 CHRONOLOGY/TIMELINE | 1797 | Paternal great-great grandfather, James McKellen (1797-1843) born in Ireland |
| 1840 | Paternal great-grandfather, James McKellen (1840-1877), born in Ireland |
| 1869 | Maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Dora Bannister (1869-1907), born in Fulwood, Lancashire, UK |
| 1870 | Paternal grandfather, William Henry McKellen (1870-1956), born in Manchester, UK |
| 1872 | Maternal grandfather, James Sutcliffe (1872-1953), born in Lancashire, UK |
| 1891 | Paternal grandmother, Alice Beatrice Murray (Lal) (1881-1937), born in Scotland |
| 1904 September | Paternal grandparents, William Henry McKellen (Hal) and Alice Beatrice Murray (Lal), married, Barton-on Irwell, Salford |
| 1905 August 25 | Mother, Margery Lois Sutclifffe (1905-1952), born in Salford, UK |
| 1905 December | Father, Denis Murray McKellen (1905-1964), born in Stockport, Cheshire, UK |
| 1931 September 10 | Parents married, Hatherlow Church in Romiley, Cheshire, UK |
| 1934 May 20 | Sister, Jean Lois, married name Jean Jones (1934-2003), born in Watford |
| 1939 May 25 | Born 8.30pm, General Hospital, Burnley, Lancashire, UK |
| 1939 September | Family move to 17 Parson's Walk, Wigan |
| 1942 | Hospitalised for diptheria |
| 1942 December | Sees first theatre production: PETER PAN, Palace Theatre, Manchester |
| 1943 | Enters Dicconson Street Wesleyan Primary |
| 1946 | Mother appears on stage, Wigan |
| 1946 December 31 | Awakened to perform Tennyson for guests (Hope Street Choir) at home |
| 1947 | Sees Belle Vue Circus |
| 1948 | Sees Glasgow Orpheus Choir, got conductor Hugh Roberton's autograph |
| 1948 December 25 | Beechwood Court: Received Pollock's Toy Theatre, Christmas Gift from Parents Link |
| 1949 August 25 | Sees KINGS RHAPSODY, Palace Theatre, Manchester |
| 1950 | Sees BABES IN THE WOOD, Palace Theatre, Manchester |
| 1950 December | Sees CINDERELLA ON ICE, Ritz Cinema, Wigan -- gets onstage |
| 1951 | Classmate commits suicide |
| 1951 | Blackpool Garden Party |
| 1951 March 2 | Sees Ballet Rambert, Southport |
| 1951 March 23 | Shows at home (23 & 27) |
| 1951 July | Family move to 34 Barrow Bridge Road, Bolton |
| 1951 September | Enters Bolton School |
| 1951 December | Sees Dick Emery as a young Dame in HUMPTY DUMPTY, Bolton Theatre Royal |
| 1952 March 13 | Bolton School presents A Programme of Plays at Hopefield Minature Theatre, March 13 and 15 |
| 1952 June | Mother dies of breast cancer |
| 1952 December | Reads news stories about Christine Jorgensen, one of the first people to have sex reassignment surgery |
| 1953 | Maternal grandfather, James Sutcliffe, dies |
| 1953 March 5 | Sees "Great Irish Tenor" Josef Locke perform |
| 1954 | Father marries Gladys Abraham in Friends Meeting House Liverpool |
| 1955 November | Sees John Gielgud in KING LEAR, Manchester Opera House |
| 1956 | Paternal grandfather, William Henry McKellen, dies |
| 1956 September | Enters Wigan Grammar School |
| 1957 | Sees John Gielgud in THE TEMPEST |
| 1957 | Sees Ralph Lynn in ROOKERY NOOK, Llandudno |
| 1957 June | Summer camp, Saundersfoot South Wales |
| 1957 August 4 | Sees Peggy Ashcroft as Imogen (Stratford, afternoon and evening perfs) |
| 1957 September 3 | Wolfenden Report published, recommending decriminalization of homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private |
| 1958 | ANTONY & CLEOPATRA recording released |
| 1958 February | Interview with Tom Henn, don at St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, who awards him an exhibition |
| 1958 | Enters St. Catharine's College, Cambridge |
| 1958 October 28 | THE APPLECART opens at ADC Theatre, Cambridge Link |
| 1958 November 27 | CAMINO REAL opens at ADC Theatre, Cambridge Link |
| 1959 February 3 | A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY opens at ADC Theatre, Cambridge Link |
| 1959 March 10 | HENRY IV PART 2 (Cambridge) opens at Cambridge Arts Theatre, Link |
| 1959 March 11 | Decides to pursue a career as an actor, following good review from Alan Dent Link |
| 1959 April 28 | DEUTSCHES HAUS opens at ADC Theatre Cambridge Link |
| 1959 May 1 | LOVE'S LABOURS opens at ADC Theatre Link |
| 1959 July 27 | THE THREE SISTERS (Cambridge) opens at Cambridge Arts Theatre, Link |
| 1959 October 13 | SAINT'S DAY opens at ADC Theatre, Cambridge Link |
