The two men have also worked together on the film Bent (1997) as well as in exquisite stage productions. Ian resides in Limehouse, where he has also lived with his former long-time partner Sean Mathias. He has been active in the gay rights movement ever since. It was reason enough for McKellen to take a stand. In 1988, Ian publicly came out of the closet on the BBC Radio 4 program, while discussing Margaret Thatcher's 'Section 28' legislation, which made the promotion of homosexuality as a family relationship by local authorities an offense. They did not seem interested in the subject and so he saw no reason to bring it up. Very few people knew of Ian's homosexuality he saw no reason to go public, nor had he told his family.

McKellen began working in theatre over the next few years. He eventually obtained his Bachelor of Arts in 1961, and began his career in earnest. He continued his education in English Drama, but soon it fell by the wayside as he concentrated more and more on performing. Ian soon began attending Stratford-upon-Avon theatre festivals, where he saw the greats perform: Laurence Olivier, Wendy Hiller, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson and Paul Robeson. Indeed, his first role in a Shakespearian play was at Bolton, as Malvolio in 'Twelfth Night'. At Bolton School in particular, he developed his skills early on. When Ian was of age to begin attending school, he made sure to get roles in all of the productions.

The amateur school productions fostered Ian's growing passion for theatre. They would take him to plays, those by William Shakespeare, in particular. He soon developed a fascination with acting and the theatre, which was encouraged by his parents. It was in this small town that young Ian rode out World War II. During his early childhood, his parents moved with Ian and his older sister, Jean, to the mill town of Wigan. He is of Scottish, Northern Irish, and English descent.

Widely regarded as one of greatest stage and screen actors both in his native Great Britain and internationally, twice nominated for the Oscar and recipient of every major theatrical award in the UK and US, Ian Murray McKellen was born on in Burnley, Lancashire, England, to Margery Lois (Sutcliffe) and Denis Murray McKellen, a civil engineer and lay preacher.

Gollum. from lord of the rings imdb