Actor
Ian McKellen
- Born: 25 May 1939, Burnley, Lancashire, England
- Estimated net worth: $60 million
Ian McKellen is a distinguished British actor known for his powerful performances in theatre and film. He is widely recognized for his roles as Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies, as well as Magneto in the 'X-Men' series. McKellen's…
Ian McKellen: best films and shows
About Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen is a distinguished British actor known for his powerful performances in theatre and film. He is widely recognized for his roles as Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies, as well as Magneto in the 'X-Men' series. McKellen's career spans decades, marked by his commanding voice and versatility across genres.
- Born
- 25 May 1939, Burnley, Lancashire, England
- Known for
- Acting
- Height
- 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
- Parents
- Margaret McKellen, Denis McKellen
- Estimated net worth
- $60 million
Fun facts about Ian McKellen
- Ian McKellen came out as gay in 1988 and has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
- He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 for his services to drama.
Famous Ian McKellen quotes
“A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.”
“You shall not pass!”
“I am Magneto, master of magnet.”
Ian McKellen: coming up
- Ebenezer (Movie, Jacob Marley)11 November 2026
- Avengers: Doomsday (Movie, Magneto)16 December 2026
- The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (Movie, Gandalf)15 December 2027
Credits and dates: TMDB.
Ian McKellen filmography
Cast (238)
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Movie | Gandalf | |
| 2026 | Avengers: Doomsday Movie | Magneto | |
| 2026 | Ebenezer Movie | Jacob Marley | |
| 2026 | Frank and Percy Movie | Percy | |
| 2026 | Tea with Judi Dench featuring Ian McKellen Movie | Self | |
| 2026 | The Christophers Movie | Julian Sklar | 6.8 |
| 2026 | LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes Movie | L S Lowry | |
| 2025 | Schadenfreude Movie | Continuity Announcer | |
| 2025 | A World War II Fairy Tale: The Making of Michael Mann's 'The Keep' Movie | Self (archive footage) | |
| 2025 | Ken Dodd: A Legacy of Happiness Movie | Unknown character |
Show 228 more creditsShow fewer
| Year | Title | Character | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Billy & Dom Eat the World TV | Self | 8.5 |
| 2024 | The Critic Movie | Jimmy Erskine | 5.8 |
| 2024 | Dragfox Movie | Ginger Snap the Fox (Speaking) (voice) | 9.0 |
| 2024 | The Real Ken Dodd: The Man I Loved Movie | Unknown character | |
| 2024 | The Life and Death of Lily Savage Movie | Self | 7.0 |
| 2024 | Hamlet Movie | Hamlet | 7.8 |
| 2024 | ted TV | Narrator (voice) | 8.0 |
| 2023 | The One Note Man Movie | Narrator (voice) | 6.0 |
| 2022 | Quintessentially British Movie | Self | 3.8 |
| 2022 | Freedom: 50 Years of Pride Movie | Self | 8.0 |
| 2022 | Hamlet Within Movie | Unknown character | |
| 2021 | Hating Peter Tatchell Movie | Self | 4.1 |
| 2021 | Amol Rajan Interviews TV | Self - Interviewed Guest | |
| 2021 | Great British Theatre TV | Unknown character | |
| 2021 | Infinitum: Subject Unknown Movie | Dr. Charles Marland-White | 5.3 |
| 2020 | Ian McKellen on Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU Movie | Unknown character | 7.0 |
| 2020 | Reunited Apart TV | Self | 5.5 |
| 2020 | Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet Movie | Unknown character | 10.0 |
| 2019 | Cats Movie | Gus, the Theatre Cat | 4.1 |
| 2019 | The Good Liar Movie | Roy Courtnay | 6.7 |
| 2019 | On Broadway Movie | Self | 8.7 |
| 2018 | All Is True Movie | Earl of Southampton | 6.0 |
