SIR IAN MURRAY MCKELLEN is an English actor famous for his film roles such as Magneto in the X-Men films and Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
Throughout his film career, McKellen has won numerous awards and gained multiple nominations for acting.
He was the recipient of six Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award, a Golden Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and many more. He has also received two Oscar, four BAFTAs and five Emmy Award nominations.
With an extensive performance in theatre, McKellen has firmly established himself as one of Britain’s foremost classical actors.
Born on May 25, 1939, McKellen attended the Bolton School and started his acting career at the Bolton Little Theatre. At 18, McKellen won a scholarship to St Catharineโs College Cambridge where he studied English literature.
At a young age, McKellen started performing in theatres which have since become legendary plays which played a huge impact on his future career as an actor.
McKellen was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1979, was knighted in 1991 for services to the performing arts, He was made a Companion of Honour for services to drama and to equality, in the 2008 New Year Honours.
