Ian McKellen on screen and stage

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

McKellen in 2019

Ian McKellen is an English stage and screen actor. He is the recipient of seven Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Globe Award, two Academy Award nominations, four BAFTA nominations and five Emmy Award nominations. McKellen's work spans genres ranging from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. His notable film roles include Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Magneto in the X-Men films, Sir Leigh Teabing in The Da Vinci Code (2006), Sherlock Holmes in Mr. Holmes (2015) and Cogsworth in the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast (2017).

Theatre[]

The hands of McKellen on a 1999 Gods and Monsters plaque in London's Leicester Square.
Year Title Role Venue
1964 A Scent of Flowers Godrey Duke of York's Theatre
1965 Much Ado About Nothing Claudio National Theatre
Old Vic
Armstrong's Last Goodnight Protestant Evangelist National Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre
Trelawny of the 'Wells' Capt. de Foenix
1966 The Man of Destiny
O'Flaherty V.C.
Corporal Napoleon
Private O'Flaherty
Mermaid Theatre
A Lily in Little India Alvin Hanker Hampstead Theatre
Their Very Own and Golden City Andrew Cobham Mermaid Theatre
1967 The Promise Leonidik Fortune Theatre
Henry Miller's Theatre
1968 The White Liars / Black Comedy Tom / Harold Gorringe Lyric Theatre
1968–70 Richard II Richard II UK tour
1969 The Bacchae Pentheus Liverpool Playhouse
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Director Also director
Liverpool Playhouse
Three Months Gone N/A Director
Liverpool Playhouse
1969–70 Edward II Edward II UK and European tours
1970 Billy's Last Stand Darkly Royal Court Theatre
The Recruiting Officer Captain Plume UK tour
Chips with Everything Corporal Hill
1971 Hamlet Prince Hamlet UK and European tours
The Swan Song Svetlovidov Crucible Theatre
1972 The Real Inspector Hound N/A Director
Phoenix Theatre
The Erpingham Camp N/A Director
Watford Palace Theatre
Ruling the Roost
Tis Pity She's a Whore
The Three Arrows
Page-boy
Giovanni
Prince Yoremitsu
UK tour
1973 A Private Matter N/A Director
Vaudeville Theatre
1973–74 The Way of the World
The Wood Demon
King Lear
Lady Wishfort's Footman
Kruschov
Edgar
UK tour
Brooklyn Academy of Music
1974 Tis Pity She's a Whore Giovanni New Wimbledon Theatre
Dr Faustus Dr. Faustus Edinburgh Festival
Aldwych Theatre
The Marquis of Keith The Marquis of Keith Aldwych Theatre
1975 King John King John
The Clandestine Marriage N/A Director
Savoy Theatre
Ashes Colin Young Vic
Too True to Be Good Aubrey "Popsy" Bagot Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
Globe Theatre
1976–77 Romeo and Juliet Romeo Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
Theatre Royal, Newcastle
1976 The Winter's Tale King Leontes Royal Shakespeare Theatre
1976–78 Macbeth Macbeth Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Young Vic
Donmar Warehouse
1977–78 The Alchemist Face Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
1977 Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Alexander Barbican Arts Centre
Pillars of the Community Karsten Bernick Aldwych Theatre
The Days of the Commune Langevin
1978 A Miserable and Lonely Death Kentridge
1978–79 Twelfth Night / Three Sisters Sir Toby Belch / Andrei Also producer
UK tour
1979 Bent Max Royal Court Theatre
Criterion Theatre
1980–90 Acting Shakespeare Himself World tour
1980–81 Amadeus Salieri Broadhurst Theatre
1982 Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Alexander Barbican Arts Centre
1983 Short List Terry Hampstead Theatre
Cowardice Boy Ambassadors Theatre
1984 Venice Preserv'd Pierre Royal National Theatre
Wild Honey Michael Platonov
Coriolanus Gaius Marcius Coriolanus
1985 The Duchess of Malfi Bosola
The Real Inspector Hound / The Critic Inspector Hound / Mr. Puff
The Cherry Orchard Yermolai Lopakhin
1986–87 Wild Honey Michael Platonov August Wilson Theatre
1988–89 Henceforward... Jerome Vaudeville Theatre
1989 Othello Iago Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Young Vic
1990–92 Richard III Richard III World tour
1992 Uncle Vanya Uncle Vanya Royal National Theatre
1993–97 A Knight Out Himself UK & US tours
1997-98 An Enemy of the People Dr. Tomas Stockmann Royal National Theatre
Ahmanson Theatre
1997 Peter Pan Mr. Darling/Captain Hook Royal National Theatre
1998 Present Laughter Garry Essendine West Yorkshire Playhouse
2001–2004 Dance of Death Edgar Broadhurst Theatre
Lyric Theatre
Sydney Arts Festival
2004, 05 Aladdin Widow Twankie The Old Vic
2006 The Cut Max Donmar Warehouse
2007–08 King Lear Lear Stratford-upon-Avon
Brooklyn Academy of Music
New London Theatre
The Seagull Sorin Stratford-upon-Avon
Brooklyn Academy of Music
New London Theatre
2009–10 Waiting for Godot Estragon Theatre Royal Haymarket
Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
Fugard Theatre, Cape Town
2011 The Syndicate Don Antonio Chichester Festival Theatre
2013–14 Waiting for Godot / No Man's Land Estragon / Spooner Cort Theatre
2016 No Man's Land Spooner Wyndham's Theatre
2016–19 The Exorcist Demon (voice) Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Phoenix Theatre London

