Happy birthday, Ian McKellen! The British actor turns 77 on May 25.
McKellen is best known to younger generations for playing Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies and Magneto in the X-Men franchise. However, he first rose to fame as an acclaimed stage actor, performing regularly with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theater. In 1991, he became Sir Ian McKellen when he was knighted for services to the performing arts in Britain.
He’s one of the most respected actors in the world, but McKellen has a light touch when it comes to fame. He posts plenty of goofy photos of himself on Twitter and Instagram, reminding his millions of fans that although he’s devoted to his work and activist causes, he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Launch the gallery to read some of his most delightful thoughts on acting, making sense of life and the importance of kitten photos.
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