Sir Ian McKellen, a famous British actor, was transported to the hospital Friday night after he fell off the stage during a battle scene while appearing in London’s West End.
Robert Icke’s adaptation and direction of Henry IV, parts one and two, at the Noel Coward Theatre featured McKellen in the role of John Falstaff. According to reports, some audience members gasped as the 85-year-old lost his balance and fell off the stage during a scene starring Henry Percy and the Prince of Wales, while others assumed it was all part of the performance.
However, McKellen is in “good spirits,” according to the doctors, and a full recovery is anticipated. A BBC journalist at the theater claimed that the stage and screen veteran, well known for his performances as Gandalf in the “Lord of the Rings” films and numerous stage roles during a six-decade career, screamed out in pain following the fall.
The actor was assisted by staff and two medics who were there, according to a Noel Coward representative. The show was canceled and the venue was evacuated. In order to provide McKellen time to rest and recuperate, the Tuesday performance has also been canceled.
Throughout his career, McKellen has portrayed Magneto in the X-Men movies as well as a number of Shakespearean roles, such as Macbeth, King Lear, and Richard II. He has received multiple Laurence Olivier Awards, a Tony Award for “Amadeus,” and nominations for multiple BAFTAs, two Oscars, and other honors.