| 1959 November 10 | SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR opens at ADC Theatre, Cambridge Link |
| 1960 | HENRY IV PART 2 recording released |
| 1960 | A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM recording released |
| 1960 March 8 | CYMBELINE opens at Cambridge Arts Theatre, Link |
| 1960 June | Graduates St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, B.A. Hons (2.2) |
| 1960 June 9 | THE DUENNA opens at ADC Theatre, Cambridge Link |
| 1960 June 10 | LULLABY OF PARK STREET opens at ADC, Cambridge Link |
| 1960 July 25 | DR FAUSTUS (Cambridge) opens at Cambridge Arts Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon Open Air Theatre Lyric Opera House Hammersmith, London, Link |
| 1960 July 25 | FRIAR BACON AND FRIAR BUNGAY opens at Cambridge Arts Theatre Stratford-upon-Avon Open Air Theatre Lyric Opera House Hammersmith, London, Link |
| 1960 September 27 | TWELFTH NIGHT (Cambridge) opens at Cambridge Arts Theatre, Link |
| 1960 October 3 | THE WILD DUCK opens at Cambridge Arts Theatre, Link |
| 1960 November 1 | CARDS OF IDENTITY opens at ADC Theatre, Cambridge Link |
| 1961 January 24 | THE BIRTHDAY PARTY opens at ADC Theatre, Cambridge Link |
| 1961 March 14 | HENRY VI PARTS 2 AND 3 (Cambridge) opens at Cambridge Arts Theatre, Link |
| 1961 June 8 | THE COUNTRY WIFE opens at ADC Theatre, Cambridge Link |
| 1961 August 1 | THE LARK opens at Cambridge Arts Theatre, Playhouse Oxford, Link |
| 1961 August 14 | CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA opens at Playhouse, Oxford Link |
| 1961 August 22 | Joins Belgrade Theatre Company |
| 1961 September 4 | A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1961 September 18 | WHEN WE ARE MARRIED opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1961 October 9 | YOU NEVER CAN TELL opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1961 October 16 | BLACK COFFEE opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1961 November 10 | "Midnight Matinee" at Coventry Theatre, Link |
| 1961 November 13 | CELEBRATION opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1961 November 27 | END OF CONFLICT opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1961 December | Elspeth Cochrane, later to become first agent, sees END OF CONFLICT Link |
| 1961 December 6 | MR. PICKWICK opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1961 December 23 | TOAD OF TOAD HALL opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1962 January 29 | THE SEAGULL (1962) opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1962 February 12 | THE BRIDE COMES BACK opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1962 March 6 | MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1962) opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1962 March 20 | "Happy Returns" at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1962 April 2 | TEN LITTLE NIGGERS opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1962 April 23 | THE IRREGULAR VERB TO LOVE opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1962 June 4 | NOAH opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1962 June 8 | SEMI-DETACHED opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1962 September 11 | BECKET opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1962 September 24 | THE GAZEBO opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1962 October 8 | CASTE opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1962 October 22 | THE BIG KILLING opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1962 November 5 | THE AMOROUS PRAWN opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1962 November 19 | THE KEEP (1962) opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1962 December 4 | DAVID COPPERFIELD (1962) opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1962 December 26 | ALADDIN & HIS WONDERFUL LAMP opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 January 16 | "How Dare We!" at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 February 5 | HENRY V (1963) opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 February 26 | UNDER MILK WOOD opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 March 12 | ARSENIC AND OLD LACE opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 March 29 | Elspeth Cochrane, first agent, agrees to represent him |
