Happy Birthday Marvelous Ian McKellen!
Today, May 25th, 2021, is the birthday of actor Ian McKellen! The accomplished actor turns 82 today. Who’s celebrating with a X-Men movie marathon, Marvel Blog True Believers?
Happy Birthday to the wonderful @IanMcKellen. pic.twitter.com/tEcP6jfpft
— National Theatre (@NationalTheatre) May 25, 2021
Magneto’s the Birthday Boy!
Although he’s a classically trained Shakespearian actor, McKellen may be best known among Marvel fans for his appearances as Magneto in the X-Men series.
X-Men: Days of Future Past. Photo: Everett Collection
The actor first played Magneto beginning with 1999’s X-Men and continuing in 2003’s X2: X-Men United and 2006’s X-Men 3: Last Stand.
In subsequent movies, a younger version of the character was played by Michael Fassbender, but in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, both Fassbender and McKellen shared the role.
Ian McKellen inspiring others on and off the screen. Photo: 20th Century Fox
In the X-Men movie series, McKellen played Magneto opposite Patrick Stewart’s Professor Charles Xavier.
Ian McKellen in X-Men. Photo: Fox
You’ve probably seen pictures of the pair both on and off set: they have a magnificent friendship (it’s kinda the affectionate relationship you always wished would happen between Magneto and Professor X in the comics).
There Are Other Forces at Work in This World
When it comes to genre fare beyond the Marvel Universe, McKellen may be best known for his performance as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, a role he also reprised in The Hobbit trilogy (which is set early on the Middle Earth timeline; fortunately, wizards do not experience much visible aging when compared with humans).
Ian McKellen as Gandalf. Photo: New Line Cinema
And did you know that McKellen has appeared on The Simpsons, as well?
In the fourth episode of season fifteen of The Simpsons, “The Regina Monologues,” which aired in 2003, McKellen made an appearance as himself! You can watch this episode starring McKellen (plus all four of the X-Men movies featuring the actor) today on Disney+!
Ian McKellen on The Simpsons. Photo: Fox
But, if that isn’t enough McKellen for you, then be sure to tune in for Ian McKellen On Stage once it debuts in the United States.
For UK & Ireland beginning 11 June, Amazon Prime Video and National Theatre will premiere "Ian McKellen On Stage." Other countries will follow later this year. https://t.co/vvGUjthRea pic.twitter.com/ZTsgek5Le0
— Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen) May 25, 2021
What a Day for a Birthday!
How are you going to be celebrating McKellen’s 82nd birthday, Marvel Blog True Believers? We want to hear from you! Give us a shout-out in the comment section and let us know which one of McKellen’s performances you’re going to be enjoying in order to celebrate.
