Ian McKellen

Sir Ian McKellen (born 1939) is a British actor who was knighted in 1991 for outstanding contributions to theater. He has gained international recognition for playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings series of films. He has also played both in the popular X-Men film series and in anti-Christian films such as The Da Vinci Code and The Golden Compass. He is currently playing in a production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot in London's West End and will reprise the role of Gandalf for an adaptation of The Hobbit.

Homosexuality

McKellen publically came out as a homosexual at the relatively late age of 49. He has been irrationally critical of so-called homophobic legislation in the UK, which stopped homosexuality from being preached in public schools (later disgracefully repealed).

Extreme opinions

McKellen is an atheist and opposes capital punishment.