian McKellen backs Liverpool anti-homophobia effort|work=Pink News|access-date=20 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617044529/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/03/10/ian-mckellen-backs-liverpool-anti-homophobia-effort/|archive-date=17 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2011, he called [[Sergey Sobyanin]], Moscow's mayor, a "coward" for refusing to allow gay parades in the city.<ref>{{cite web |title=McKellen Calls Moscow Mayor a Coward  |url=http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/05/26/McKellan_Calls_Moscow_Mayor_a_Coward |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528124620/http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/05/26/McKellan_Calls_Moscow_Mayor_a_Coward/ |archive-date=28 May 2011 |access-date=18 July 2011 |publisher=The Advocate}}</ref>

In 2014, he was named in the top 10 on the World Pride Power list.<ref>{{cite news|title=World Pride Power List 2014 |url=http://www.worldpridepowerlist.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605192516/http://www.worldpridepowerlist.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=5 June 2012 |work=The Guardian  }}</ref>

===Charity work===

In April 2010, along with actors [[Brian Cox (actor)|Brian Cox]] and [[Eleanor Bron]], McKellen appeared in a series of TV advertisements to support [[Age UK]], the charity recently formed from the merger of [[Age Concern]] and [[Help the Aged]]. All three actors gave their time free of charge.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/apr/19/age-uk|title=Hollywood actors star in Age UK ad|last=Sweney|first=Mark|date=19 April 2010|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=21 April 2010|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422230629/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/19/age-uk|archive-date=22 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

A cricket fan since childhood, McKellen umpired in March 2011 for a charity cricket match in New Zealand to support earthquake victims of the [[February 2011 Christchurch earthquake]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10710623 |title=Cricket: 'Fill the Basin' teams named |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=7 March 2011 |access-date=5 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107031831/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10710623 |archive-date=7 January 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=cricket-basin>{{cite web|title=Hollywood vs Wellywood fills The Basin|url=http://www.newzealand.com/travel/media/press-releases/2011/march-2011/tourism-news_hollywood-vs-wellywood-fills-basin_press-release.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203115058/http://www.newzealand.com/travel/media/press-releases/2011/march-2011/tourism-news_hollywood-vs-wellywood-fills-basin_press-release.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2014|work=New Zealand.com|publisher=Tourism New Zealand|access-date=22 January 2014|date=14 March 2011}}</ref>

McKellen is an honorary board member for the New York City- and Washington, D.C.–based organisation Only Make Believe.<ref>{{cite web |author=Panoptic Artifex – Christopher Baima & Greg Sweet |url=http://www.onlymakebelieve.org/who/honorary-board/ |title=Honorary Board |publisher=Only Make Believe |date=15 September 2013 |access-date=5 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231035245/http://onlymakebelieve.org/who/honorary-board/ |archive-date=31 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Only Make Believe creates and performs interactive plays in children's hospitals and care facilities. He was honoured by the organisation in 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/11/02/ian-mckellen-makes-magic-through-charity/ |title=Ian McKellen Makes Magic... Through Charity |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=2 November 2012 |access-date=5 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105051200/https://ew.com/article/2012/11/02/ian-mckellen-makes-magic-through-charity/ |archive-date=5 November 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and hosted their annual Make Believe on Broadway Gala in November 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ian-mckellen-undies-broadway_n_4225319 |title=Ian McKellen Strips To His Undies at the Only Make Believe Gala |website=HuffPost |date=6 November 2013 |access-date=5 January 2014 |first=Liat |last=Kornowski |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801174110/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ian-mckellen-undies-broadway_n_4225319 |url-status=live }}</ref>

