Who is Ian McKellen?
Ian McKellen is an English actor. He is known for his blockbuster roles as Gandalf in both “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” films. He is also known for his role as Erik Lehnsherr (Older Magneto) in the “X-Men” films.
Ian McKellen’s full name is Sir Ian Murray McKellen. He earned the “Sir” title after he was knighted by the Late Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth in 1991. Ian McKellen was born on May 25, 1939, in Burnley, United Kingdom. He is 83 years old as of March 2023.
About Ian McKellen’s parents
Ian McKellen was born to Denis Murray McKellen (father) and Margery Lois McKellen (mother). According to reports, his parents got married from 1931 to 1951 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom. They shared two children.
Before the outbreak of the second world war in 1939, Ian McKellen’s family moved from Burnley to Wigan, United Kingdom where they lived until Ian was 12 before relocating to Bolton, United Kingdom where his father had been promoted to. However, as of March 2023, both his parents are of blessed memory. His mother died of breast cancer in 1952 while his father died from a road accident in 1964.
About Ian McKellen’s father- Denis Murray McKellen
Denis Murray McKellen was born in 1905 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom. He was born to William Henry McKellen (father) and Alice Beatrice McKellen (mother). Before his death, Denis worked as a civil engineer and lay preacher and was of protestant Irish and Scottish descent.
He got married to Margery Lois McKellen (Ian McKellen’s mother) in 1931 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom. They have two children. According to reports, he later remarried in 1954 to a woman identified as Gladys Irene Abraham in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom. Denis Murray McKellen died in 1964 from a road accident and was buried in Lancashire, England, United Kingdom.
About Ian McKellen’s mother- Margery Lois McKellen
Margery Lois McKellen (née Sutcliffe) was a housewife. She was born on September 1905 in Pendleton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom. She was born to James Sutcliffe (father) and Elizabeth Dora Bannister (mother).
She got married to Denis McKellen (Ian McKellen’s Father) in 1931 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom. They shared two children. Margery died of breast cancer in 1952. Her death was registered in Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
Ian McKellen’s siblings
Ian McKellen was born as the last child of two children. He has only one sibling, an older sister named Jean Lois McKellen who was five years his senior.
About Ian McKellen’s sibling
a. Jean Lois McKellen
Jean Lois McKellen is Ian McKellen’s elder sister and his only sibling. She was born in 1934 in Wigan, United Kingdom. Before her demise, Jean was an actress, theatre director, and theatrical producer. She passed away in November 2003 at age of 59 in England, United Kingdom.
According to reports, Ian McKellen’s elder sister, Jean Lois McKellen, suffered from cancer and a stroke before passing. Meanwhile, Ian couldn’t attend her funeral because he was filming in New Zealand. When he got back, he paid a tribute to Jean with a concert “An Evening to Remember” in her honour at Nayland, Essex where Jean lived with her husband, Foster Jones.
Is Ian McKellen Gay?
Ian McKellen is an openly gay man. According to information gathered by DNB Stories Africa, the “Lord of the Rings” actor made his sexual orientation known to the public in 1988. He also revealed that he never got the chance to tell his parents he was gay as they both passed away when he was young.
In an interview on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2021, Ian McKellen said in a statement:
Never told them I was gay. Didn’t see me do any of my best work. But I remember them with nothing but pleasure.
Ian McKellen is reportedly the co-founder of Stonewall, an LGBT rights lobby group in the United Kingdom. He is also the patron of LGBT History Month, Pride London, Oxford Pride, GAY-GLOS, LGBT Foundation, and FFLAG.
Ian McKellen’s marriage and wedding
As of March 2023, Ian McKellen is unmarried and does not have a wife or husband. In fact, Ian McKellen has never been married. However, the actor has been in several relationships. According to reports, Ian McKellen sparked relationship rumours with his co-star Oscar Conlon-Morrey in January 2023 when the young actor referred to Ian as the new “love of his life”. The pair starred in the comedy show “Mother Goose” together with Ian as the lead character while Oscar Conlon-Morrey played his son, Jack.
Ian McKellen’s past relationships and boyfriends
As one of the most respected actors in Hollywood and beyond, Ian McKellen has been involved in several high-profile relationships. Below is a list of men Ian McKellen has dated in the past.
