Celebrity profile

Sir Ian Murray McKellen was born  on May 25th,1939 in the northern England town of Burnley. McKellen's passion for theater and performance began at an early age.He earned a Bachelor of Arts at Bolton School in 1961, later becoming one of the most acclaimed British stage actors In 1990, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his contributions to arts.
McKellen presently resides in Limehouse in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets with his partner Sean Mathias.

In the late 80's, Ian McKellen decided not to stand by the wayside as anti-gay sentiment grew in England. Margaret Thatcher's Section 28 legislation made the promotion of homosexuality illegal.Thus the beginning of Ian McKellen's quest for gay social advocacy.He publicly came out on BBC Radio 4 to declare his sexual preferences as gay.He is among the few Hollywood stars to publicly declare their sexuality.

Ian McKellen on Film:

• Flushed Away (2006)
• Displaced (2006)
• X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
• The Da Vinci Code (2006)
• Doogal (2006)
• Neverwas (2005)
• Asylum (2005)
• The Magic Roundabout (2005)
• Eighteen (2004)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• Emile (2003)
• X2 (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

X-Men (2000)

Apt Pupil (1998)

Gods and Monsters (1998)

Swept from the Sea (1997)

Bent (1997)

Restoration (1995)

Richard III (1995)

Jack and Sarah (1995)

Cold Comfort Farm (1995)

To Die For (1994)

The Shadow (1994)

I'll Do Anything (1994)

Six Degrees of Separation (1993)

The Ballad of Little Jo (1993)

Last Action Hero (1993)

Scandal (1989)

Plenty (1985)

Zina (1985)

The Keep (1983)

Walter and June (1983)

Priest of Love (1981)

The Promise (1968)

Alfred the Great (1969)

A Touch of Love (1969)

Ian McKellen on TV:

• Coronation Street (2005, Mel Hutchwright)
• David Copperfield (1999)
• Great Composers, Tchaikovsky (1997)
• Rasputin (1996)
• And the Band Played On (1993)
• Tales of the City (1993)
• Sleepers (1991)
• Othello (1990)
• Countdown to War (1989)
• Windmills of the Gods (1988)
• The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982)
• Walter (1982)
• Play for Today (1980)
• Dying Day (1980)
• Macbeth (1979)
• Jackanory (1978)
• Play of the Month (1973)
• Hamlet (1970)
• Keats (1970)
• The Tragedy of King Richard II (1970)

Edward II (1970)

David Copperfield (1966)

The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne (1965)

The Wednesday Play (1965)

Sunday Out of Season (1965)