Video ClipsOn TV This Week: US UK

  2009 THE PRISONER Company: ITV/AMC
Director: Jon Jones
Writer: Bill Gallagher
Producer: Trevor Hopkins

Six Episodes
Filming begins August 2008 in Namibia and South Africa

Role: Number Two

Costarring: Jim Caviezel

  2006 EXTRAS Company: BBC 2

Season 2, Episode 5
Filmed at Pinewood Studios 14 June 2006

EPISODE 5, with Ian McKellen
First Aired
9 pm Friday, 6 October 2006
BBC 2 TV

  2005 CORONATION STREET Company: Granada-ITV

Ten episodes first aired beginning Sunday 1 May 2005

  2004 SOUTH BANK SHOW: A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF IAN MCKELLEN Company: ITV
PRODUCER: Matt Cain, edited and presented by Melvyn Bragg

First aired 27 June 2004

  2003 THE SIMPSONS: The Regina Monologues Company: Fox
ROLE: Himself

First aired 23 November 2003

  2003 CHURCHILL Company: TWI/Carlton PBS
ROLE: Narrator


 

2002 EVEREST - VIEW FROM THE TOP Company: Channel Four UK
ROLE: Narrator
2001 THE OLIVIERS IN LOVE COMPANY: Channel Four UK
ROLE: Narrator

 

1999 DAVID COPPERFIELD
Charles Dickens, Screenplay by Adrian Hodges
COMPANY: BBC One
PRODUCER: Kate Harwood
DIRECTOR: Simon Curtis
ROLE: Mr Creakle
Co-starring: Bob Hoskins, Maggie Smith, Daniel Radcliffe, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Pauline Quirke, Ciarán McMenamin
Transmission: BBC ONE Christmas Day 7pm & Boxing Day 6:25pm 1999
In the US April 16-17, 2000 on PBS




1996 RASPUTIN
PRODUCER: HBO USA
DIRECTOR: Uli Edel
ROLE: Tsar Nicholas II
Golden Globe Award - Best Supporting Actor
Emmy nomination - Best Supporting Actor

Co-starring: Alan Rickman, Greta Scacchi, David Warner, John Wood.
Theatrical release outside of US, HBO TV in US.



  1995 NATIONAL POETRY DAY PRODUCER: BBC 1 Television

Griff Rhys-Jones announced the winner of the national poll for the favourite poem., Rudyard Kipling’s “If,” which was then read live by Ian McKellen. 1 September 1995

1995 ANGLIA AT WAR PRODUCER: The Fourth Estate Productions
ROLE: Voiceover
Three series of four shows each
1994 COLD COMFORT FARM
From the novel by Stella Gibbons
PRODUCER: BBC Flms/Thames Film
DIRECTOR: John Schlesinger
ROLE: Amos Starkadder
Co-starring: Eileen Atkins, Stephen Fry, Kate Beckinsale, Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry, Rufus Sewell.
Shot on location in Sussex.
Also theatrical release.




1993 AND THE BAND PLAYED ON
Screenplay by Arnold Schulman from Randy Shilts' book
PRODUCER: HBO USA
DIRECTOR: Roger Spottiswoode
ROLE: Bill Kraus
Cable Ace Award - Best Supporting Actor
Emmy Nomination - Best Supporting Actor

Co-starring: Matthew Modine, LilyTomlin, Richard Gere, Steve Martin.
Theatrical release outside of US. Shot in November 1992.



1993 TALES OF THE CITY
Screenplay of his novel by Armistead Maupin
PRODUCER: Channel Four UK / PBS USA
DIRECTOR: Alastair Stewart
ROLE: San Franciscan "A-Gay"



1993 MISTER SHAW'S MISSING MILLIONS
Jack Emery
PRODUCER: Channel Four UK
DIRECTOR: David Giles
ROLE: G Bernard Shaw


1989 COUNTDOWN TO WAR
PRODUCER: Granada
DIRECTOR: Patrick Lau
WRITER: Ronald Harwood
ROLE: Adolf Hitler
 

Verbatim words of the protagonists of WW2.

First aired 31 August 1989 on Granada Television in UK


1988 OTHELLO
William Shakespeare
COMPANY: Royal Shakespeare Company
PRODUCER: CBS
DIRECTOR: Trevor Nunn
ROLE: Iago
Co-starring: Willard White, Imogen Stubbs, Zoe Wanamaker.
Primetime TV; Royal Shakespeare production.