| 1963 April 9 | LUTHER opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 May 13 | THE BIG CONTRACT opens at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Link |
| 1963 June 18 | LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 July 2 | TO DOROTHY A SON opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 July 16 | I, JOHN BROWN opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 July 30 | SALAD DAYS opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 August 20 | THE CORN IS GREEN opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 September 10 | THE PUBLIC EYE opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 September 24 | SERJEANT MUSGRAVE'S DANCE opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 October 8 | ALL IN GOOD TIME opens at Arts Theatre, Ipswich, Suffolk Link |
| 1963 | Meets Brian "Brodie" Taylor, teacher, at Bolton Little Theatre |
| 1963 December 12 | CORIOLANUS (1963) opens at Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham Link |
| 1964 | Episode of KIPLING broadcast |
| 1964 January 8 | THE LIFE IN MY HANDS opens at Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham Link |
| 1964 February 12 | THE BASHFUL GENIUS opens at Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham Link |
| 1964 March 11 | THE MAYOR OF ZALAMEA opens at Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham Link |
| 1964 April 15 | SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING opens at Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham Link |
| 1964 June 10 | SIR THOMAS MORE opens at Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham Link |
| 1964 September 30 | A SCENT OF FLOWERS opens at Duke of York's, London Link |
| 1964 October 3 | Father and stepmother Gladys injured in car accident |
| 1964 October 7 | Father dies of injuries from car crash of 3 October 1964 |
| 1965 | SONS AND LOVERS broadcast |
| 1965 February 7 | SUNDAY OUT OF SEASON broadcast |
| 1965 February 16 | MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1965) broadcast Link |
| 1965 February 16 | MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1965) opens at Old Vic, London Link |
| 1965 July 6 | ARMSTRONG'S LAST GOODNIGHT opens at Chichester Festival Link |
| 1965 July 13 | TRELAWNEY OF THE "WELLS" opens at Chichester Festival Link |
| 1965 November 4 | THE TRIAL AND TORTURE OF SIR JOHN RAMPAYNE broadcast |
| 1965 November 22 | A LILY IN LITTLE INDIA opens at Hampstead Theatre Club and St Martin's, London Link |
| 1966 | THREE SISTERS recording released |
| 1966 | EDWARD II (1966) released |
| 1966 | HENRY VIII broadcast |
| 1966 | HEDDA GABLER broadcast |
| 1966 | HENRY V (1966) recording released |
| 1966 January 16 | DAVID COPPERFIELD (BBC-TV, 1966) broadcast |
| 1966 May 19 | THEIR VERY OWN AND GOLDEN CITY opens at Royal Court, London Link |
| 1966 September 14 | THE MAN OF DESTINY / O'FLAHERTY VC opens at Mermaid, London Link |
| 1966 November 21 | THE PROMISE (My Poor Marat) opens at Oxford Playhouse, London Link |
| 1966 | Filiming THE BELLS OF HELL GO TING-A-LING-A-LING Link |
| 1967 | In Rome for screen test for BARBARELLA and "a spaghetti Western" |
| 1967 | Living at 25 Earls Terrace, London |
| 1967 | THE SEAGULL broadcast |
| 1967 January 17 | THE PROMISE (1967) opens at Fortune Theatre, London Link |
| 1967 March 19 | Noel Coward sees THE PROMISE |
| 1967 May 27 | THE FIRST ST. JOAN broadcast |
| 1967 July 28 | Sexual Offenses Act of 1967 receives royal assent to partially decriminalize male homosexual acts in private in England and Wales, setting age of consent at 21 |
| 1967 November 3 | THE PROMISE (Broadway) opens at Henry Miller's, New York Link |
| 1968 February 1 | THE WHITE LIARS / BLACK COMEDY opens at Lyric, London Link |
| 1968 October 6 | "Art Reflected" at Purcell Room, South Bank, London Link |
| 1968 November 1 | RICHARD II opens UK Tour Link |
| 1968 December 24 | RICHARD III (1968 radio) broadcast |
| 1969 | EDWARD II (1969) recording released |
| 1969 April 29 | THE BACCHAE opens at Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool Link |
| 1969 May 20 | THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE opens at Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool Link |
