Born in 1939 in Burnley, England, Ian McKellan became an acclaimed thespian of the British stage with his performances in such works as Edward II. He also became a popular film actor, earning an Oscar nomination for his role in Gods and Monsters. The venerable actor has since cemented his iconic status by starring as Magneto in the X-Men films and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings franchise.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
Ted (2024)
Guest starring as Narrator
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x03: Ejectile Dysfunction (Jan 11, 2024) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 1x01: Just Say Yes (Jan 11, 2024) [Special Guest Star]
The John Bishop Show (2022)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2x01: End of Year Show 2022 - Mandip Gill, Ian McKellen, Jill Scott, Kirsty Young (Dec 29, 2022)
Amol Rajan Interviews (2021)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2022-03-03: Ian McKellen (Mar 3, 2022)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2019-11-06: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen (Nov 6, 2019)
The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2019-06-19: Ian McKellen, Louis Tomlinson, Simon Pegg (Jun 19, 2019)
- Episode 2015-07-16: Adam Lambert, James Wolk & Ian McKellen (Jul 16, 2015)
Artsnight (2015)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2x06: Richard Wilson - On Samuel Beckett (Jul 31, 2015)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2014-02-28: Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Sophia Bush, Michael Che (Feb 28, 2014)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2015-07-15: Amy Schumer, Ian McKellen, Alan Jackson (Jul 15, 2015)
Portrait Artist of the Year (2013)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2x08: Sir Ian McKellen (Dec 23, 2014)
Vicious (2013)
Starring as Freddie Thornhill
(12 episodes)
- Episode S02 Special: Final Episode (Dec 16, 2016)
- Episode 2x06: Wedding (Jul 6, 2015)
- Episode 2x05: Flatmates (Jun 29, 2015)
- Episode 2x04: Stag Do (Jun 22, 2015)
- Episode 2x01: Sister (Jun 1, 2015)
- Episode S01 Special: Christmas Special (Dec 27, 2013)
- Episode 1x06: Anniversary (Jun 10, 2013)
- Episode 1x05: Dinner Party (Jun 3, 2013)
- Episode 1x04: Clubbing (May 20, 2013)
- Episode 1x03: Audition (May 13, 2013)
- Episode 1x02: Cheat (May 6, 2013)
- Episode 1x01: Wake (Apr 29, 2013)
The Jonathan Ross Show (2011)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
(3 episodes)
- Episode 17x05: Ian McKellen, Darcey Bussell, Romesh Ranganathan, Rag 'n' Bone Man (May 8, 2021)
- Episode 9x11: Sir Ian McKellan, Aziz Ansari, Lily James, Fiona Bruce, Coldplay (Dec 26, 2015)
- Episode 4x11: Ian McKellen, Matt Smith, Ruth Jones, Game Of Thrones, Stereophonics (Mar 16, 2013)
Alan Carr: Chatty Man (2009)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
(2 episodes)
- Episode 12x08: Nick Grimshaw, Ian McKellen, Kylie Minogue (May 16, 2014)
- Episode 9x14: Gordon Ramsay, Ian McKellen, Miranda Hart, Kylie Minogue (Dec 21, 2012)
The Andrew Marr Show (2007)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2012-12-16: 16/12/2012 (Dec 16, 2012)
The Graham Norton Show (2007)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
(8 episodes)
- Episode 31x17: Ian McKellen, Michael Sheen, Ambika Mod, Josh Widdicombe, Gabrielle (Feb 9, 2024)
- Episode 30x08: Daniel Craig, Fleur East, Clive Myrie, Ian McKellen, John Bishop, Charlie Puth (Nov 25, 2022)
- Episode 29x05: Eddie Redmayne, Jessie Buckley, Stephen Merchant, Motsi Mabuse, Ian McKellen, Elton John, Charlie Puth (Oct 22, 2021)
- Episode 26x06: Julie Andrews, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Ian McKellen, Dua Lipa (Nov 1, 2019)
- Episode 25x11: Madonna, Ian McKellen, Danny Boyle, Lily James, Himesh Patel, Sheryl Crow (Jun 14, 2019)
- Episode 24x07: Ian McKellen, Carey Mulligan, Taron Egerton, Michael Bublé (Nov 9, 2018)
- Episode 20x19: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Blunt (Feb 24, 2017)
- Episode 16x10: Michael Keaton, Jamie Oliver, Victoria Wood, Sir Ian McKellen, One Direction (Dec 5, 2014)
The One Show (2006)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
(3 episodes)
- Episode 2021-06-25: 25/06/2021 (Jun 25, 2021)
- Episode 2021-06-14: 14/06/2021 (Jun 14, 2021)
- Episode 2008-12-18: 18/12/2008 (Dec 18, 2008)
The Colbert Report (2005)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2012-12-05: Andy Serkis (Dec 5, 2012)
Graham Norton's Bigger Picture (2005)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2x02: Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Sandi Toksvig, Neve Campbell (Jan 16, 2006)
Doctor Who (2005)
Guest starring as Great Intelligence
- Episode S07 Special: The Snowmen (Dec 25, 2012)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode S07 Special: The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (Nov 23, 2013)
Who Do You Think You Are? (2004)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 13x06: Sir Ian McKellen (Jan 25, 2017)
Parkinson (2004)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
(2 episodes)
- Episode 7x08: Lewis Hamilton, Ian McKellen, James Blunt (Nov 10, 2007)
- Episode 5x08: Peter Kay, Take That, Ian McKellan (Nov 11, 2006)
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 2x08: Episode 8 (Mar 1, 2003)
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (2001)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
(2 episodes)
- Episode 10x07: Uma Thurman, Ian McKellen, Graham Coxon, Russell Brand (May 12, 2006)
- Episode 5x14: Victoria Beckham, Ian McKellen, Johnny Vegas, Gary Jules, Michael Andrews, The Raveonettes (Dec 19, 2003)
Loose Women (1999)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
(3 episodes)
- Episode 17x63: 28/11/12 - Kevin Bridges, Ian McKellen (Nov 28, 2012)
- Episode 14x112: 12/02/10 - Max Beesley, Alan Carr, Marcella Detroit, Ricky Gervais, Ian McKellen (Feb 12, 2010)
- Episode 14x109: 09/02/10 - Alastair Campbell, Ian McKellen (Feb 9, 2010)
Family Guy (1999)
Guest starring as Dr. Cecil Pritchfield
- Episode 16x12: Send in Stewie, Please (Mar 18, 2018)
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (1999)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 1999-03-08: Ian McKellen (Mar 8, 1999)
The Late Show with David Letterman (1993)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 1999-03-02: Ian McKellen, Reese Witherspoon, The Roots & Erykah Badu (Mar 2, 1999)
Have I Got News for You (1990)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 26x04: Jimmy Carr, Ross Noble, Ian McKellen (Nov 7, 2003)
Saturday Night Live (1975)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
- Episode 27x15: Ian McKellen / Kylie Minogue (Mar 16, 2002)
Oscars (1953)
Guest starring as Ian McKellen
(3 episodes)
- Episode 2004-02-29: The 76th Annual Academy Awards (Feb 29, 2004)
- Episode 2002-03-24: The 74th Annual Academy Awards (Mar 24, 2002)
- Episode 1999-03-21: The 71st Annual Academy Awards (Mar 21, 1999)