1988 WINDMILL OF THE GODS
From the novel by Sidney Sheldon
PRODUCER: CBS
Co-starring: Jaclyn Smith, Robert Wagner.



1987 SULEYMAN THE MAGNIFICENT
PRODUCER: PBS USA special
ROLE: Narrator


1986 THE WITCHES
Based on the life and writings of Raold Dahl
PRODUCER: BBC 2 TV / Arena
Role: Grand High Witch
Broadcast: 19 October 1986
1985 IAN MCKELLEN ACTING SHAKESPEARE
PRODUCER: PBS USA Special / David Suskind
DIRECTOR: Kirk Browning/Sean Mathias


1985 IAN MCKELLEN'S DIARY OF A YEAR
PRODUCER: PBS South Bank Show UK / Bravo USA
Edited by Melvyn Bragg.
1984/85 filmed record of Ian McKellen's year at the Royal National Theatre.

First broadcast 20 October 1985

1982 LOVING WALTER
Screenplay from his novel by David Cook
PRODUCER: Central Productions Ltd for Channel Four UK
DIRECTOR: Stephen Frears
ROLE: Walter
Royal Television Society Performer of the Year
Co-starring: Sarah Miles, Barbara Jefford, Jim Broadbent
Also screened as two separate films: WALTER AND JUNE; LOVING WALTER. The shocking story of a mentally handicapped man at the mercy of society's attitudes. Adapted from DAVID COOK's award-winning novel, 'WALTER' was transmitted on 'Film on Four" on the new channel's opening night. Scenes at The Old Hospital, Liverpool Road, London shot in March 1982.



1982 THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL
Screenplay by Bill Bast
PRODUCER: London Films / CBS
DIRECTOR: Clive Donner
ROLE: Chauvelin
Co-starring: Jane Seymour and Anthony Andrews.



1982 ACTING SHAKESPEARE
From Shakespeare with commentary by Ian McKellen

PRODUCER: Andrew Susskind
PBS USA
Transmitted: 26 April 1982

In commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Folger Shakespeare Library, the IBM Corporation presented over the Public Broadcasting System, a ninety-minute videotape of "Ian McKellen Acting Shakespeare" The show was taped in November 1981 at CBS Studios, New York.

1980 DYING DAY
John Bowen
PRODUCER: ITV UK / Masterpiece Theatre / PBS USA
DIRECTOR: Robert Tronson
First Transmitted: 12 February 1980
4-part "Armchair Thriller"



1979 MACBETH
William Shakespeare
COMPANY: Royal Shakespeare Company
PRODUCER: Thames TV
DIRECTOR: Trevor Nunn/Philip Casson
ROLE: Macbeth
Co-starring: Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth.
"Ian McKellen, Judi Dench and John Woodvine (Banquo) lift themselves to levels of excellence seldom encountered on the small screen. Or anywhere else. Television is honoured by this Macbeth." — Herbert Kretzmer, Daily Mail UK, 5 January 1979.



1978 EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR
PRODUCER: BBC Play of the Week
DIRECTOR: Trevor Nunn & Roger Bamford

The filming was undertaken at a live performance at Wembley Conference Centre in April 1978, conducted by Previn. The cast for this production was Ian McKellen (Alexander Ivanov), Ben Kingsley (Ivanov), Frank Windsor (the Doctor),John Woodvine (the Colonel), Barbara Leigh Hunt (the Teacher) and James Harris, aka Jim Harris and James Pickering, (Sacha).

1974 HEDDA GABLER
Henrik Ibsen
PRODUCER: BBC Masterpiece Theatre Play of the Month/Classic Theatre PBS USA 1975
DIRECTOR: Waris Hussein
ROLE: George Tesman
Co-starring: Janet Suzman & Tom Bell.


1973 GRACELESS GO I
Screenplay by Anthony Storey
COMPANY: BBC TV
DIRECTOR: Patrick Dromgoole
Co-starring: Stanley Baker, Rachel Roberts.


1973 THE RECRUITING OFFICER
George Farquhar
COMPANY: BBC1 Play of the Month
PRODUCER: Cedric Messina
DIRECTOR: David Giles
ROLE: Captain Plume

First broadcast Sunday 18 November 1973

Co-starring: Prunella Ransome as Silvia, Jane Asher as Melinda, Brian Blessed as Sergeant Kite, Bryan Marshall as Mr Worthy, John Moffatt as Captain Brazen, John Welsh as Mr Balance

Cpt Plume and Sgt Kite descend on unsuspecting Shrewsbury in search of new recruits. But doesn't their prize catch, Mr Wilful, bear a striking resemblance to the beautiful and scheming daughter of the local Justice?

