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Ian Mckellen was born on May 25th of 1939, in the general hospital of Burnley, Lancashire, England. -
At age 3, he contracts and recovers from diphtheria, soon starting nursery school. -
Enrolls at Wigan Grammar School, later transferring to Bolton School for Boys, where his father serves as Engineer and Surveyor. -
McKellen acts in school productions, performing his first Shakespeare role as Malvolio at the age of 13. -
Attends St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he studies English and participates in 21 undergraduate plays. He performs with the Marlowe Society alongside future greats like Derek Jacobi and Trevor Nunn. -
Graduates with a degree in English and begins his professional acting career, making his debut at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry as Roper in A Man for All Seasons. -
McKellen joins the prestigious National Theatre Company at the Old Vic in London, working alongside Laurence Olivier. -
Makes his West End debut in A Scent of Flowers, receiving recognition for his command of classical texts, especially Shakespeare. -
Ian McKellen starred in August Strindberg's The Dance of Death at the Oxford Playhouse. His intense performance garnered critical acclaim and showcased his dramatic talents. -
McKellen gives a defining performance as Edward II in a controversial production that features British television's first televised gay kiss, further solidifying his reputation as a courageous and versatile actor -
Elected to the Council of British Actors' Equity as a representative for actors' rights. -
Joins the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), starring in numerous productions, including Richard II and Macbeth, directed by Trevor Nunn. -
Ian McKellen portrayed Macbeth in a production directed by Trevor Nunn. His performance was celebrated for its depth and complexity, further establishing his reputation in classical theater. -
Ian McKellen was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to acting, marking a significant recognition of his impact on the theater. -
McKellen gained international fame for his performance in the play "Amadeus" in 1981, winning a Tony Award for Best Actor. -
He received Laurence Olivier Awards for his work in the London staging of such plays as Bent (1979), Wild Honey (1984), and Richard III (1991). -
He publicly came out as a gay man during a BBC Radio 3 discussion about the Thatcher government's infamous "Section 28" of the Local Government Act, making illegal the public "promotion of homosexuality." -
Knighthood of the British Empire (KBE) for services to the performing arts in the Queen's New Year Honors. He was one of the first few openly-gay knights -
Earned his first of two Oscar nominations in 1999 for his role in Gods and Monsters -
Ian McKellen starred as Gandalf in Peter Jackson's critically acclaimed film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. His portrayal of the wise wizard received widespread praise and solidified his status as a global cinematic icon
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The actor, remains active in theater and on social media and recently filmed a project called Hamlet Within.