| 2018 | National Theatre Live: King Lear Movie | King Lear | 8.1 |
| 2018 | Animal Crackers Movie | Horatio P. Huntington (voice) | 6.4 |
| 2018 | McKellen: Playing the Part Movie | Self | 7.2 |
| 2017 | The Paul O'Grady Story Movie | Self | 8.3 |
| 2017 | How a Kite Flies Movie | Mr. Kite (voice) | |
| 2017 | Beauty and the Beast Movie | Cogsworth | 7.0 |
| 2017 | The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin Movie | Self | 6.3 |
| 2017 | Edmund the Magnificent Movie | Self - Narrator (voice) | 7.3 |
| 2016 | Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage Movie | Self | 7.8 |
| 2016 | National Theatre Live: No Man's Land Movie | Spooner | 7.5 |
| 2016 | Play the Devil: Making Richard III Movie | Unknown character | |
| 2016 | Shakespeare on Stage, Screen and Elsewhere with Ian McKellen Movie | Unknown character | 6.0 |
| 2016 | Shakespeare on Film Movie | Unknown character | 6.0 |
| 2016 | All the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Film Movie | Prospero's Speech Reader (voice) | |
| 2016 | Shakespeare Live! From the RSC Movie | Self - Performer | 7.4 |
| 2016 | The Roof Movie | And Even Yet Another Fan | 6.3 |
| 2015 | Knights of Classic Drama at the BBC Movie | Self (archive footage) | |
| 2015 | The Dresser Movie | Norman | 6.2 |
| 2015 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert TV | Self | 6.1 |
| 2015 | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert TV | Self - Guest | 6.1 |
| 2015 | Mr. Holmes Movie | Sherlock Holmes | 6.5 |
| 2014 | Variety Studio: Actors on Actors TV | Self | 4.2 |
| 2014 | The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Movie | Gandalf the Grey | 7.3 |
| 2014 | Double Take: Xavier & Magneto Movie | Self | |
| 2014 | Nelson Mandela Redrawn Movie | Self | 10.0 |
| 2014 | Trailblazer Honors TV | Self - Speaker | 7.5 |
| 2014 | X-Men: Days of Future Past Movie | Magneto | 7.5 |
| 2014 | Miss in Her Teens Movie | The Prologue | 3.0 |
| 2014 | Late Night with Seth Meyers TV | Self - Guest | 5.1 |
| 2013 | The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Movie | Gandalf the Grey | 7.6 |
| 2013 | The Wolverine: Path of a Ronin Movie | Self | 7.0 |
| 2013 | The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot Movie | Self | 7.8 |
| 2013 | Muse of Fire Movie | Self | 6.5 |
| 2013 | The Wolverine Movie | Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto (uncredited) | 6.4 |
| 2013 | The Egg Trick Movie | Magician | 6.0 |
| 2013 | Vicious TV | Freddie Thornhill | 7.5 |
| 2012 | Doctor Who: The Snowmen Movie | The Great Intelligence (voice) | 7.7 |
| 2012 | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Movie | Gandalf the Grey | 7.4 |
| 2012 | London 2012: Paralympics Opening Ceremony Movie | Self | 7.5 |
| 2011 | Perspectives TV | Unknown character | |
| 2011 | Looking for Lowry Movie | Self | |
| 2011 | The Betty Driver Story Movie | Self | 10.0 |
| 2010 | The Talk TV | Self | 3.0 |
| 2010 | Small-Time Revolutionary Movie | Hamish Miller (voice) | 3.0 |
| 2010 | A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation Movie | Narrator (voice) | 7.0 |
| 2009 | The Prisoner TV | 2 / Curtis | 5.5 |
| 2009 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen TV | Self - Guest | 4.9 |
| 2009 | Theatreland Movie | Self | |
| 2008 | King Lear Movie | King Lear | 6.4 |
| 2007 | The Golden Compass Movie | Iorek Byrnison (voice) | 6.1 |
| 2007 | Stardust Movie | Narrator (voice) | 7.3 |
| 2007 | Pet Shop Boys: Cubism Movie | Self- voice | 8.0 |
| 2007 | The Art of Breaking Character Movie | Self | |
| 2007 | For the Love of God Movie | The Jackdaw | 4.0 |
| 2007 | The Graham Norton Show TV | Self - Guest | 7.2 |