| 1969 July 1 | THREE MONTHS GONE opens at Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool Link |
| 1969 July 14 | ALFRED THE GREAT opens Link |
| 1969 July 20 | WHAT IF IT'S JUST GREEN CHEESE? broadcast |
| 1969 August 18 | A TOUCH OF LOVE/THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH opens Link |
| 1969 August 28 | EDWARD II opens at Edinburgh Festival Link |
| 1969 December 1 | THE PROMISE opens Link |
| 1970 March 1 | KEATS broadcast |
| 1970 April 6 | ROMEO AND JULIET (1970) broadcast |
| 1970 April 26 | "An Evening of Free Greek Music & Drama" at Royal Albert Hall, London Link |
| 1970 June 30 | BILLY'S LAST STAND opens at Theatre Upstairs: Royal Court, London Link |
| 1970 July 27 | RICHARD II (1970) broadcast |
| 1970 August 2 | EDWARD II (1970) broadcast |
| 1970 August 24 | A PROVINCIAL LIFE broadcast |
| 1970 October 6 | THE RECRUITING OFFICER opens UK Tour, Link |
| 1970 October 18 | ROSS broadcast |
| 1970 October 25 | CHIPS WITH EVERYTHING opens UK Tour, Link |
| 1971 | A SORT OF LEGEND broadcast |
| 1971 March 23 | HAMLET opens UK/European Tour, Link |
| 1971 November | First meeting of Actors' Company |
| 1971 November 10 | THE SWAN SONG opens at Crucible, Sheffield Link |
| 1972 | Moves to 17 Camberwell Grove, London |
| 1972 | Relationship with Brian "Brodie" Taylor "changes" |
| 1972 February 1 | THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND opens at Phoenix, Leicester Link |
| 1972 April 1 | THE ERPINGHAM CAMP opens at Palace Theatre, Watford Link |
| 1972 April 9 | THE LAST JOURNEY broadcast |
| 1972 July 10 | Rehearsals begin for RULING THE ROOST, first Actors' Company play |
| 1972 August 22 | RULING THE ROOST opens UK Tour/Edinburgh Link |
| 1972 September 4 | 'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE opens UK Tour/Edinburgh Link |
| 1972 October 17 | THE THREE ARROWS opens at Arts, Cambridge Link |
| 1973 January 15 | A PRIVATE MATTER opens at Vaudeville, London Link |
| 1973 August 14 | THE WAY OF THE WORLD opens UK Tour Link |
| 1973 August 21 | THE WOOD DEMON opens UK Tour Link |
| 1973 October 1 | CRAVEN ARMS (COUNTRY MATTERS) broadcast |
| 1973 November 18 | THE RECRUITING OFFICER (TV) broadcast |
| 1973 December 1 | GRACELESS GO I broadcast |
| 1982 April 22 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Washington DC) opens at Folger Theatre, Washington, DC Link |
| 1982 April 26 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (PBS) broadcast on PBS at 9:00pm |
| 1982 June 24 | EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR (1982) opens Link |
| 1982 November 2 | LOVING WALTER broadcast Link |
| 1982 November 9 | THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL broadcast Link |
| 1982 November 28 | "To Cambridge With Love" at Barbican Theatre, Link |
| 1983 January 24 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (British Council 1983 Tour) opens Link |
| 1983 March 11 | SHORT LIST opens at Hampstead Theatre, London, NW1 Link |
| 1983 May 16 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Warsaw) opens at Ateneum Theatre, Warsaw Link |
| 1983 July 4 | COWARDICE opens at Ambassadors', Richmond Link |
| 1983 November 4 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Paris) opens at Petit Odeon / Odeon Theatre, Paris Link |
| 1983 December 5 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (US 1983) opens at Westwood Playhouse (LA) Link |
| 1983 December 16 | THE KEEP (1983) opens Link |
| 1984 | Curt Dawson dies of AIDS Link |
| 1984 January 22 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Oxford) opens at Oxford Playhouse, Oxford Link |
| 1984 April 12 | VENICE PRESERV'D or A Plot Discovered opens at Lyttelton, London Link |
| 1984 July 19 | WILD HONEY opens at Lyttelton, London Link |
| 1984 August 13 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Canada) opens Link |
| 1984 September 23 | Filming PLENTY at Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London |
| 1984 December 15 | CORIOLANUS (1984-5) opens -- first production at The Olivier Theatre, London Link |
| 1985 January 13 | A Night for Nicaragua at Piccadilly Theatre, London Link |
| 1985 July 4 | THE DUCHESS OF MALFI opens at Lyttelton, Blackstone, London, Chicago Link |
| 1985 August 4 | DEAR AND HONOURED LADY broadcast |
| 1985 September 1 | A Tribute to Michael Redgrave at Old Vic, London Link |
