Ian McKellen Hospitalized After Falling Off Stage During London Performance

Ian McKellen attends the "Bent" 25th anniversary screening and Q&A in London, England, on Sept. 27, 2022. Nicky J Sims/Getty Images

Sir Ian McKellen, renowned for playing Magneto in “X-Men” and Gandalf in “The Lord of the Rings” film series, is recovering after falling off stage during a performance at the Noël Coward Theatre in London’s West End on Monday evening.

“Since the accident, during a performance of ‘Player Kings’ last night, my injuries have been diagnosed and treated by a series of experts, specialists, and nurses working for the National Health Service,” Sir McKellen said in a statement sent to The Epoch Times via email by the actor’s publicist, Clair Dobbs.

“To them, of course, I am hugely indebted. They have assured me that my recovery will be complete and speedy, and I am looking forward to returning to work,” he added, sharing a message of thanks for the public’s “kind messages and support.”

Charlie Johnson, an audience member in the front row during the performance, told GBNews that the accident occurred during a pivotal fight scene. “There was sort of a step down just as the stage meets the audience, and I think what happened was he sort of misplaced his foot, lost his balance,” he explained.

Mr. Johnson said Sir McKellen, 85, “sort of dove head first” and landed on an audience member, causing the actor to cry out in agony.

“Within seconds, he was screaming; he was screaming, ‘Help me, my arm. Help me,’ in a way that I’ve sort of never heard anyone say before,” Mr. Johnson continued. “So it was, it was difficult obviously to hear that and to hear it happen and see it happen to such a fantastic person.”

According to Mr. Johnson, theatergoers seated in the first two rows of the auditorium were quickly ushered out of the theater. “Within 30 seconds, the rest of the auditorium was emptied,” he recalled.

Mr. Johnson said he did not see Sir McKellen exit the theater, but was told that an ambulance was en route to take him to the hospital. “It was quite busy on the street at the main entrance; I think he was whisked away at the back,” he said.

‘Player Kings’

Sir McKellen portrays the character Sir John Falstaff in Robert Icke’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2.”

Actors Toheeb Jimoh, known for his role in “Ted Lasso,” and Richard Coyle, star of the British sitcom “Coupling” and the 2022 film “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” also star in the production, with Mr. Coyle playing King Henry IV.

“Player Kings” debuted on April 1, with performances scheduled through June 22. However, a series of statements on X on June 18 revealed that two upcoming performances had been canceled to give Sir McKellen time to recover.

“Thank you to our audience and the general public for their well wishes following Ian’s fall during yesterday evening’s performance. Following a scan, the brilliant NHS team have assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery and Ian is in good spirits,” the statement reads. “The production has made the decision to cancel the performance on Tuesday 18 June so Ian can rest. Those affected will be contacted by their point of purchase as soon as possible today.”

In a subsequent message on X, the account for “Player Kings” wrote that the performance slated for June 19 had also been canceled.

“We look forward to welcoming audiences back to the Noël Coward Theatre on Thursday 20 June,” the production wrote. “We are delighted that Ian is recovering so well, and look forward to him returning to the production as soon as he is ready. We will keep audiences updated regarding remaining performances this week.”

Acting Career

Sir McKellen, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, has been acting for six decades, with roles spanning from the screen to the stage.

The British star garnered his first acting gig in 1964, with a role in an episode of “The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling,” per his IMDb. Three years later, he made his Broadway debut in “The Promise.”

In 1993, he portrayed Geoffrey in the comedy-drama film “Six Degrees of Separation,” starring Will Smith, Donald Sutherland, and J. J. Abrams, before launching his long-running roles as Magneto in 2000’s “X-Men” and Gandalf in 2001’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”

Sir McKellen has won numerous accolades for his work on screen, including the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2002 and 2004 for his “The Lord of the Rings” performances and a Golden Globe in 1997 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for the 1996 telefilm “Rasputin.”

He also earned two Tony Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play—the first of which he won in 1981 for his portrayal of Antonio Salieri in the 1980 musical “Amadeus,” followed by the second, in 1984, for his performance in “Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare.”