McKellen also has a history of supporting individual theatres. While in New Zealand filming ''[[The Hobbit (film series)|The Hobbit]]'' in 2012, he announced a special New Zealand tour "Shakespeare, Tolkien and You!", with proceeds going to help save the [[Isaac Theatre Royal]], which suffered extensive damage during the [[2011 Christchurch earthquake]]. McKellen said he opted to help save the building as it was the last theatre he played in New Zealand (''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' in 2010) and the locals' love for it made it a place worth supporting.<ref>{{cite web|author=RadioLIVE|url=http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Sir-Ian-McKellen-on-fundraising-for-the-Isaac-Theatre-Royal/tabid/506/articleID/27273/Default.aspx|title=Sir Ian McKellen on fundraising for the Isaac Theatre Royal|publisher=MediaWorks|access-date=13 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316112849/http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Sir-Ian-McKellen-on-fundraising-for-the-Isaac-Theatre-Royal/tabid/506/articleID/27273/Default.aspx|archive-date=16 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2017, he performed a new one-man show for a week at [[Park Theatre (London)]], donating the proceeds to the theatre.<ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0307-1235| last = Cavendish| first = Dominic| title = Ian McKellen at Park Theatre review: the secret of his success is not lofty knightliness but spry mateyness| work = The Telegraph| access-date = 24 July 2017| date = 3 July 2017| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/ian-mckellen-park-theatre-review-secret-success-not-lofty-knightliness/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170718124656/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/ian-mckellen-park-theatre-review-secret-success-not-lofty-knightliness/| archive-date = 18 July 2017| url-status = live}}</ref>

Together with a number of his ''Lord of the Rings'' co-stars (plus writer Philippa Boyens and director Peter Jackson), on 1 June 2020 McKellen joined [[Josh Gad]]'s YouTube series ''Reunited Apart'' which reunites the cast of popular movies through video-conferencing, and promotes donations to non-profit charities.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/actor-josh-gad-reunites-stars-of-lord-of-the-rings-while-raising-money-for-kids-in-need/ "Actor Josh Gad reunites stars of "Lord of the Rings" while raising money for kids in need"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602191945/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/actor-josh-gad-reunites-stars-of-lord-of-the-rings-while-raising-money-for-kids-in-need/ |date=2 June 2020 }}. CBS. Retrieved 5 June 2020</ref>

===Other work===

A friend of [[Ian Charleson]] and an admirer of his work, McKellen contributed an entire chapter to ''For Ian Charleson: A Tribute''.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Ian |last1=McKellen |first2=Alan |last2=Bates |first3=Hugh |last3=Hudson |first4=David |last4=Puttnam |first5=Di |last5=Trevis |first6=Elizabeth |last6=Charleson |first7=David |last7=Rintoul |first8=Ruby |last8=Wax |first9=Sharman |last9=Macdonald |first10=Richard |last10=Warwick |first11=Johanna |last11=Kirby |first12=Peter |last12=Eyre |first13=John |last13=Whitworth |first14=Sean |last14=Mathias |first15=Catronia |last15=Craig |first16=Suzanne |last16=Bertish |first17=Kenneth |last17=Charleson |first18=Richard |last18=Eyre |display-authors=1 |date=1990 |title=For Ian Charleson: A Tribute |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780094702509/page/125 |publisher=London: Constable and Company |pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780094702509/page/125 125–130] |isbn=978-0094702509 }}</ref> A recording of McKellen's voice is heard before performances at the [[Royal Festival Hall]], reminding patrons to ensure their mobile phones and watch alarms are switched off and to keep coughing to a minimum.<ref>{{cite news | title = How to deal with the very worst concert nuisances | last = White | first = Michael | date = 20 June 2011 | work = The Daily Telegraph | url = http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/michaelwhite/100054207/how-to-deal-with-the-very-worst-concert-nuisances/ | access-date = 24 June 2011 | location = London | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110628144921/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/michaelwhite/100054207/how-to-deal-with-the-very-worst-concert-nuisances/ | archive-date = 28 June 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2010/Jul-Dec10/traviata0807.htm | title = Verdi, La traviata: Soloists, chorus and orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Conductor: Yves Abel. Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 8.7.2010 | date = July 2010 | first = Jim | last = Pritchard | publisher = MusicWeb International | access-date = 24 June 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101219224348/http://musicweb-international.com/SandH/2010/Jul-Dec10/traviata0807.htm | archive-date = 19 December 2010 | url-status = live }}</ref> He took part in the [[2012 Summer Paralympics opening ceremony]] in London as [[Prospero]] from Shakespeare's ''[[The Tempest]]''.<ref name=paralympics-opening />

