Ian McKellen, 86, Has No Plans to Retire: ‘Why Shouldn’t I Carry On?’

At 86, Sir Ian McKellen remains remarkably active, with a career spanning over six decades showing no signs of slowing down. The actor, known for iconic roles in both stage and screen, expresses a simple reason for continuing his function: he enjoys it.

“Retire to do what?” McKellen responded when questioned about retirement plans, as reported by Just Jared. “I’ve never been out of work, but I’m aware that any minute now something could happen to me which could prevent me from ever working again. But while the knees hold up and the memory remains intact, why shouldn’t I carry on? I really experience I’m quite fine at this acting thing now.”

A Career Defined by Stage and Screen

Born in Burnley, Lancashire, in 1939, Ian McKellen began his acting career in 1961. He gained prominence in the 1970s as a mainstay of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre of Great Britain. While widely recognized for his film roles as Magneto in the X-Men series and Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, McKellen acknowledges these represent only a portion of his extensive work.

He has received numerous accolades, including a Tony Award and six Laurence Olivier Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards, five BAFTAs, and five Emmy Awards. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.

Embracing Recent Forms of Theatre

McKellen is currently involved in An Ark, an experimental theatre piece utilizing virtual reality technology at the Shed arts centre in Manhattan. The production creates a uniquely personal experience for each audience member, despite the actors’ physical absence from the room. McKellen sees potential in this format, noting it could offer a cost-effective solution for theatres, requiring only a one-time fee for actors and allowing for numerous daily showings.

“People preserve asking if this is the future,” McKellen said, “and I don’t realize about that, but it’s not the past.” He believes it’s a new asset that won’t replace traditional theatre, cinema, or television, but offers exciting possibilities.

A Recent Setback and a Return to the Stage

In June 2024, McKellen suffered a fractured wrist and chipped vertebra after falling off the stage during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre in London. He views his participation in An Ark as a “safer” way to return to work, allowing for easy pauses if needed, unlike the demands of live theatre.

Reflections on Life and Loss

McKellen acknowledges the inevitability of mortality, noting that the loss of friends has a profound impact. He recalls a conversation with a friend on his deathbed who expressed a desire not to “miss anything.” He also fondly remembers his friend Ian Charleson, who continued to perform while battling illness, and looks forward to watching the upcoming film about Charleson, Elsinore, starring Andrew Scott.

Upcoming Projects

McKellen’s recent and upcoming projects include the film Frank and Percy, alongside Derek Jacobi, Roger Allam, Sheila Hancock, and Stephen Fry, and The Christophers, directed by Steven Soderbergh. He will also reprise his role as Gandalf in the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis, filming in New Zealand in July 2026.

“Well, I said have anybody else play Gandalf,” McKellen stated.