Ian McKellen - Gays, Life Achievements and Childhood
Ian McKellen's Personal Details
Ian Mckellen is a famous English actor
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | May 25, 1939 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Gays, Cambridge University, Film & Theater Personalities, Actors, Theater Personalities |
| Spouses | Brian Taylor (1964–1972), Sean Mathias (1978–1988) |
| Known as | Sir Ian Murray McKellen |
| Universities |
|
| Notable Alumnis |
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| Birth Place | Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK |
| Height | 180 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Denis Murray McKellen |
| Mother | Margery Lois (née Sutcliffe) |
| Net Worth | $55 million as of Dec 28,2016 |
| Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Born in | Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK |
| Famous as | British Actor |
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Ian McKellen's photo
Who is Ian McKellen?
McKellen is a British citizen, an acclaimed thespian of the British stage, and a respected film actor. He is well-known for his roles as Magneto in the X-Men films and as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings. His work spans genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre, to popular fantasy and science fiction. McKellen was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire, was knighted for services to the performing arts, and was made a Companion of Honour for services to drama and to equality. He made his sexual orientation known to his fellow actors early in his stage career, but he came out to the general public in a programme on BBC Radio 3. He is the co-founder of Stonewall, a LGBT rights lobby group in the United Kingdom, named after the Stonewall riots. He acted in the first of several X-Men movies as the villain Magneto and appeared in the film adaptation of the best-selling book ‘The Da Vinci Code.’ For his work in the film series, he received the Screen Actors Guild Award for best supporting actor, and an Academy Award nomination.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born in a suburb of Lancashire to Denis Murray, a civil engineer and Margery Lois. He had an older sister, Jean, five years older to him.
Just before the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, his family moved to Wigan. They lived there through the war and his early childhood, and then they moved to Bolton.
He attended the nursery school attached to the Disconson Street Wesleyan Primary School. By eleven, he was at the Wigan Grammar School for Boys, and, a year later, was transferred to Bolton School.
McKellen's acting career started at Bolton Little Theatre, of which he is now the Patron. His parents encouraged his interest in theatre and took him to watch Peter Pan at the Opera House.
When he was 18 years old, he won a scholarship to St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he studied English literature. There, he was actively involved with the in-house Theatre and also acted in plays.
Career
His first professional appearance came in 1961 when he appeared as ‘Roper’ in ‘A Man for All Seasons’ at the Nottingham Playhouse. Earlier, an audio recording of the Marlowe Society's Cymbeline had gone on commercial sale.
In 1964, he made his first West end appearance in ‘A Scent of Flowers’ in the regional repertory theatres. This play was considered notably successful by the reviewers.
In 1965 he was a member of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company at Old Vic. This membership led to roles at the Chichester Festival, which includes productions from classics to contemporary writing and musicals.
From the1970s to the next two decades, he became a well-known figure in British theatre, performing at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. He played leading roles in several popular plays.
In 1993, he played a South African tycoon in ‘Six Degrees of Separation’. The same year, his role in the television movie ‘And the Band Played On’, about AIDS, got him an Emmy nomination.
The 1998 film ‘Gods and Monsters’, with Mckellen in the lead role, was based on the homosexuality of the film director James Whale. The storyline was close to his heart.
He played he super villain of comic books ‘Magneto’ in the film ‘X-Men’ and its sequels ‘X2:X-Men United’, and ‘X-Men: The last Stand’. This was directed by Bryan singer in 2000.
Mckellen was cast as ‘Wizard Gandalf’ in Peter Jackson’s three series movie ‘The Lord of the Rings’ from 2001. It was an adaptation of a novel by J Tolkien with the same name.
His lifelong ambition was to act in a soap opera. He got the opportunity with Granada Television’s ‘Coronation Street’ in 2005, playing the role of Mel Hutchwright.
In 2009, he appeared in a very popular revival of ‘Waiting for Godot’ at London's Haymarket Theatre. This was directed by Sean Mathias, and he played a role opposite Patrick Stewart.
His Britcom ‘Vicious’ is having a rerun in the US and the UK and has been booked for another year.
Major Works
His later films reached an even broader audience. In 2000, he starred in the first of several X-Men movies, as the villain Magneto.
He was cast as the wizard Gandalf in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The best supporting actor award was bestowed upon him by Screen Actors Guild for this role and he also won an Academy Award nomination.
In August 2012, McKellen took part in the opening ceremony of the London Paralympics. He portrayed the role of Prospero from ‘The Tempest’.
Awards & Achievements
In 1991, McKellen received the knighthood from the Queen for his services to the performing arts, and he succeeded Stephen Sondheim as Professor of Contemporary Theatre at Oxford University.
He was honoured with Six Olivier Awards. His part as Max in Sherman's enthralling play ‘Bent’ garnered for him the ‘Actor of the year’ award for this category.
In 1996, he received the Golden Globe award for his role in ‘Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny’, as Nicholas II. He was awarded for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.