==Acting credits==

{{main|Ian McKellen on screen and stage}}

== Accolades and honours ==

{{main|List of awards and nominations received by Ian McKellen}}

[[File:The hands of Sir Ian McKellen.jpg|thumb|The hands of McKellen on a 1999 ''[[Gods and Monsters (film)|Gods and Monsters]]'' plaque in London's [[Leicester Square]] ]]

McKellen has received two [[Academy Award]] nominations for his performances in ''[[Gods and Monsters (film)|Gods and Monsters]]'' (1999), and ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' (2001).<ref name="Oscars1998">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/71st-winners.html|title=The 71st Academy Awards (1999) Nominees and Winners|access-date=27 August 2013|publisher=oscars.org and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|location=Beverly Hills}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=74th Academy Awards (2002) Nominees and Winners|url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/74th-winners.html|publisher=Oscars|access-date=28 March 2014}}</ref> He has received five [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nominations.<ref name="televisionacademy" /> McKellen has received two [[Tony Award]] nominations, winning for [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play|Best Actor in a Play]] for his performance in ''[[Amadeus (play)|Amadeus]]'' in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1981/category/any/show/any/|title= The 1981 Tony Award Nominations|website= [[American Theatre Wing]]|accessdate= July 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1984/category/any/show/any/|title= The 1984 Tony Award Nominations|website= [[American Theatre Wing]]|accessdate= July 30, 2024}}</ref> He has received 12 [[Laurence Olivier Awards|Olivier Award]] nominations, winning six awards for his performances in ''[[Pillars of the Community]]'' (1977), ''[[The Alchemist (play)|The Alchemist]]'' (1978), ''[[Bent (play)|Bent]]'' (1979), ''[[Wild Honey (play)|Wild Honey]]'' (1984), ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'' (1991), and ''[[Ian McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU]]'' (2020).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-1977/|title= Olivier Award Winners 1977|website= officiallondontheatre|accessdate= July 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-1978/|title= Olivier Award Winners 1978|website= officiallondontheatre|accessdate= July 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-1979/|title= Olivier Award Winners 1979|website= officiallondontheatre|accessdate= July 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-1984/|title= Olivier Award Winners 1984|website= officiallondontheatre|accessdate= July 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-1991/|title= Olivier Award Winners 1991|website= officiallondontheatre|accessdate= July 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-2020/|title= Olivier Award Winners 2020|website= officiallondontheatre|accessdate= July 30, 2024}}</ref>

He has received honorary awards including [[Pride International Film Festival]]'s Lifetime Achievement & Distinction Award in 2004 and the Olivier Awards' [[Society of London Theatre Special Award|Society Special Award]] in 2006. He received [[Evening Standard Awards#The Special Award (given as The Lebedev Special Award in 2009)|The Lebedev Special Award]] in the 2009 [[Evening Standard Theatre Awards|''Evening Standard'' Theatre Awards]]. The following year he received the [[Empire Awards]]' [[Empire Icon Award]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.empireonline.com/awards2010/winners/empire-icon-award/ |title=Empire Icon Award |work=[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]] |year=2010 |access-date=20 September 2011 |archive-date=21 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021091937/http://www.empireonline.com/awards2010/winners/empire-icon-award/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017 he received the Honorary Award from the [[Istanbul International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |title=İKSV Film {{!}} Arşiv |url=http://film.iksv.org/tr/arsiv/haberarsivi/p/1/1489 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407234031/http://film.iksv.org/tr/arsiv/haberarsivi/p/1/1489 |archive-date=2017-04-07 |website=Film.iksv.org |language=tr}}</ref> McKellen was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the [[British Shakespeare Association]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fellows |url=https://www.britishshakespeare.ws/about/fellows/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=[[British Shakespeare Association]] |quote=The BSA is delighted to award Sir Ian an Honorary Fellowship of 2020}}</ref>