| 2007 | The Graham Norton Show TV | Self | 7.2 |
| 2007 | Guerrilla Distribution Movie | Self | |
| 2006 | Flushed Away Movie | The Toad (voice) | 6.3 |
| 2006 | X3: The Excitement Continues Movie | Self | |
| 2006 | Brett Ratner's X-Diaries Movie | Self | 5.0 |
| 2006 | The Making of 'The Return of the King' Movie | Self | 8.8 |
| 2006 | The Making of 'The Two Towers' Movie | Self | 8.8 |
| 2006 | The One Show TV | Self - Guest | 4.3 |
| 2006 | X-Men: The Last Stand Movie | Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto | 6.4 |
| 2006 | The Da Vinci Code Movie | Sir Leigh Teabing | 6.7 |
| 2006 | Saint of 9/11 Movie | Narrator | 5.7 |
| 2006 | Doogal Movie | Zebedee (voice) | 4.9 |
| 2005 | Asylum Movie | Dr. Peter Cleave | 6.1 |
| 2005 | Neverwas Movie | Gabriel Finch | 6.4 |
| 2005 | The Hobart Shakespeareans Movie | Self | 6.0 |
| 2005 | Extras TV | Ian McKellen | 7.8 |
| 2005 | The Magic Roundabout Movie | Zebedee (voice) | 5.4 |
| 2005 | Ringers: Lord of the Fans Movie | Self | 6.4 |
| 2005 | Eighteen Movie | Jason Anders (voice) | 4.5 |
| 2004 | A Filmmaker's Journey: Making 'The Return of the King' Movie | Self | 6.5 |
| 2004 | Who Do You Think You Are? TV | Self | 7.0 |
| 2004 | My First Time Movie | Narrator | 2.0 |
| 2004 | The Paul O'Grady Show TV | Unknown character | 5.1 |
| 2004 | Parkinson TV | Self - Guest | 7.0 |
| 2004 | Frodo Is Great... Who Is That?!! Movie | Self | 7.5 |
| 2004 | Peter Tatchell: Just Who Does He Think He Is? Movie | Unknown character | 7.0 |
| 2003 | The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision Movie | Self | 6.4 |
| 2003 | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Movie | Gandalf | 8.5 |
| 2003 | Beyond the Movie: The Return of the King Movie | Self | 8.1 |
| 2003 | The Second Uncanny Issue of X-Men! Making X2 Movie | Self | 7.0 |
| 2003 | Churchill TV | Self - Narrator (voice) | 7.7 |
| 2003 | X2 Movie | Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto | 7.0 |
| 2003 | Real Time with Bill Maher TV | Self | 6.0 |
| 2003 | Evolution X - The Making of X-Men Movie | Unknown character | 3.7 |
| 2003 | X-Men: Premieres Around the World Movie | Self | 5.5 |
| 2003 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! TV | Self | 5.3 |
| 2003 | Emile Movie | Emile | 6.2 |
| 2002 | The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Movie | Gandalf | 8.4 |
| 2002 | The Fellowship of the Ring: The Road Goes Ever On.. Movie | Self | |
| 2002 | The Fellowship of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Cast Movie | Self | |
| 2002 | The Fellowship of the Ring: Cameras in Middle-earth Movie | Self | |
| 2002 | The Fellowship of the Ring: From Book to Script Movie | Self | |
| 2002 | The Fellowship of the Ring: Scale Movie | Self | |
| 2002 | The Fellowship of the Ring: Designing and Building Middle-earth + Weta Workshop + Costume Design Movie | Self | |
| 2002 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway TV | Self | 6.1 |
| 2001 | Beyond the Movie: The Fellowship of the Ring Movie | Self | 6.6 |
| 2001 | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Movie | Gandalf | 8.4 |
| 2001 | Passage to Middle-Earth: The Making of 'The Lord of the Rings' Movie | Self | 8.0 |
| 2001 | Quest for the Ring Movie | Self | 5.7 |
| 2001 | Larry & Vivien: The Oliviers in Love Movie | Narrator (voice) | 8.0 |
| 2000 | Now You See Him: 'The Invisible Man' Revealed! Movie | Self | 6.4 |
| 2000 | X-Men Movie | Magneto | 7.0 |
| 2000 | X-Men: The Mutant Watch Movie | Self - 'Magneto' | 7.0 |
| 2000 | Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man Movie | Narrator (voice) | 7.1 |
| 1999 | David Copperfield TV | Creakle | 7.1 |