| 1985 September 12 | THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND opens at Olivier, London Link |
| 1985 September 12 | THE CRITIC opens at Olivier, London Link |
| 1985 September 20 | PLENTY opens Link |
| 1985 October 20 | IAN MCKELLEN'S DIARY OF A YEAR broadcast |
| 1985 December 1 | IAN MCKELLEN ACTING SHAKESPEARE broadcast |
| 1985 December 10 | THE CHERRY ORCHARD opens at Cottesloe, London Link |
| 1986 February 2 | "Strange Eventful History" at CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE, Cambridge Link |
| 1986 May 5 | THE CHERRY ORCHARD (Chicago) opens at International Theatre Festival, Chicago Link |
| 1986 July 1 | ZINA opens Link |
| 1986 August 31 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (London 1986) opens at Olivier Theatre, London Link |
| 1986 December 18 | WILD HONEY (Broadway) opens at Virginia Theater, New York Link |
| 1987 | SULEYMAN THE MAGNIFICENT broadcast |
| 1987 February 3 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (US 1987) opens at USA Tour Link |
| 1987 September | Talks to Armistead Maupin and Terry Anderson in San Francisco about coming out. |
| 1987 December 11 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (London 1987) opens at Playhouse Theatre, London Link |
| 1988 January 27 | Public "coming out" on BBC Radio 3 |
| 1988 February 20 | Joins march in Manchester to protest Section 28 |
| 1988 March 20 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (UK 1988) opens Link |
| 1988 April 16 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Wilmington) opens at Delaware Theatre, Wilmington Link |
| 1988 May 24 | Section 28 enacted in UK, prohibiting "promotion" of homosexuality |
| 1988 October 2 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (London 1988) opens at Playhouse Theatre, London Link |
| 1988 October 19 | THE WITCHES broadcast |
| 1988 November 1 | WINDMILL OF THE GODS broadcast |
| 1988 November 21 | HENCEFORWARD... opens at Vaudeville Theatre, London Link |
| 1988 December 1 | OTHELLO (1988) broadcast |
| 1989 | Founding member of Stonewall UK |
| 1989 January 31 | Foundations of the Rose Theatre uncovered in London |
| 1989 March 3 | SCANDAL opens Link |
| 1989 May 13 | Participates in entertainment/protests on the site of the Rose Theatre (13-14 May) |
| 1989 June 25 | BENT (1989) opens at Adelphi Theatre, London Link |
| 1989 August 9 | OTHELLO opens at The Other Place, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon; The Young Vic, London, Link |
| 1989 August 31 | COUNTDOWN TO WAR broadcast Link |
| 1989 September 1 | WILD HONEY (Radio) broadcast |
| 1989 | RELATED VARIATIONS broadcast |
| 1989 November 13 | Sees Ian Charleson in HAMLET |
| 1989 November 14 | Wins Evening Standard Award for OTHELLO |
| 1990 January 19 | BENT (1990) opens at Lyttelton and Garrick, London Link |
| 1990 February 18 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Jersey) opens at Opera House, Jersey, Channel Islands Link |
| 1990 March 19 | Rehearsals begin for RICHARD III |
| 1990 April 28 | CHIP IN THE SUGAR opens at Haymarket Theatre, London Link |
| 1990 June 25 | RICHARD III opens at Lyttelton, London Link |
| 1990 June 26 | KING LEAR (1990) opens at Lyttleton, London Link |
| 1990 September 7 | APLA Award, Wiltern Theatre, Hollywood |
| 1990 December 31 | Awarded knighthood |
| 1991 | University of Oxford, Cameron Mackintosh Professor of Contemporary Theatre |
| 1991 January 4 | Derek Jarman letter in The Guardian |
| 1991 June 27 | NAPOLI MILIONARIA opens at Lyttelton, London Link |
| 1991 July 1 | PM John Major sees NAPOLI MILIONARIA |
| 1991 September 24 | Meeting with PM John Major at 10 Downing Street |
| 1992 February 25 | UNCLE VANYA opens at Cottesloe, London Link |
| 1992 May 20 | RICHARD III (US Tour) opens Link |
| 1993 March 8 | Filming LAST ACTION HERO in Times Square, New York |
| 1993 May 18 | Announces plans to film RICHARD III, Cannes |
| 1993 June 18 | LAST ACTION HERO opens Link |
| 1993 August 20 | THE BALLAD OF LITTLE JO opens Link |
| 1993 September 11 | AND THE BAND PLAYED ON broadcast Link |
| 1993 October 1 | MISTER SHAW'S MISSING MILLIONS broadcast |
| 1993 November 1 | TALES OF THE CITY broadcast |
| 1993 December 8 | SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION opens Link |