McKellen was appointed a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[1979 Birthday Honours]],<ref name="CBE">{{London Gazette|issue=47888|page=4 |supp=y|date=26 June 1979}}</ref> then [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[1991 New Year Honours]] for services to the performing arts,<ref name="Knight Bachelor">{{London Gazette|issue=52382|page=2 |supp=y|date=28 December 1990}}</ref> and made a [[Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour]] (CH) in the [[2008 New Year Honours]] for services to drama and to equality.<ref name="CH">{{London Gazette|issue=58557|page=4 |supp=y|date=29 December 2007}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[List of British actors]]
* [[List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Great Britain]]
* [[List of actors with Academy Award nominations]]
* [[List of actors with two or more Academy Award nominations in acting categories]]
* [[List of LGBTQ Academy Award winners and nominees]]
* [[List of Golden Globe winners]]
* [[List of atheists in film, radio, television and theater|List of atheists in film, radio, television and theatre]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

==Sources==

* {{cite book|last=Barratt|first=Mark|year=2006|title=Ian McKellen: An Unofficial Biography|location=London|publisher=Virgin Books|isbn=978-0-7535-1074-2}}

==External links==

{{commons}}

{{wikiquote}}

* The [https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/c1d51749-5f69-34b7-88ef-28dd22acf599 papers of Sir Ian McKellen, actor] are held by the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] Theatre and Performance Department.
* {{AFI person | 72256-Ian-McKellen }}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IMDb name|5212}}
* {{TCMDb name}}
* {{Screenonline name|492416}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130606100646/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/m/7111/Ian%2BMurray.aspx Biography of Sir Ian McKellen, CH, CBE], Debrett's
* [https://mckellen.com/ Official website]

{{Navboxes
|title = [[Ian McKellen, roles and awards|Awards for Ian McKellen]]
|list =
{{Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production}}
{{BIFA Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor}}
{{Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor}}
{{Donostia Award}}
{{DramaDesk One-Person Show 1984–2000}}
{{DramaDesk PlayOutstandingActor 1975-2000}}
{{Distinguished Performance Award}}
{{European Film Award for Best Actor}}
{{Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor}}
{{GoldenGlobeSupportingActorTV 1990-2009}}
{{Honorary Golden Bear}}
{{IndependentSpiritBestMaleLead 1985–1999}}
{{OlivierAward PlayActor 1985–2000}}
{{OlivierAward ComedyPerformance}}
{{London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Actor}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor}}
{{RTS Programme Award for Best Performance}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward MaleSupportMotionPicture 2001-2020}}
{{Silver Shell for Best Actor}}
{{OlivierAward SpecialAward}}
{{TonyAward PlayLeadActor 1976-2000}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Actor}}
}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Lancashire|North West England|LGBTQ|Theatre|Film|Television|Radio}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McKellen, Ian}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2012 Summer Olympics cultural ambassadors]]
[[Category:20th-century English LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Actors awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Alumni of St Catharine's College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Annie Award winners]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
[[Category:Back Stage West Garland Award recipients]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (television) winners]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Critics' Circle Theatre Award winners]]
[[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]]
[[Category:English atheists]]
[[Category:English gay actors]]
[[Category:English LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male radio actors]]
[[Category:English male Shakespearean actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male video game actors]]
[[Category:English male voice actors]]
[[Category:English people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:English people of Ulster-Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Best Actor European Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Fellows of St Catherine's College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Former Protestants]]
[[Category:GLAAD Media Awards winners]]
[[Category:Honorary Golden Bear recipients]]
[[Category:Best Male Lead Independent Spirit Award winners]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Laurence Olivier Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Bolton]]
[[Category:Male actors from Burnley]]
[[Category:Male actors from Wigan]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:People educated at Bolton School]]
[[Category:Royal Shakespeare Company members]]
[[Category:Shorty Award winners]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]