Ian McKellen was born May 25, 1939, in the small town of Burnley, England. He developed a love for the theatre at a young age and followed his family to the coal mining community of Wigan just before World War II.While many of his early screen appearances were filmed versions of classic works by Shakespeare and Dickens, McKellen eventually found his way into contemporary feature films, including a notable appearance as John Profumo in 1989's Scandal. His role as legendary film director James Whale in Gods and Monsters (1998) earned him international acclaim and his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
McKellen secured his iconic status among science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts with roles as Magneto in X-Men (2000) and X2: X-Men United (2003) and as the wizard Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which garnered him another Oscar nod in 2002. His work in TV, most recently his role as King Lear, has also gained him Emmy recognition.
AddGods and MonstersAs his life draws to a close, film director James Whale (Ian McKellen, in an Academy Award-nominated role) -- the openly gay genius behind The Bride of Frankenstein and The Invisible Man -- befriends a gardener (Brendan Fraser), and both men learn from their unexpected but platonic bond. Bill... Read More
AddRichard IIIThis visually inventive adaptation of Shakespeare's classic drama is set in 1930s England after a civil war has torn the country apart and left the people under fascist rule. Richard (Ian McKellen) plots against his brother, Edward (John Wood), in his quest to usurp the throne. Using seduction and... Read More
AddKing LearIn this 2008 Royal Shakespeare Company production of the bard's enduring tragedy, Ian McKellen (in an Emmy-nominated role) stars as the world-weary title character, a doting father who abdicates the throne and divides his empire among his three daughters (Frances Barber, Monica Dolan and Romola... Read More
AddCirque du Soleil: Journey of Man: IMAXInternationally acclaimed performing-arts troupe Cirque du Soleil leads an awe-inspiring tour of the human experience. A boy learns important lessons through life phases represented by synchronized swimmers, a pair of clowns, a spinning speedster, human sculptures and aerial acrobats. The film was... Read More
AddMacbethMacbeth (Ian McKellen) is a daring member of the Scottish military who receives a revelation from three menacing sorceresses that he will someday become the King of Scotland. This information gives him a thirst for power, and with prompting from his wife, Lady Macbeth (Dame Judi Dench), he kills the... Read More
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