Highlighted works
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The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
The second instalment of Peter Jackson’s lavish three-part fantasy charts the continuing quest of its heroes to destroy a powerful magical ring.
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The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King
The final instalment of the rousing, hugely successful trilogy that redefined the studio blockbuster, The Return of the King won 11 Oscars to add to its box office haul.
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The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring
The first instalment of Peter Jackson’s epic adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien saga about the quest of a band of heroes to save their world from evil.
Filmography
2020
Dr Charles Marland-White
2019
Earl of Southampton
2018
Gus the theatre cat
2018
interviewee
2017
Special Thanks
2017
Cogsworth
2017
on-screen participant
2017
on-screen participant
2016
Sir Ian McKellen introduces Henry V (1944)
Written by
introduction2016
Sir Ian McKellen introduces Richard III (1995)
Written by
introduction2016
Sir Ian McKellen introduces Macbeth (1979)
Written by
introduction2016
Sir Ian McKellen introduces Throne of Blood
Written by
introduction2016
Sir Ian McKellen introduces All Night Long
Written by
introduction2016
Sir Ian McKellen BFI Player introductions
introduction
2016
Shakespeare Live! From the RSC
cast member
2016
Shakespeare on Stage, Screen and Elsewhere with Ian McKellen
cast member
2016
Freddie Thornhill
2016
Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage
on-screen participant
2015
narrator
2015
Great Canal Journeys[22/03/2015]
cast member
2015
Freddie Thornhill
2015
Freddie Thornhill
2015
Freddie Thornhill
2015
Norman
2015
Freddie Thornhill
2015
Freddie Thornhill
2015
Freddie Thornhill
2015
Sherlock Holmes
2015
on-screen participant
2015
The Jonathan Ross Show[26/12/2015]
on-screen participant
2015
BFI London Film Festival awards 2015
interviewee
2014
The Hobbit The Battle of the Five Armies
Gandalf the Grey
2014
Erik Lehnsherr, 'Magneto'
2013
Freddie Thornhill
2013
Freddie Thornhill
2013
Freddie Thornhill
2013
Freddie Thornhill
2013
Freddie Thornhill
2013
Freddie Thornhill
2013
Freddie Thornhill
2013
cast member
2013
The Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug
Gandalf the Grey
2013
Magneto (uncredited)
2013
The National Theatre: War and Peace
on-screen participant
2013
The National Theatre: The Dream[24/10/2013]
on-screen participant
2013
Muse of Fire: a Shakespearean Road Movie
on-screen participant
2013
The Jonathan Ross Show[16/03/2013]
interviewee
2012
The Intelligence
2012
London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony (AD)
Prospero
2012
London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony
Prospero
2012
The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey
Gandalf the Grey
2012
Alan Carr: Chatty Man[21/12/2012]
interviewee
2011
LS Lowry
2010
[Subject of Film]
interviewee2010
The Alan Titchmarsh Show[16/02/2010]
interviewee
2010
Lord Sutton
2010
guest
2010
on-screen participant
2010
interviewee - patron, Little Theatre Guild
2010
voice of Hamish Miller
2010
on-screen participant
2009
2/Curtis
2009
2
2009
2
2009
2
2009
2/Un-Two
2009
2
2009
The Orange British Academy Film Awards
co-presenter: Best Director
2008
King Lear
2007
Narrated by
2007
voice of the jackdaw
2007
voice of Iorek Byrnison
2007
interviewee
2006
narrator
2006
Sir Leigh Teabing
2006
voice of The Toad
2006
Eric Lehnsherr, 'Magneto'
2005
Doctor Peter Cleave
2005
cast member
2005
voice of Zebedee
2005
Mel Hutchwright
2005
Mel Hutchwright
2004
Year in the Life of Ian McKellen 2003 - 2004
[Subject of Film]
on-screen participant2004
narrator
2004
narrator
2004
narrator
2004
narrator
2004
Emile
2004
William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
[originally cast as Antonio]
2004
guest
2003
The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King
Gandalf
2003
Eric Lehnsherr, 'Magneto'
2003
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross[19/12/2003]
guest
2002
The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
Gandalf
2002
interviewee
2001
Larry & Vivien The Oliviers in Love
narrator
2001
The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring
Gandalf
2001
on-screen participant
2001
Tolkien's the Lord of the Rings
on-screen participant
2000
introduction
2000
Cirque Du Soleil Journey of Man
narrator
2000
Eric Lehnsherr, 'Magneto'
2000
on-screen participant
1999
James Whale
1999
Creakle
1999
involuntary appearance
1999
interviewee
1998
[Subject of Film]
interviewee1998
Dr James Kennedy
1998
on-screen participant
1997
Special Thanks
Narrated by1997
narrated by
1997
Kurt Dussander
1997
on-screen participant
1997
The Sunday Programme[28/09/97]
interviewee
1996
Executive Producer
Screenplay
Richard III1996
narrator
1996
Guest
1996
cast member
1996
Uncle Freddie
1996
Will Gates
1996
The Sunday Programme[27/10/96]
Reviewer of newspapers
1995
Hands of Friendship Nations Reconciled
introduction
1995
Amos Starkadder
1995
William
1995
on-screen participant
1995
The Guardian Interview: Ian McKellen
interviewee
1994
narrator
1994
narrator
1994
narrator
1994
narrator
1994
David Copperfield(196?)
