Ian Murray McKellen was born on May 25, 1939 in Burnley, Lancashire, England.

McKellen won acclaim as a member of Laurence Olivier's National Theater Company in the 1960s and later as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company. On film his best-known appearances have included the title role in Richard III (1995) and as Magneto in X-Men (2000).

He won a 1981 Tony Award as Salieri in the Broadway production of Amadeus. He played Gandalf the wizard in director Peter Jackson's 2001-03 feature film trilogy of J.R.R. Tolkien's book The Lord of the Rings. He landed another high-profile role in 2006, as the Holy Grail-obsessed historian Sir Leigh Teabing in the movie version of Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code.

Other films include Gods and Monsters (Academy Award nomination for Best Actor), Apt Pupil and Richard III. His many stage performances are legendary. He has acted in and produced classical and new plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre in London and on tour. His solo shows, Acting Shakespeare and A Knight Out, have been acclaimed throughout the world.

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1991 for his services to the arts. In 1988 McKellen announced publicly that he was gay, and he has since been an outspoken advocate for gay rights.

Filmography

• The Colossus (2007)
• Stardust (2007)
• For the Love of God (2007)
• Flushed Away (2006)
• X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
• The Da Vinci Code (2006)
• Doogal (2006)
• Displaced (2006)
• Neverwas (2005)
• "Coronation Street" (10 episodes, 2005)
• Asylum (2005)
• The Magic Roundabout (2005)
• Eighteen (2004)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• "Churchill" (2003)
• Emile (2003)
• X2 (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• "Saturday Night Live" (1 episode, 2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• X-Men (2000)
• Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man (2000)
• David Copperfield (1999)
• Apt Pupil (1998)
• Gods and Monsters (1998)
• Swept from the Sea (1997)
• Bent (1997)
• Rasputin (1996)
• Restoration (1995)
• Richard III (1995)
• Jack & Sarah (1995)
• Cold Comfort Farm (1995)
• To Die For (1994)
• The Shadow (1994)
• I'll Do Anything (1994)
• Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
• And the Band Played On (1993)
• The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)
• Last Action Hero (1993)
• "Tales of the City" (1993)
• Sleepers (1991)
• Othello (1990)
• Scandal (1989)
• Countdown to War (1989)
• Windmills of the Gods (1988)
• Plenty (1985)
• Zina (1985)
• The Keep (1983)
• Walter and June (1983)
• The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982)
• Walter (1982)
• Priest of Love (1981)
• "Play for Today" (1 episode, 1980)
• "Armchair Thriller" (1 episode, 1980)
• "BBC2 Playhouse" (1 episode, 1979)
• Macbeth (1979)
• "Jackanory" (1 episode, 1978)
• "Play of the Month" (4 episodes, 1968-1973)
• "Country Matters" (1 episode, 1972)
• Keith Michell at Her Majesty's Show of the Week (1972)
• Hamlet (1970)
• Keats (1970)
• The Tragedy of King Richard II (1970)
• Edward II (1970)
• The Promise (1969)
• Alfred the Great (1969)
• A Touch of Love (1969)
• "David Copperfield" (1966)
• "The Wednesday Play" (1 episode, 1965)
• The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne (1965)
• Sunday Out of Season (1965)
• "The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling" (1 episode, 1964)

Awards

• The Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" 2001
• British Independent Film Award Best Actor "Gods and Monsters" 1999
• Independent Spirit Award Best Male Lead "Gods and Monsters" 1999
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Actor "Gods and Monsters" and "Apt Pupil" 1998
• Chicago Film Critics Award Best Actor "Gods and Monsters" 1998
• Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award Best Actor "Gods and Monsters" 1998
• Florida Film Critics Circle Award Best Actor "Gods and Monsters" and "Apt Pupil" 1998
• L.A. Ovation Award for Lifetime Achievement 1998
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award Best Actor "Gods and Monsters" 1998
• National Board of Review Award Best Actor "Gods and Monsters" 1998
• Online Film Critics Society Award Best Actor "Gods and Monsters" 1998
• San Diego Film Critics Award Best Actor "Gods and Monsters" 1998
• San Sebastian International Film Festival Best Actor Award "Gods and Monsters" 1998
• Toronto Film Critics Association Award Best Actor "Gods and Monsters" 1998
• Felix Best Actor "Richard III" 1996
• Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie "Rasputin" 1996
• London Film Critics Circle Award Best Actor "Richard III" 1996
• CableACE Award Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries "And the Band Played On" 1994
• Olivier Award Best Actor "Richard III" 1990 - 91
• Evening Standard Award Best Actor "Othello" 1989
• London Critics Circle Award Best Actor "Othello" 1989
• Evening Standard Award Best Actor "Coriolanus" 1985
• Plays and Players London Theatre Critics Award Best Actor "Wild Honey" 1984
• Drama Desk Award Outstanding One-Person Show "Acting Shakespeare" 1983
• Olivier Award Best Actor in a Revival "Wild Honey" 1983 - 84
• Royal Television Society Performer of the Year Award "Walter" 1982
• Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Play "Amadeus" 1981
• New York Drama League Delia Austrian Medal for Most Distinguished Performance "Amadeus" 1981
• Outer Critics Circle Award Actor in a Play "Amadeus" 1981
• Tony Lead Actor in a Play "Amadeus" 1981
• Society of West End Theatres (SWET) Award Best Actor "Bent" 1979
• Society of West End Theatres (SWET) Award Best Actor "Macbeth" 1978
• Society of West End Theatres (SWET) Award Best Comedy Performance "The Alchemist" 1977
• Plays and Players London Theatre Critics Award Best Actor "Macbeth" 1976
• Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance "The Wood Demon" and "King Lear" 1974
• Plays and Players London Theatre Critics Award Most Promising Newcomer 1966
• Clarence Derwent Award "A Scent of Flowers" 1964