UK tour

2017 Shakespeare, Tolkien, Others and You Himself Park Theatre
2017–18 King Lear Lear Chichester Festival Theatre
Duke of York's Theatre
2019-20 Ian McKellen on Stage Himself UK tour
Harold Pinter Theatre[1]
Hudson Theatre
2021 Hamlet Prince Hamlet Theatre Royal, Windsor
The Cherry Orchard Firs

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Director Notes
1969 Alfred the Great Roger Clive Donner
A Touch of Love George Matthews Waris Hussein
The Promise Leonidik Michael Hayes
1981 Priest of Love D. H. Lawrence Christopher Miles
1983 The Keep Dr. Theodore Cuza Michael Mann
1985 Plenty Sir Andrew Charleson Fred Schepisi
Zina Arthur Kronfeld Ken McMullen
1989 Scandal John Profumo Michael Caton-Jones
1993 Six Degrees of Separation Geoffrey Miller Fred Schepisi
The Ballad of Little Jo Percy Corcoran Maggie Greenwald
Last Action Hero Death John McTiernan
1994 To Die For Quilt Documentary Narrator Peter Litten Voice
The Shadow Dr. Reinhardt Lane Russell Mulcahy
I'll Do Anything John Earl McAlpine James L. Brooks
1995 Restoration Will Gates Michael Hoffman
Richard III Richard III Richard Loncraine Also writer and executive producer
Jack and Sarah William Tim Sullivan
1997 Swept from the Sea Dr. James Kennedy Beeban Kidron
Bent Uncle Freddie Sean Mathias
1998 Gods and Monsters James Whale Bill Condon
Apt Pupil Kurt Dussander Bryan Singer
2000 X-Men Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto
2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Gandalf the Grey Peter Jackson
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Gandalf the White
2003 X2 Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto Bryan Singer
Emile Emile Carl Bessai
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Gandalf the White Peter Jackson
2004 Eighteen Older Jason Anders Richard Bell Voice
2005 Neverwas Gabriel Finch Joshua Michael Stern
Asylum Dr. Peter Cleave David Mackenzie
The Magic Roundabout Zebedee Dave Borthwick
Jean Duval
Frank Passingham
Voice
2006 Flushed Away The Toad David Bowers
Sam Fell
The Da Vinci Code Sir Leigh Teabing Ron Howard
X-Men: The Last Stand Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto Brett Ratner
2007 Stardust Narrator Matthew Vaughn Voice
The Golden Compass Iorek Byrnison Chris Weitz
2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Gandalf the Grey Peter Jackson
2013 The Wolverine Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto James Mangold Uncredited cameo
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Gandalf the Grey Peter Jackson
2014 Miss in Her Teens The Prologue Matthew Butler Hart
X-Men: Days of Future Past Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto Bryan Singer Shared role with Michael Fassbender
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Gandalf the Grey Peter Jackson
2015 Mr. Holmes Sherlock Holmes Bill Condon
2017 Beauty and the Beast Cogsworth
Animal Crackers Horatio P. Huntington Scott Christian Sava
Tony Bancroft
Voice
2018 All Is True Earl of Southampton Kenneth Branagh
2019 The Good Liar Roy Courtnay Bill Condon
Cats Gus the Theatre Cat Tom Hooper
2021 Infinitum: Subject Unknown Dr. Charles Marland-White Matthew Butler-Hart
TBA Schadenfreude Continuity Announcer Simon Pickup
Sources:[2][3][4][5]

