Ian McKellen will always be known as Gandalf.

Ian McKellen will always be Gandalf.

Sir Ian McKellen, a prestigious British actor since 1991, has become eternal in the hearts of many through his iconic portrayal of the wizard Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings." Now 85 years old, he continues to deliver outstanding performances on theater stages. He can be found acting in London's West End near his birthday anniversary.

The character of Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films is arguably his most popular role. However, Sir Ian prefers being on stage with theatrical performances to being in front of the camera. His passion continues even in his later years.

"There's nothing more natural than acting," remarked McKellen some years ago. "The whole world is a stage, and all the men and women are just players. That's from Shakespeare, and it rings true."

Shakespearean Influences

Shakespearean plays hold a special place in Sir Ian's life, appearing like a recurring theme through his career. His acting journey began as a kid when he appeared in a school production of "Twelfth Night," taking on the role of Malvolio at age twelve. Five years later, he played Montano in "Othello."

McKellen on a TV show in February - shortly before his 85th birthday.

As a student at St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, he frequently collaborated under John Barton's direction, a significant figure at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). Barton's invitation led McKellen to join the RSC in 1974. He became an ensemble member for four years and continued to grace the RSC stages with his presence thereafter. Since then, he has been part of more than 20 significant Shakespeare productions, spreading his art all over Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia.

His stage productions "Acting Shakespeare" and TV shows "The Shakespeare Show" and "Playing Shakespeare" further showcased his talent for the bard's work.

An Eternal Warrior for LGBT Rights

McKellen's stirring speeches and unforgettable performances often evoked awe and admiration. Critics would overlook controversies inherent in some of his acting choices as he received various awards for his incredible talent.

In "King Lear" in 2007, he dropped his pants on stage, stunning the audience. It wasn't the first time McKellen revealed the physical side of his performance; back in 1974, he once performed entirely naked as Edgar. His fearlessness on stage wasn't limited to acting - he also stood up for LGBT rights.

The Conservative government, led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, had introduced Clause 28 to discourage the promotion of homosexuality, which McKellen opposed. Coming out publicly on a radio show was how he first addressed his homosexuality in 1988. He was unbothered that he wasn't the first choice for Stonewall, an influential British LGBT organization he co-founded. His advocacy led to the eventual repeal of the discriminatory clause in 2003 by the Labor government with Prime Minister Tony Blair at the helm.

A Hollywood Icon

In the 1980s, McKellen began to gain attention for his film and TV appearances. He starred in a Pet Shop Boys music video, playing a love-struck vampire in "Heart," in 1988. He received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his work in "Gods And Monsters" in 1999. The entertainment industry was starting to take notice.

In the 80s, McKellen (here in a picture from 1982) made his homosexuality public.

2000 marked a significant turning point in his career, when, already past 60, he took on the role of Magneto in the star-studded superhero adaptation "X-Men." He and his dear friend and fellow thespian Patrick Stewart locked horns in the film, with the latter playing Professor Xavier. This was just the beginning of their collaboration, as several sequels followed.

McKellen achieved his most iconic performance in "The Lord of the Rings" as the wise Gandalf. He was not the original choice for the role, but that didn't matter to him; after Tony Hopkins and Sean Connery declined, McKellen took over, intacting regret from those who passed.

For "The Hobbit" trilogy, he proudly revisited the role of the wizard that immortalized him on celluloid.

One prop from the filming of 'The Hobbit' belongs to McKellen now - it's Gandalf's magic wand, proudly displayed behind the bar of a traditional East London pub called "The Grapes". McKellen, having been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, is both the co-owner of this pub and a resident living just down the road. He's occasionally spotted hanging out there and is known to participate in the pub quiz occasionally.

His impressive career has seen him star in more than 100 film and TV roles, yet none have garnered as much attention as his role as Gandalf. In 2019, McKellen stole the show as Gus, the theater cat, in the Hollywood flop "Cats". This big-budget musical, featuring many famous faces, made significantly less money than it cost.

Despite the negative reception to "Cats", McKellen remarked, "I really enjoyed it." He was particularly thrilled to work in front of the camera with his girlfriend and former RSC comrade Judi Dench. What's more, he got to sing in the movie, which was an exciting new experience for the seasoned actor. "I sing a lot at home," he shared, "but not in public."

With fewer film roles coming his way these days, McKellen has taken to the stage more often. He tours extensively throughout the UK and, to mark his 80th birthday five years ago, performed 80 solo shows in different theaters. During these performances, he read excerpts from Shakespeare's works and 'The Lord of the Rings' while engaging the audience directly through improvisation.

For McKellen's 85th birthday celebrations, audiences can witness his talent in the London production of "Player Kings". This nearly three-and-a-half-hour modern adaptation sees him playing Falstaff in both parts of "Henry IV", which, of course, is penned by none other than William Shakespeare.