| 1994 | THE SOLDIER'S TALE broadcast |
| 1994 | THE DANCING BEAR broadcast |
| 1994 February 4 | I'LL DO ANYTHING opens Link |
| 1994 June 21 | A KNIGHT OUT AT THE LYCEUM opens at Lyceum Theatre, New York Link |
| 1994 July 1 | THE SHADOW opens Link |
| 1994 September 25 | A KNIGHT OUT AT THE MARKET THEATRE opens at Market Theatre, Johannesburg Link |
| 1994 November 3 | Criminal Justice Act of 1994 receives royal assent to reduce age of consent to 18 for male homosexuals in UK |
| 1994 November 13 | A KNIGHT OUT (1994) opens UK tour Link |
| 1995 | Meets President Nelson Mandela, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| 1995 | COLD COMFORT FARM broadcast Link |
| 1995 January 23 | A KNIGHT OUT (1995) opens at Civic Theatre, Johannesburg Link |
| 1995 June 2 | JACK AND SARAH opens Link |
| 1995 September 1 | KIPLING'S IF broadcast |
| 1995 December 29 | RICHARD III opens Link |
| 1995 December 29 | RESTORATION opens Link |
| 1996 | ODYSSEY (Unabridged) released |
| 1996 March 23 | RASPUTIN broadcast Link |
| 1996 May 20 | Meets Bill Clinton in White House, Washington DC |
| 1996 May 20 | Meets President Bill Clinton, White House, Washington |
| 1996 November 8 | A KNIGHT OUT IN THE EAST END opens at St Paul's Arts Centre, London E 14 Link |
| 1996 November 17 | King's Parade at Theatre Royal Haymarket, London Link |
| 1997 | Joins board of National Theatre |
| 1997 January 10 | A KNIGHT OUT IN BRUSSELS opens at Theatre du Residence Palace, Brussels Link |
| 1997 May 12 | A KNIGHT OUT IN LOS ANGELES opens at Los Angeles Theatre Centre, Los Angeles Link |
| 1997 June 30 | Begins filming GODS AND MONSTERS |
| 1997 July 28 | Wraps GODS AND MONSTERS |
| 1997 September 1 | SURVIVING FRIENDLY FIRE opens Link |
| 1997 September 1 | Launches website at McKellen.com Link |
| 1997 September 19 | AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE (London) opens at Olivier Theatre, London Link |
| 1997 October 4 | BENT (1997) opens Link |
| 1997 November 28 | Equality Show London Link |
| 1997 December 16 | PETER PAN opens at Olivier Theatre, London Link |
| 1998 January 23 | SWEPT FROM THE SEA opens Link |
| 1998 July 22 | AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE (Los Angeles) opens at Ahmanson Theater The Music Centre, Los Angeles Link |
| 1998 September 26 | GODS AND MONSTERS at New York Film Festival |
| 1998 October 23 | APT PUPIL opens Link |
| 1998 October 29 | THE SEAGULL (1998) opens at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds Link |
| 1998 November 4 | GODS AND MONSTERS opens Link |
| 1998 December 10 | PRESENT LAUGHTER opens at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds Link |
| 1999 January 28 | THE TEMPEST opens at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds Link |
| 1999 February 17 | Yahoo! Chat |
| 1999 March 25 | Attends London premiere of GODS AND MONSTERS with Monica Lewinsky |
| 1999 March 26 | GODS AND MONSTERS opens in UK |
| 1999 August | Begins filming X-MEN in Toronto Link |
| 1999 August 17 | First blog (Magneto's Lair) Link |
| 1999 November 28 | Equality Show London |
| 1999 December 25 | DAVID COPPERFIELD (1999) broadcast Link |
| 2000 January 10 | Begins filming LORD OF THE RINGS in New Zealand Link |
| 2000 March 26 | Attends Academy Awards, Los Angeles, Best Actor nominee, GODS AND MONSTERS |
| 2000 July 4 | X-MEN opens Link |
| 2000 November 30 | Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act receives royal assent to equalize age of consent for male homosexuals in UK |
| 2000 December | Meets Nick Cuthell, Cuba Street, Wellington, NZ |
| 2001 | THE OLIVIERS IN LOVE broadcast |
| 2001 April 22 | LITTLE DORRIT broadcast |
| 2001 September 18 | DANCE OF DEATH (Broadway) opens at Broadhurst Theatre, New York Link |
| 2001 December 10 | London premiere of FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING |
| 2001 December 19 | THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING opens Link |
| 2002 January 20 | Presents award at Golden Globes, Beverly Hills |
| 2002 March 9 | In Los Angeles to promote FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING |
| 2002 March 16 | Hosts SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, New York |
| 2002 March 24 | Attends Academy Awards with Nick Cuthell, Hollywood, Best Supporting Actor nominee, FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS |
