British actor Ian McKellen, known for his iconic roles as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Magneto in the X-Men movies, recently opened up about a terrifying moment during a London stage performance.
In June, the 85-year-old actor was starring in Player Kings, a production that combined Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Parts One and Two, when he lost his footing during a fight scene and fell off the stage.
The incident occurred in the West End theatre district, and McKellen was quickly taken to the hospital. Reflecting on the fall, McKellen told BBC Radio that he genuinely feared for his life in that moment.
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“I said to myself as I slid off the stage… ‘this is the end. He also revealed that, though he doesn’t remember it, he apparently shouted, “My neck is broken, I am dying.”
McKellen shared.
Fortunately, McKellen was spared more severe injuries, thanks in part to the padded suit he was wearing for his role as the character John Falstaff.
He did, however, suffer a broken wrist and chipped vertebrae. While he is now physically recovered, McKellen admitted that the emotional impact of the fall is something he is still dealing with.
Despite the scare, McKellen has no plans to retire. In a separate interview with BBC television, he made it clear that he wants to continue acting and even expressed his desire to reprise his role as Gandalf in the next installment of The Lord of the Rings franchise, scheduled for release in 2026.
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In addition to his stage work, McKellen’s latest film, The Critic, is set to hit cinemas later this month. In the film, based on Anthony Quinn’s novel Curtain Call, McKellen plays a powerful theatre critic in 1930s London.
McKellen’s long and celebrated career, which began in 1961, shows no signs of slowing down, despite this recent brush with danger.