Sir Ian Murray McKellen CH CBE (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor.
His career spans genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre
to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is the recipient of six
Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen
Actors Guild Award, a BIF Award, two Saturn Awards, four Drama Desk
Awards, and two Critics' Choice Awards. He has also received
nominations for two Academy Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and
four BAFTAs. He achieved worldwide fame for his film roles, including
the titular King in Richard III (1995), James Whale in Gods and
Monsters (1998), Magneto in the X-Men films, and Gandalf in The Lord
of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.The BBC states that his
"performances have guaranteed him a place in the canon of English
stage and film actors". A recipient of every major theatrical award in
the UK, McKellen is regarded as a British cultural icon. He started
his professional career in 1961 at the Belgrade Theatre as a member of
their highly regarded repertory company. In 1965, McKellen made his
first West End appearance. In 1969, he was invited to join the
Prospect Theatre Company to play the lead parts in Shakespeare's
Richard II and Marlowe's Edward II, and he firmly established himself
as one of the country's foremost classical actors. In the 1970s,
McKellen became a stalwart of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the
National Theatre of Great Britain.McKellen was knighted in the 1991
New Year Honours for services to the performing arts, and made a
Companion of Honour for services to drama and to equality in the 2008
New Year Honours. He has been openly gay since 1988, and continues to
be a champion for LGBT social movements worldwide. He was awarded
Freedom of the City of London in October 2014.
His career spans genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre
to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is the recipient of six
Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen
Actors Guild Award, a BIF Award, two Saturn Awards, four Drama Desk
Awards, and two Critics' Choice Awards. He has also received
nominations for two Academy Awards, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and
four BAFTAs. He achieved worldwide fame for his film roles, including
the titular King in Richard III (1995), James Whale in Gods and
Monsters (1998), Magneto in the X-Men films, and Gandalf in The Lord
of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.The BBC states that his
"performances have guaranteed him a place in the canon of English
stage and film actors". A recipient of every major theatrical award in
the UK, McKellen is regarded as a British cultural icon. He started
his professional career in 1961 at the Belgrade Theatre as a member of
their highly regarded repertory company. In 1965, McKellen made his
first West End appearance. In 1969, he was invited to join the
Prospect Theatre Company to play the lead parts in Shakespeare's
Richard II and Marlowe's Edward II, and he firmly established himself
as one of the country's foremost classical actors. In the 1970s,
McKellen became a stalwart of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the
National Theatre of Great Britain.McKellen was knighted in the 1991
New Year Honours for services to the performing arts, and made a
Companion of Honour for services to drama and to equality in the 2008
New Year Honours. He has been openly gay since 1988, and continues to
be a champion for LGBT social movements worldwide. He was awarded
Freedom of the City of London in October 2014.
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