- Ian McKellen was in a relationship with Brian Taylor in 1964.
- Ian McKellen was in a relationship with Sean Mathias in 1978.
- Ian McKellen was rumoured to have been in a relationship with Patrick Stewart in 2000.
- Ian McKellen was in a relationship with a New Zealand artist Nick Cuthell in 2002.
- Ian McKellen was in a relationship with Rupert Everett, reports say.
- Ian McKellen was in a relationship with Greg Nickels, reports say.
- Ian McKellen is speculated to be in a relationship with Oscar Conlon-Morrey in 2023.
About Ian McKellen’s relationship with Brian Taylor
Brian Taylor was Ian McKellen’s first partner. According to reports, Brian was a history teacher from Bolton, United Kingdom. Information regarding his birth is scarce. However, the pair started dating in 1964. Their relationship lasted eight years and ended in 1972. During the time of their relationship, the pair lived in London where Ian continued to pursue his career as an actor. Further information about their relationship is scarce.
About Ian McKellen’s relationship with Sean Mathias
Sean Mathias is a Welsh actor, director, and writer. He was born on March 14, 1956, in Swansea, United Kingdom. He is 66 years old as of March 2023.
Ian McKellen and Sean Mathias first met at the Edinburgh Festival in 1978. Their relationship lasted 10 years until they finally broke up in 1988. Despite their split, the pair have remained close friends and business partners. Sean Mathias is the co-owner of the pub, “The Grapes, Limehouse” (one of the oldest pubs in London) alongside Ian McKellen and Russian-British businessman Evgeny Lebedev. As of March 2023, Sean Mathias is happily married to his partner Paul de Lange. The couple got married in South Africa in 2007.
About Ian McKellen’s rumoured relationship with Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart is an English actor. He was born on July 13, 1940, in Mirfield, England, United Kingdom. He is 82 years old as of March 2023.
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart didn’t get close until they worked together on the X-Men film in 2000 where Patrick played Professor X and McKellen played Erik Lehnsherr/Older Magneto. Ever since then, the two have been inseparable friends. They have performed in theatres together, travelled around the world together, co-starred in several blockbuster films and showcased occasional public displays of affection.
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart have reportedly shared a kiss more than once. McKellen and Patrick Stewart kissed at the premiere of the British-American mystery film “Mr Holmes” in 2015. The two are so close that Ian officiated Patrick’s wedding to his wife Sunny Ozell in 2013. In an interview with Playboy Magazine in 2021, Patrick Stewart reflected on his friendship with Ian McKellen.
He said;
Gay men have played a part in my life as colleagues and friends. But none so significantly as Ian. I love him and I’m in love with him. So is my wife and it’s mutual. I listen to him, I watch what he does, and I don’t mean just acting, how he lives his life is so admirable, selfless, and compassionate. We also have a hell of a lot of fun.
As of March 2023, Patrick Stewart is married to his partner Sunny Ozell. They got married in September 2013 in Nevada, United States.
About Ian McKellen’s relationship with Oscar Conlon-Morrey
Oscar Conlon-Morrey is an English actor, singer, theatre performer, comedian and cabaret artist. Oscar Conlon- Morrey was born in Doncaster, England and is 29 years old as of 2023.
Rumours of a romantic relationship between Ian McKellen and Oscar Conlon-Morrey surfaced in January 2023 after Oscar revealed that he and Ian had spent the new year together.
Oscar Conlon-Morrey shared a photo on social media during the New Year celebrations in January 2023 with the caption:
Happy New Year! I saw in 2023 at the house of the new love of my life.
The pair starred in the comedy show “Mother Goose” together with Ian as the lead character while Oscar played his son, Jack. It is unclear whether Ian McKellen and Oscar Conlon-Morrey’s relationship is platonic or romantic. As of the time of publishing this article, there is no further confirmation that Ian McKellen and Oscar Conlon-Morrey are dating. There is ample reason to suggest that the two are only just friends.
Ian McKellen’s kids
As of March 2023. Ian McKellen has no kids. There are no reports indicating that the actor has children.