| 1999 | The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale Movie | Self | 6.5 |
| 1999 | After Stonewall Movie | Self | 5.6 |
| 1999 | Family Guy TV | Dr. Cecil Pritchfield (voice) | 7.4 |
| 1998 | Apt Pupil Movie | Kurt Dussander | 6.5 |
| 1998 | Gods and Monsters Movie | James Whale | 6.9 |
| 1998 | Swept from the Sea Movie | Dr. James Kennedy | 6.4 |
| 1998 | Parkinson TV | Self | |
| 1997 | Bent Movie | Uncle Freddie | 6.9 |
| 1997 | The View TV | Self - Guest | 4.3 |
| 1997 | Surviving Friendly Fire Movie | Unknown character | 3.0 |
| 1997 | A Bit Of Scarlet Movie | Narrator | 4.4 |
| 1997 | HARDtalk TV | Unknown character | 8.7 |
| 1996 | An Evening with Lily Savage Movie | Self | 10.0 |
| 1996 | Rasputin Movie | Tsar Nicholas II | 6.6 |
| 1996 | TFI Friday TV | Unknown character | 7.1 |
| 1995 | Richard III Movie | Richard III | 6.8 |
| 1995 | Restoration Movie | Will Gates | 6.1 |
| 1995 | Jack & Sarah Movie | William | 6.8 |
| 1995 | Thin Ice Movie | Ian McKellen | 5.0 |
| 1995 | Cold Comfort Farm Movie | Amos Starkadder | 6.8 |
| 1994 | To Die For Movie | Quilt Documentary Narrator (voice) | 2.6 |
| 1994 | Stonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and Protest Movie | Self | |
| 1994 | Inside the Actors Studio TV | Self | |
| 1994 | Age of Dissent Movie | Self | |
| 1994 | The Shadow Movie | Dr. Reinhardt Lane | 6.1 |
| 1994 | David Macaulay: Roman City Movie | Augustus Caesar (voice) | 9.0 |
| 1994 | Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras TV | Self | |
| 1994 | I'll Do Anything Movie | John Earl McAlpine | 5.6 |
| 1993 | Camp Christmas Movie | Unknown character | 2.7 |
| 1993 | Six Degrees of Separation Movie | Geoffrey | 6.4 |
| 1993 | A Simple Matter of Justice Movie | Self | |
| 1993 | Tales of the City TV | Archibald Anson Gidde | 7.7 |
| 1993 | Late Night with Conan O'Brien TV | Self - Guest | 7.3 |
| 1993 | And the Band Played On Movie | Bill Kraus | 6.4 |
| 1993 | Late Show with David Letterman TV | Self - Guest | 6.5 |
| 1993 | The Ballad of Little Jo Movie | Percy Corcoran | 6.1 |
| 1993 | Armistead Maupin Is a Man I Dreamt Up Movie | Narration (voice) | 9.0 |
| 1993 | Last Action Hero Movie | Death | 6.5 |
| 1992 | Gladio Movie | Aldo Moro (voice) | 7.0 |
| 1990 | Have I Got News for You TV | Self | 7.1 |
| 1990 | Othello Movie | Iago | 7.3 |
| 1989 | The Simpsons TV | Ian McKellen (voice) | 8.0 |
| 1989 | Countdown to War Movie | Adolf Hitler | 6.7 |
| 1989 | Scandal Movie | John Profumo | 6.0 |
| 1988 | Windmills of the Gods TV | Chairman | 6.1 |
| 1988 | Scarfe's Follies Movie | Unknown character | |
| 1987 | Süleyman the Magnificent Movie | Narrator | |
| 1985 | Zina Movie | Kronfeld | 6.0 |
| 1985 | Plenty Movie | Sir Andrew Charleson | 5.7 |
| 1985 | Theatre Night TV | Iago | |
| 1984 | Playing Shakespeare TV | Unknown character | 9.7 |
| 1983 | The Keep Movie | Dr. Theodore Cuza | 5.6 |
| 1983 | Walter and June Movie | Walter | 6.7 |
| 1982 | The Scarlet Pimpernel Movie | Chauvelin | 6.8 |
| 1982 | Walter Movie | Walter | 5.9 |
| 1982 | Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare Movie | Unknown character | 7.0 |
| 1982 | American Playhouse TV | Archibald Anson Gidde | 6.6 |
| 1981 | Pillar of Fire TV | Narrator | 9.7 |
| 1981 | Priest of Love Movie | D.H. Lawrence | 5.0 |
| 1980 | Dying Day Movie | Antony Skipling | 8.0 |
| 1979 | Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Movie | Alexander Ivanov | |
| 1979 | Macbeth Movie | Macbeth | 7.5 |
| 1978 | The South Bank Show TV | Unknown character | 5.6 |
| 1978 | An Audience with... TV | Self | 5.3 |
| 1975 | Saturday Night Live TV | Self - Host | 6.9 |
| 1974 | Graceless Go I Movie | Tony | 10.0 |
| 1974 | Playhouse TV | Alexander | 7.0 |
