Ian McKellen
Gandalf
  
Full Name: Ian Murray McKellen
Birthplace: Burnley, Lancashire, England
Birth Date: 25th May, 1939
Trivia:
He became a member of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company (NIC) in 1965, and was also a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). He performed with both companies throughout the 1970's and 1980's
Attended Bolton school and became Head Boy. He still supports his old school and gives talks to pupils
His father Denis was a civil engineer and a lay preacher and his mother Margery was a housewife and amateur actress
During the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Isaac Royal Theatre was damaged. In 2012, while filming The Hobbit, he announced that a show Shakespeare, Tolkien and You would be performed and all the proceeds from the two special performances would be used to repair the theatre
Attended many Stratford-Upon-Avon theatre festivals and saw many of the most famous stage actors at the time including Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson and Wendy Hiller
Lives in a five story Victorian conversion in the Limehouse district of East London
His first partner was Brian Taylor a history teacher from Bolton. Their relationship lasted from 1961-72
Saw Peter Pan at the Opera House in Manchester when he was 3 years old
His mother died when he was around 12 years old, of breast cancer. His father died when he was 24
Began his professional acting career at the Bolton Little Theatre of which he is now a patron
Won a scholarship for St. Catharine's College in Cambridge
Both of his grandfathers were preachers
In 2007 he returned to the NIC for the productions of King Lear and The Seagulls
Co-produced and co-wrote Richard III (1995), a Shakespeare adaptation set in 1930's Fascist Britain. It was adapted from an NIC production in which he had appeared. He returned his £50,000 fee for the film in order to help pay for its costs
In 2005, he appeared in the long running British soap opera Coronation Street. One of his lifelong ambitions had been to appear in the show
Gladys McKellen was his father's second wife. She was a member of the Religious Society of Friends. The society was indifferent to sexuality, and she was unconcerned when he told her that he was gay
Purchased the lease for The Grapes, a pub close to his home
1988 he revealed to the public that he was gay on a BBC radio show, although those in the theatre community already knew
Was a member of the Marlowe Society while at college (and later became President), appearing in many productions including Henry IV
Is an active LBGT supporter
In 1976 with the NIC he starred in Macbeth along with Judi Dench
Was knighted in 1991 for his "outstanding services in the performing arts". He says he only uses his title when he is trying to impress people
He attended the 2002 Academy Awards with his partner at the time, New Zealander Nick Cuthell
In 2006 he became the patron of Oxford Pride
During an interview in Singapore, he asked the interviewer if he could recommend a gay bar. The interview was abruptly ended
Developed a crush on fellow scholar Derek Jacobi while at college
His elder sister Jean, first introduced him to Shakespeare when she took him to see Twelfth Night followed by Hamlet. He also saw A Midsummer Night's Dream at Wigan High School for Girls, where Jean played the role of Bottom. Jean directed and produced amateur theatre as well as acted, up until her death in 2003
Achieved his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1961
In 1978 he met Sean Mathias at the Edinburgh Festival. Their relationship ended in 1988, but they remained friends with Mathias directing him in Waiting for Godot at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2009
His nickname is "Serena", given to him by Stephen Fry after he was knighted
Spent four years in repertory theatres before making his debut in the West End
Marched in London's Gay Pride on 5th July 2008
In 2004 he achieved another lifelong ambition, by appearing as a pantomime dame in a production of Aladdin at the Old Vic in London. He performed as Widow Twanky and then returned the following year and reprised his role
He has a tattoo on the top of his right arm. With the exception of John Rhys-Davies, who nominated his stunt double to take his place, all the of "Fellowship" actors from The Lord of the Rings, have a tattoo in Elvish that reads "9"
Spent most of his early life in Wigan, Lancashire
Is close friends with Rachel Weisz
Made his stage debut alongside his mother at the age of 6, appearing in a church production
Educated at Wigan Grammar School for Boys
Is President and patron of the Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain - an association of amateur theatre organisations in the UK
When he was 9 he received for Christmas a fold way Victorian theatre, with came complete with cardboard scenery and cut outs from Cinderella and Laurence Olivier's production of Hamlet
Notable Projects:
King Lear (TV) (2008)
The Golden Compass (2007)
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Flushed Away (2006)
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
X2 (2003)
X-Men (2000)
David Copperfield (TV) (1999)
Gods and Monsters (1998)
Rasputin (TV) (1996)
Richard III (TV) (1995)
That Scarlet Pimpernel (TV) (1982)
Current Projects:
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
The Curse of the Buxom Strumpet (2014)
The Hobbit: There and Back Again (2014)
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Selected Awards:
2004: SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
2002: SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
2002: Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
1997: Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV (Rasputin)
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