Ian McKellen is an English actor widely regarded as one of the greatest stage and screen actors of his generation, a performer whose career has spanned more than six decades and who has won a Tony Award, six Olivier Awards and a Golden Globe. From his iconic turns as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and as Magneto in the X-Men films to his acclaimed stage work in Richard III and King Lear, McKellen has played everyone from wizards and mutants to kings and killers, and he has done it with a craft and an intensity that few actors can match.
| Full Name | Ian Murray McKellen |
| Date of Birth | May 25, 1939 |
| Age | 87 years old (as of November 2026) |
| Birthplace | Burnley, Lancashire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Profession | Actor, activist |
| Known For | The Lord of the Rings, X-Men, Richard III |
| Net Worth | Approx. $60 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2025) |
Who Is Ian McKellen?
Ian McKellen is an actor who became one of the biggest stars in world cinema. He first found fame on stage, where he was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre, and then on screen with Richard III in 1995, in which he played the title role, and with Gods and Monsters in 1998, in which he played James Whale, a performance that earned him his first Academy Award nomination.
McKellen became known to a new generation as Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, a role that earned him his second Academy Award nomination, and as Magneto in the X-Men films, a role he played for nearly two decades. He also appeared in The Da Vinci Code, Mr. Holmes and Beauty and the Beast, in which he voiced Cogsworth.
Early Life & Background
Ian Murray McKellen was born on May 25, 1939, in Burnley, Lancashire, England, the son of a civil engineer father, and he grew up in Wigan, where he attended Bolton School. He studied English literature at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where he began acting in student productions, and then joined the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, where he made his professional debut.
After graduating from Cambridge, McKellen joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he appeared in plays including Richard II and Macbeth, and he became known as one of the finest stage actors of his generation. He also appeared on television, including in the series David Copperfield, and in film, including in A Touch of Love, which made him a star.
McKellen came out as gay in 1988, and he has been a prominent activist for LGBTQ+ rights ever since, co-founding the charity Stonewall in the UK. He was knighted in 1991 for his services to the performing arts, and he was made a Companion of Honour in 2008. He lives in London.
Career
McKellen’s breakthrough came with Richard III in 1995, in which he played the title role, and then with Gods and Monsters in 1998, in which he played James Whale. The films made him a star, and he went on to appear in The Lord of the Rings, X-Men and The Da Vinci Code, and he became known for his distinctive voice and his effortless charm.
After The Lord of the Rings, McKellen appeared in Mr. Holmes, Beauty and the Beast and The Good Liar, and he returned to the stage in King Lear and Hamlet. He also appeared in the television series Vicious and The Prisoner, and he continues to act on stage and screen.
Like fellow British screen legend Michael Caine, McKellen is known for a career that spans decades and for the craft and intensity he brings to every performance. He continues to act and campaign, and he remains one of the most beloved actors in cinema.
Facts About Ian McKellen
- Ian McKellen played Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
- He played Magneto in the X-Men films for nearly two decades.
- He was born in Burnley, Lancashire, England, in 1939, and studied at Cambridge.
- He was knighted in 1991 and made a Companion of Honour in 2008.
- He co-founded the LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall in the UK in 1989.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Ian McKellen?
Ian McKellen was born on May 25, 1939, which makes him 87 years old as of November 2026.
How tall is Ian McKellen?
Ian McKellen is 5 feet 11 inches tall (1.80 metres).
What is Ian McKellen’s net worth?
Ian McKellen’s net worth is estimated at approximately $60 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth in 2025.
What is Ian McKellen best known for?
Ian McKellen is best known for playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Magneto in X-Men.
2 thoughts on “Ian McKellen Age, Height, Net Worth & Biography”