
Legendary British actor Sir Ian McKellan was recently hospitalized after suffering a severe fall off a theatre stage at a performance in London on Monday. The 85-year-old English actor is best known for his iconic role as Gandalf The Grey in Peter Jackson’s cult classic trilogy, The Lord Of The Rings.
On Monday, McKellan starred in the play, Player Kings, as the character John Falstaff, at the Noel Coward Theatre in the West End of London. While on stage performing a fight scene, McKellan seemingly lost his footing and fell off the stage, according to BBC. BBC reported that the fight scene featured McKellan and his co-stars who played the Prince of Wales and Henry Percy. McKellan’s character was circling the battle acne where he then fell off the stage. One audience member named Paul Critchley stated that it appeared McKellan lost his balance as he attempted to walk down the stage to take a more “active part” in the scene. Critchley explained that McKellan’s momentum walking downwards contributed to his loss of balance. McKellan reportedly fell off the stage right in front of the audience.
As soon as McKellan fell off the stage, the theatre’s lights then came on as the elderly actor cried for help. Staff and crew members of the stage quickly rushed to McKellan’s aide, where the remainder of the play was canceled due to the incident, along with audience members being evacuated. One audience member stated to BBC that they hoped the actor was okay, and presumed McKellan was conscious due to him calling for help.
Player Kings is a new-age production of Shakespeare’s iconic plays, Henry IV, Parts One and Two. In 2002, McKellan was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actor for his role as Gandalf in the trilogy’s first film The Fellowship of The Ring. His first nomination for the same award came in 1998 in the drama Gods and Monsters.