| 1972 | Hedda Gabler Movie | George Tesman | 8.0 |
| 1972 | Country Matters TV | David Masterman | 4.6 |
| 1972 | Craven Arms Movie | David Masterman | |
| 1971 | Film '72 TV | Self | 5.1 |
| 1970 | Hamlet Movie | Hamlet | 8.0 |
| 1970 | Edward II Movie | King Edward | 4.9 |
| 1970 | The Tragedy of King Richard II Movie | King Richard II | 7.0 |
| 1970 | Solo TV | Unknown character | |
| 1969 | The Promise Movie | Unknown character | 9.0 |
| 1969 | Sesame Street TV | Self | 7.1 |
| 1969 | Alfred the Great Movie | Roger | 4.8 |
| 1969 | A Touch of Love Movie | George | 6.6 |
| 1969 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre TV | Lyov | 7.0 |
| 1967 | Omnibus TV | Self - Reading Poetry | 7.2 |
| 1967 | ITV Playhouse TV | Tony | 7.0 |
| 1966 | David Copperfield TV | David Copperfield | 6.5 |
| 1965 | The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne Movie | Wolf | 10.0 |
| 1965 | BBC Play of the Month TV | George Tesman | 5.2 |
| 1965 | BBC Play of the Month TV | Simon Bliss | 5.2 |
| 1965 | BBC Play of the Month TV | Captain Plume | 5.2 |
| 1965 | BBC Play of the Month TV | Ross / T.E. Lawrence | 5.2 |
| 1964 | The Wednesday Play TV | Wolf | 5.2 |
| 1960 | Coronation Street TV | Mel Hutchwright | 5.3 |
| 1956 | Tony Awards TV | Self - Winner | |
| 1953 | The Oscars TV | Self | 7.1 |
| 1944 | Golden Globe Awards TV | Self - Winner | 7.0 |
| 1944 | Golden Globe Awards TV | Self - Presenter | 7.0 |
| TBA | Untitled Anthony Hopkins Documentary Movie | Self | |
| TBA | No Man's Land Movie | Spooner |
Crew (3)
| Year | Title | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Isle Movie | Associate Producer · Production | 4.8 |
| 1995 | Richard III Movie | Executive Producer · Production | 6.8 |
| 1995 | Richard III Movie | Screenplay · Writing | 6.8 |
Latest releases
Questions about Ian McKellen
What are some of Ian McKellen's career highlights?
Ian McKellen's career highlights include his iconic roles in 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'X-Men' franchises, as well as his extensive work in theatre, particularly with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Has Ian McKellen won any major awards?
Yes, Ian McKellen has received several prestigious awards, including a Tony Award for Best Actor and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He has also been nominated for two Academy Awards.
What was Ian McKellen's first film?
Ian McKellen's first film was 'A Touch of Love' in 1969, where he played the role of a young man in a poignant romantic story.
Which films are considered Ian McKellen's most successful?
Some of Ian McKellen's most successful films include 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, 'The Hobbit' trilogy, and the 'X-Men' series, which have collectively grossed billions worldwide.
What can you tell me about Ian McKellen's personal life?
Ian McKellen is known for his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and has been an influential figure in the community. He remains private about his personal relationships.
What is Ian McKellen's estimated net worth?
Ian McKellen's estimated net worth is around $60 million, primarily earned through his extensive career in film, television, and theatre.
What are some milestones in Ian McKellen's filmography?
Milestones in Ian McKellen's filmography include his roles in 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'X-Men' franchises, as well as his acclaimed performances in various Shakespearean adaptations.
Has Ian McKellen worked in television?
Yes, Ian McKellen has appeared in various television series, including a notable role in 'The Simpsons' and a lead role in the miniseries 'The Prisoner.'