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1964 The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling Plowden Episode: "The Tomb of His Ancestors"
1965 Sunday Out of Season Victor Leech Television film
The Wednesday Play Wolf Episode: "The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne"
1966 David Copperfield David Copperfield 9 episodes
1970 Solo John Keats Episode: "Ian McKellen as John Keats"
1972 Country Matters David Masterman Episode: "Craven Arms"
1978 Jackanory Reader 5 Episodes reading "The Moon in the Cloud"
1980 Armchair Thriller Anthony Skipling Episode: "Dying Day"
1981 Pillar of Fire Narrator Documentary
1982 The Scarlet Pimpernel Paul Chauvelin Television film
Walter Walter
1983 Walter and June Walter
1988 Windmills of the Gods Chairman 2 episodes
1989 Countdown to War Adolf Hitler Television film
1990 Othello Iago
1993 And the Band Played On Bill Kraus
1995 Cold Comfort Farm Amos Starkadder
1996 Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny Nicholas II
1999 David Copperfield Mr. Creakle 2 episodes
2002 Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Ian McKellen/Kylie Minogue"
2003 The Simpsons Himself Voice
Episode: "The Regina Monologues"
2005 Coronation Street Mel Hutchwright/Lionel Hipkiss 10 episodes
2006 Extras Himself Episode: "Sir Ian McKellen"
2008 King Lear King Lear Television film
2009 The Prisoner Number Two 6 episodes
2012 Doctor Who The Great Intelligence Voice
Episode: "The Snowmen"
2013–2016 Vicious Freddie Thornhill 14 episodes
2015 The Dresser Norman Television film
2018 Family Guy Dr. Cecil Pritchfield Episode: "Send in Stewie, Please"
Sources:[3][6]

Video games[]

Year Title Role Notes
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Gandalf Voice
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004 The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth
Source:[7]

Music[]

  • In 1987, McKellen appeared reciting Shakespeare while rock group The Fleshtones improvised behind him on Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes which ran on MTV.[8]
  • Vampire in the music video "Heart" by Pet Shop Boys[9]
  • The man who's "falling out of reach" in the music video "Falling Out of Reach" by Guillemots[10]
  • Appears on the Scissor Sisters track "Invisible Light" from their 2010 album Night Work, reciting a passage regarding the "Invisible Light" of the title.[11]
  • Appeared as himself alongside George Ezra in the latter's music video for "Listen to the Man". Whilst Ezra is singing his song, McKellen joins in and lip-syncs Ezra's voice.[12]

Music videos[]

Year Artist Song
1988 Pet Shop Boys Heart
2014 George Ezra Listen to the Man

Audiobooks[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Ian McKellen to bring one-man show to the West End in autumn 2019". LondonTheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  2. ^ Barratt 2005, p. 233.
  3. ^ a b "Filmography: McKellen, Ian". Film & Television Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  4. ^ "The Laurence Olivier Awards: full list of winners 1976-2008" (PDF). Official London Theatre. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Sir Ian McKellen | Acting Awards, Honours, and Appointments". Sir Ian McKellen Official Website. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  6. ^ Barratt 2005, pp. 232–33.
  7. ^ Ian McKellen at Behind the Voice Actors Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  8. ^ "Ian McKellen by Andy Warhol (1928–1987)". Christie's. n.d. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Ian Mckellen in Heart Album". Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Ian Mckellen reads 'Falling Out of Reach'". 23 April 2008. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  11. ^ Martin, Dan (14 April 2010). "Scissor Sisters collaborate with Ian McKellen: Lord of the Rings actor appears on final track of Scissor Sisters' long-awaited third album, Night Work". The Observer. London. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  12. ^ Graham, Daniella (29 October 2014). "Sir Ian McKellen totally outshines George Ezra in Listen to the Man video". Metro. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  13. ^ "Ian McKellen reads Chronicles of Ancient Darkness". Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Ian McKellen reads Spirit Walker". 19 November 2005. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  15. ^ "Ian McKellen reads Soul Eater". 8 August 2008. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Ian McKellen reads Outcast". Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  17. ^ "McKellen reads Oath Breaker". Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  18. ^ "McKellen reads Ghost Hunter". Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  19. ^ "McKellen reading The Odyssey". 22 December 2006. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.

Sources[]

  • Barratt, Mark (2005). Ian McKellen: An Unofficial Biography. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 978-0-7535-1074-2.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""