| 2002 June 30 | Grand Marshall, SAN FRANCISCO PRIDE Link |
| 2002 September 22 | AIDS Walk Seattle |
| 2002 November 10 | A KNIGHT OUT (Vancouver 2002) opens at Vancouver Playhouse, Vancouver, BC Canada Link |
| 2002 December 8 | INSIDE THE ACTORS' STUDIO on Bravo TV in US |
| 2002 December 18 | THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS opens Link |
| 2003 January 27 | Announces nominess for BAFTA Awards |
| 2003 February 20 | DANCE OF DEATH opens at Lyric Shaftesbury Ave, London Link |
| 2003 May 4 | An Audience with Ian McKellen at The Space, Isle of Dogs, London Link |
| 2003 August 23 | Manchester Pride |
| 2003 October 1 | CHURCHILL broadcast Link |
| 2003 November | Sister, Jean Jones, dies in Nayland, Sussex, UK |
| 2003 November 18 | Section 28 repealed |
| 2003 November 20 | Criminal Justice Act of 2003 receives royal assent to recognise anti-gay hate crimes |
| 2003 November 23 | THE SIMPSONS: The Regina Monologues broadcast Link |
| 2003 December 1 | Premiere of RETURN OF THE KING, Wellington, NZ Link |
| 2003 December 3 | Premiere of RETURN OF THE KING, Los Angeles Link |
| 2003 December 18 | THE LORD OF THE RINGS: RETURN OF THE KING opens Link |
| 2003 December 22 | In New York to promote RETURN OF THE KING |
| 2003 December 31 | EMILE opens Link |
| 2004 February 29 | Academy Awards, Hollywood, presents film clip of RETURN OF THE KING |
| 2004 April 29 | Honorary degree from Leeds University |
| 2004 May 21 | EMILE opens in UK |
| 2004 June 26 | Carries Olympic torch on Tower Bridge |
| 2004 June 27 | SOUTH BANK SHOW: A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF IAN MCKELLEN broadcast Link |
| 2004 July 3 | Leads Pride March in London |
| 2004 July 12 | BE PREPARED broadcast Link |
| 2004 September 6 | Filming NEVERWAS in Vancouver, BC (through 22 October 2004) |
| 2004 September 16 | WOLF BROTHER released Link |
| 2004 November 6 | Show in memory of sister, Jean Jones, Village Hall, Nayland, Sussex, UK |
| 1973 December 18 | KNOTS opens at Edinburgh Link |
| 1974 | HEDDA GABLER broadcast |
| 1974 | HENRY VI (Parts 1, 2, and 3) broadcast |
| 1974 February 2 | KING LEAR (1974) opens at Brooklyn Academy of Music Link |
| 1974 March 26 | 'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE (Wimbledon) opens at Wimbledon Theatre, Link |
| 1974 August 12 | DR FAUSTUS opens at Edinburgh Festival Link |
| 1974 November 19 | THE MARQUIS OF KEITH opens at Aldwych Theatre, London Link |
| 1975 January 9 | KING JOHN opens at Aldwych Theatre, London Link |
| 1975 April 29 | THE CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE opens at Savoy, London Link |
| 1975 June 11 | ASHES opens at Young Vic, London Link |
| 1975 July 13 | THE JOURNALISTS (rehearsed reading) at Jackson's Lane Community Centre, Link |
| 1975 October 21 | TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD opens at Aldwych Theatre and The Globe, London Link |
| 1976 March 29 | ROMEO AND JULIET (1976) opens at Stratford-upon-Avon Link |
| 1976 April 25 | Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations Concert at Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Link |
| 1976 June 1 | THE WINTER'S TALE opens at RST, Stratford-upon-Avon Link |
| 1976 July 9 | MACBETH opens at Other Place, Stratford-upon-avon Link |
| 1976 August 25 | Atlantic Affairs at Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon Link |
| 1976 September 5 | WORDS, WORDS, WORDS opens Link |
| 1976 September 22 | Recital of poems by Yevgeni Yevtushenko at Royal Festival Hall, London Link |
| 1976 November 22 | Celebrity Gala Recital at Aldwych Theatre, London Link |
| 1977 January 17 | "Won't You Charleston?" at Hilton Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon Link |
| 1977 May 19 | THE ALCHEMIST opens at Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon Link |
| 1977 July 1 | EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR opens at Barbican Concert Hall, London Link |
| 1977 July 27 | PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY opens at Aldwych Theatre, London Link |
| 1977 August 28 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE opens at St. Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh Link |
