Ian McKellen

Lore & Background

McKellen was born in Burnley, Lancashire, and grew up in Wigan and Bolton. He attended Bolton School and won a scholarship to the University of Cambridge in 1958, studying English literature at St Catharine's College. His acting career began at the Belgrade Theatre in 1961, and he made his West End debut in 1965. He came out as gay in 1988 and has since championed LGBT social movements worldwide. He is a cofounder of Stonewall, an LGBT rights lobby group in the United Kingdom.

Reader's Guide

McKellen's career spans over six decades, with significant contributions to British theatre through the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. He earned five Olivier Awards for stage roles and a Tony Award for his performance in Amadeus. His film roles brought worldwide fame, particularly as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, and as Magneto in the X-Men films. He has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, six Laurence Olivier Awards, and a Golden Globe Award, with nominations for two Academy Awards, five BAFTAs, and five Emmy Awards. His advocacy for LGBT rights, including cofounding Stonewall, has made him a prominent figure in social movements. He was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in October 2014.

Did You Know?

• McKellen made his stage debut in 1961 at the Belgrade Theatre as a member of its repertory company.
• He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.
• He came out as gay in 1988 and is a cofounder of Stonewall, an LGBT rights lobby group.
• He played Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003) and The Hobbit (2012–2014) trilogies.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Ian McKellen Tours with Royal Shakespeare". 2007." — Ian McKellen "Heterosexuality is far too interesting a phenomenon to be ignored." — Ian McKellen "Quoted in Nigel M. Smith (21 November 2015). "Ian McKellen: 'X-Men was a gay man’s delight, because it was full of the most amazing divas'". The Guardian." — Ian McKellen "Well, nobody looks to Hollywood for social commentary, do they? They only recently discovered that there were black people in the world." — Ian McKellen