1994
Reinhardt Lane
1994
Stonewall founder member
1994
Himself
1994
Australian action movie director
1994
Shakespeare - Playing the Dane
on-screen participant
1993
Mister Shaw's Missing Millions
presenter
1993
presenter
1993
presenter
1993
presenter
1993
presenter
1993
presenter
1993
presenter
1993
presenter
1993
narrator
1993
narrator
1993
narrator
1993
reader
1993
Percy Corcoran
1993
Geoffrey Miller
1993
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Part 2
cast member
1993
Death from "The Seventh Seal"
1993
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Part 4
Archibald Gidde
1993
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Part 5
Archibald Gidde
1993
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Part 3
Archibald Gidde
1993
Bill Kraus
1993
on-screen participant
1992
on-screen participant
1991
Living Shakespeare A Year with the RSC
on-screen participant
1991
on-screen participant
1990
Iago
1990
on-screen participant
1990
Frank Talking/Paintball Crazy!/Gay London
interviewee
1989
presenter
1989
Two Dogs and Freedom - A Concert for the Children of South Africa
cast member
1989
Adolf Hitler
1989
John Profumo
1989
on-screen participant
1989
They Would Say That, Wouldn't They
on-screen participant
1989
The Evening Standard Drama Awards 1989
on-screen participant
1989
on-screen participant
1989
interviewee
1988
narrator
1988
cast member
1988
Sidney Sheldon's Windmills of the Gods
cast member
1986
narrator
1986
narrator
1986
cast member
1985
narrator
1985
Professor Kronfield
1985
Sir Andrew Charleson
1985
Ian McKellen - Diary of a Year
on-screen participant
1984
on-screen participant
1984
on-screen participant
1984
on-screen participant
1984
on-screen participant
1983
Walter
1983
Walter
1983
Dr Theodore Cuza
1982
Walter
1982
D.H. Lawrence
1982
Chauvelin
1981
on-screen participant
1980
Macbeth
1980
Dying Day Part 1 Mr. Skipling Is Sentenced to Death
Antony Skipling
1980
Macbeth
1980
Dying Day Part 2 Mr. Skipling Finds a Friend
Antony Skipling
1980
Macbeth
1980
Dying Day Part 3 Mr. Skipling Fights Back
Antony Skipling
1980
Macbeth
1980
Dying Day Part 4 Mr. Skipling's Day of Reckoning
Antony Skipling
1980
Macbeth
1980
Macbeth
1979
voice
1979
Macbeth
1979
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
cast member
1979
cast member
1979
on-screen participant
1979
on-screen participant
1978
The Moon in the Clouds Part 1 Noah's Vision
Reader
1978
The Moon in the Clouds Part 2 Cats of One Colour
Reader
1978
The Moon in the Clouds Part 4 The King's Rings
Reader
1978
The Moon in the Clouds Part 5 Ham's Empty Promise
Reader
1978
The Moon in the Clouds Part 3 The King's Musician
Reader
1974
cast member
1973
Captain Plume
1972
David Masterman
1972
Hamlet
1972
George Tesman
1972
Edinburgh International Festival 26
interview 'The Actors' Company'
1972
Stefan
1972
on-screen participant
1970
John Keats
1970
The Tragedy of King Richard II
King Richard
1970
Ross [T.E. Lawrence]
1970
King Edward
1969
Leonidik
1969
George
1969
Roger
1968
Simon Bliss
1966
David Copperfield Part 7 Courtship
David
1966
David Copperfield Part 8 The Proposal
David
1966
David Copperfield Part 9 Domestic Tangles
David
1966
David Copperfield Part 10 Toll of the Sea
David
1966
David Copperfield Part 11 'umble Aspirations
David
1966
David Copperfield Part 12 Fortunes Restored
David
1966
David Copperfield Part 13 Home at Last
David
1966
David Copperfield Part 5 Old Acquaintances
David
1966
David Copperfield Part 6 The Bachelor Party
David
1966
The Bells of Hell Go Ding-a-ling-a-ling
lieutenant
1965
Victor
1965
The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne
Wolf
1964
Plowden
Sight & Sound magazine
-
Reviews, interviews and features from the international film magazine.
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