| 1977 November 1 | THE DAYS OF THE COMMUNE opens at Aldwych Theatre, London Link |
| 1977 November 11 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Belfast) opens at Arts Theatre, Belfast Link |
| 1978 | EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR broadcast |
| 1978 February 5 | A MISERABLE AND LONELY DEATH opens at Donmar Warehouse Link |
| 1978 April 23 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Ipswich) opens at Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Link |
| 1978 April 27 | Homage to Neruda opens University of London: Senate House, Link |
| 1978 July 13 | TWELFTH NIGHT opens Small Scale Tour Link |
| 1978 July 18 | IS THERE HONEY STILL FOR TEA? opens Small Scale tour of UK Link |
| 1978 July 28 | THREE SISTERS opens Small Scale tour of UK Link |
| 1978 August | Meets Sean Mathias in Edinburgh |
| 1978 September | Signs with agent Jimmy Sharkey |
| 1979 | SIR THOMAS MORE (Radio) broadcast |
| 1979 January 5 | MACBETH (TV) broadcast Link |
| 1979 May 3 | BENT (1979) opens at Royal Court, London Link |
| 1979 June 11 | "Gran Gala Per L'Europa" at Teatro Lirico, Milan Link |
| 1979 July 24 | Marches with cast of BENT in London in support of British Actors' Equity |
| 1979 November 16 | ACTING CHAT SHOW opens at Arts Theatre, Belfast Link |
| 1980 February 9 | WORDS, WORDS, WORDS broadcast |
| 1980 February 12 | DYING DAY broadcast Link |
| 1980 March 3 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (British Council Scandinavian Tour) opens Link |
| 1980 July 20 | Eagle in New Mexico at Paolo Soleri Theatre, Santa Fe, New Mexico USA Link |
| 1980 September 27 | Rehearsals begin for AMADEUS |
| 1980 November 4 | AMADEUS opens at National Theatre, Washington DC Link |
| 1980 December 17 | AMADEUS opens at Broadhurst, New York Link |
| 1981 April 26 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Globe Benefit) opens at Broadhurst Theatre, New York Link |
| 1981 June 7 | Wins Tony for AMADEUS |
| 1981 October 4 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (Second Stage Benefit) opens at Broadhurst Theatre, New York Link |
| 1981 October 11 | PRIEST OF LOVE opens Link |
| 1981 November 8 | Leaves Broadway run of AMADEUS |
| 1981 November 11 | PRIEST OF LOVE opens at Cinema II in New York |
| 1982 | THE DIARY OF A NOBODY WRITER broadcast |
| 1982 | Moves to London Docklands |
| 1982 April 18 | ACTING SHAKESPEARE (1982 tour) opens Link |
| 2004 December 17 | ALADDIN opens at Old Vic, London Link |
| 2005 January 23 | ALADDIN closes Link |
| 2005 February 11 | In Berlin for screening of ASYLUM at Berlinalel |
| 2005 February 25 | TERRE HAUTE broadcast |
| 2005 April 24 | In New York for screening of ASYLUM at Tribeca Film Festival |
| 2005 April 24 | A Restoration Gala at Royal Theatre, Bury St Edmunds Link |
| 2005 May 2 | CORONATION STREET broadcast Link |
| 2005 July 25 | THE PRELUDE broadcast |
| 2005 August 12 | ASYLUM opens Link |
| 2005 September 7 | SPIRIT WALKER released Link |
| 2005 December 5 | Civil Partnership Act grants legal status to gays and lesbians in UK |
| 2005 December 7 | ALADDIN opens second run at The Old Vic Link |
| 2006 January 12 | Unveils plaque at Rose Theatre |
| 2006 January 22 | ALADDIN ends run Link |
| 2006 February 7 | WORDS, WORDS, WORDS, to benefit The Dyslexia Institute |
| 2006 February 11 | Golden Bear Lifetime Achievement Award, Berlinale |
| 2006 February 16 | Equality Act of 2006 receives royal assent granting protections against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services |
| 2006 February 23 | THE CUT opens at Donmar, London Link |
| 2006 May 2 | In Los Angeles to promote THE DA VINCI CODE Link |
| 2006 May 19 | THE DA VINCI CODE opens Link |
| 2006 May 26 | X-MEN: THE LAST STAND opens Link |
| 2006 July 2 | EUROPRIDE: THE SHOW Link |
| 2006 | RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER released Link |
| 2006 December 21 | SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT broadcast Link |
| 2007 January 6 | Begins rehearsals for KING LEAR and THE SEAGULL Link |
| 2007 March 24 | KING LEAR (2007) opens at The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Link |
| 2007 April 17 | THE SEAGULL (2007) opens at The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Link |
| 2009 March 5 | WAITING FOR GODO opens at The Royal Haymarket, London Link |
|