Personal Life & Legacy
He is a gay and his first serious partner was Brian Taylor, a history teacher from Bolton. They lived in London and their relationship started in 1964 and lasted eight years.
In 1978, he met his second partner, Sean Mathias, at the Edinburgh festival. This turbulent relationship lasted for ten years, when they decided to separate due to the conflict in their acting careers.
McKellen 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.
Trivia
This British actor is a Cricket fan since childhood, playing for the second eleven in his youth. In 2011, he umpired a charity match in New Zealand.
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Ian McKellen's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Golden Globe Awards | ||
| 1997 | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Rasputin (1996) |
Ian McKellen biography timelines
- // 25th May 1939He was born in a suburb of Lancashire to Denis Murray, a civil engineer and Margery Lois. He had an older sister, Jean, five years older to him.
- // Sep 1939Just before the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, his family moved to Wigan. They lived there through the war and his early childhood, and then they moved to Bolton.
- // 1961His first professional appearance came in 1961 when he appeared as ‘Roper’ in ‘A Man for All Seasons’ at the Nottingham Playhouse. Earlier, an audio recording of the Marlowe Society's Cymbeline had gone on commercial sale.
- // 1964In 1964, he made his first West end appearance in ‘A Scent of Flowers’ in the regional repertory theatres. This play was considered notably successful by the reviewers.
- // 1964 To 1972He is a gay and his first serious partner was Brian Taylor, a history teacher from Bolton. They lived in London and their relationship started in 1964 and lasted eight years.
- // 1965In 1965 he was a member of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company at Old Vic. This membership led to roles at the Chichester Festival, which includes productions from classics to contemporary writing and musicals.
- // 1970From the1970s to the next two decades, he became a well-known figure in British theatre, performing at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. He played leading roles in several popular plays.
- // 1978 To 1988In 1978, he met his second partner, Sean Mathias, at the Edinburgh festival. This turbulent relationship lasted for ten years, when they decided to separate due to the conflict in their acting careers.
- // 1991In 1991, McKellen received the knighthood from the Queen for his services to the performing arts, and he succeeded Stephen Sondheim as Professor of Contemporary Theatre at Oxford University.
- // 1993In 1993, he played a South African tycoon in ‘Six Degrees of Separation’. The same year, his role in the television movie ‘And the Band Played On’, about AIDS, got him an Emmy nomination.
- // 1996In 1996, he received the Golden Globe award for his role in ‘Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny’, as Nicholas II. He was awarded for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.
- // 1998The 1998 film ‘Gods and Monsters’, with Mckellen in the lead role, was based on the homosexuality of the film director James Whale. The storyline was close to his heart.
- // 2000He played he super villain of comic books ‘Magneto’ in the film ‘X-Men’ and its sequels ‘X2:X-Men United’, and ‘X-Men: The last Stand’. This was directed by Bryan singer in 2000.
- // 2000His later films reached an even broader audience. In 2000, he starred in the first of several X-Men movies, as the villain Magneto.
- // 2001Mckellen was cast as ‘Wizard Gandalf’ in Peter Jackson’s three series movie ‘The Lord of the Rings’ from 2001. It was an adaptation of a novel by J Tolkien with the same name.
- // 2005His lifelong ambition was to act in a soap opera. He got the opportunity with Granada Television’s ‘Coronation Street’ in 2005, playing the role of Mel Hutchwright.
- // 2009In 2009, he appeared in a very popular revival of ‘Waiting for Godot’ at London's Haymarket Theatre. This was directed by Sean Mathias, and he played a role opposite Patrick Stewart.
- // 2011This British actor is a Cricket fan since childhood, playing for the second eleven in his youth. In 2011, he umpired a charity match in New Zealand.
- // 2012In August 2012, McKellen took part in the opening ceremony of the London Paralympics. He portrayed the role of Prospero from ‘The Tempest’.
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Ian McKellen's FAQ
What is Ian McKellen birthday?
Ian McKellen was born at 1939-05-25
Where is Ian McKellen's birth place?
Ian McKellen was born in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK
What is Ian McKellen nationalities?
Ian McKellen's nationalities is British
Who is Ian McKellen spouses?
Ian McKellen's spouses is Brian Taylor (1964–1972), Sean Mathias (1978–1988)
What was Ian McKellen universities?
Ian McKellen studied at Cambridge University, St Catharine's College, Cambridge, Cambridge University, Bolton School, University of Cambridge
What was Ian McKellen notable alumnis?
Ian McKellen's notable alumnis is Cambridge University
How tall is Ian McKellen?
Ian McKellen's height is 180
Who is Ian McKellen's father?
Ian McKellen's father is Denis Murray McKellen
Who is Ian McKellen's mother?
Ian McKellen's mother is Margery Lois (née Sutcliffe)
What is Ian McKellen's sun sign?
Ian McKellen is Gemini
How famous is Ian McKellen?
Ian McKellen is famouse as British Actor