Recorded on location at Lacock Abbey and Hazelbury Manor, Wilts


1973 CRAVEN ARMS (COUNTRY MATTERS)
From A E Coppard's short story
PRODUCER: Granada TV
DIRECTOR: David Giles


2-DVD Set -- As seen on Masterpiece Theatre
Now on DVD

1972 THE LAST JOURNEY
James Forsyth
PRODUCER: Granada TV
DIRECTOR: Peter Potter
ROLE: Stefan
Co-starring: Peggy Ashcroft, Harry Andrews, Patrick Allen


"The story of the last days in the life of the great writer Leo Tolstoy (Harry Andrews), whose passionate concern for the people of Russia began to destroy his relationship with his wife Sophia (Dame Peggy Ashcroft). In 1910, at the age of 82, he left home, family and his tempestuous marriage to go on his last journey through the Russian winter - a journey to death."

First broadcast 9 April 1972

 

1972 HAMLET
William Shakespeare
COMPANY: Prospect Theatre Company
PRODUCER: Knightsbridge Theatrical Productions UK/CBS Cable for BBC-2
DIRECTOR: David Giles
ROLE: Prince Hamlet
Co-starring: Faith Brook, Susan Fleetwood, John Woodvine, Tim Piggot-Smith
Prospect Theatre Company production by Robert Chetwyn

First broadcast: 1 March 1972


1970 ROSS
By Terrence Rattigan / Adapted by William Emms
PRODUCER: BBC Play of the Month
DIRECTOR: Cedric Messina
ROLE: T E Lawrence of Arabia
Filmed on location in Morocco.
"On his performance in "Ross", I take Ian McKellen to be a star, if perhaps a minor one. After his earlier appearances on television (Richard and Edward) there was room for reservation. Now almost none remains. The touch of affectation doesn't matter. The sensitive intelligence, but above all the glow, the inner mystery glimpsed in those eyes that seem to be seeing a presence impalpable to us, clinch the matter. One of the distinguishing marks of star quality is that it is slightly uncanny." — Maurice Wiggin, Sunday Telegraph UK; 18 October 1970.



1970 EDWARD II
Christopher Marlowe
COMPANY: Prospect Theatre Company
PRODUCER: BBC / Classic Theater PBS USA
DIRECTOR: Richard Marquand & Toby Robertson
ROLE: King Edward
Prospect Theatre Company in the 1969 Edinburgh Festival Production recorded at the Piccadilly Theatre, London.
in repertory with revival of RICHARD II.
Of USA transmission (4 October 1975): "Ian McKellen, one of Britain's most talented young actors, is superb, going from young haughtiness to pathetic misfortune, in a characterization that is riveted together by passionate convictions." — John J. O'Conor, New York Times, 10/1/75



1970 RICHARD II
William Shakespeare
COMPANY: Prospect Theatre Company
DIRECTOR: Toby Robertson & Richard Cottrell
ROLE: King Richard
Prospect Theatre Company recorded at BBC London studios.

Transmitted: Thursday 30 July 1970, 9.10pm on BBC2 Colour



1970 KEATS
PRODUCER: BBC TV
DIRECTOR: Joan Craft
ROLE: John Keats
Poetry compilation. Solo performance of Ian McKellen as John Keats.

Transmitted Wednesday, 25 February 1970, 8:50pm, BBC2 Colour

1969 WHAT IF IT'S JUST GREEN CHEESE?
PRODUCER: BBC TV
DIRECTOR: Colin Nears
Co-starring: Judi Dench, Roy Dotrice, Michael Hordern, Dudley Moore, Pink Floyd.
"Omnibus" anthology, on the eve of Apollo 11's first moon-landing.


1968 HAY FEVER
PRODUCER: BBC TV
ROLE: SIMON BLISS
DIRECTOR: John Gorrie
Co-starring: Charles Gray (Richard Greatham), Celia Johnson (Judith Bliss), Lynn
Redgrave (Jackie), Lucy Fleming (Sorel Bliss)
"Play of the Month" transmitted 4 August 1968 on BBC 1



1966 DAVID COPPERFIELD
Adaptation by Vincent Tilsley from Dickens' novel
PRODUCER: BBC
DIRECTOR: Joan Craft
ROLE: the grown-up David Copperfield (episodes 5-13)
Co-starring: Flora Robson.
13 part serial
"Ian McKellen brings to the part of David a lightness I have not seen in earlier Copperfields and his sense of comedy in the dialogue and situations makes this a happier story than it sometimes is." — The Stage.

First broadcast 16 January 1966

1965 THE TRIAL AND TORTURE OF SIR JOHN RAMPAYNE
Screenplay by Alan Seymour
PRODUCER: BBC TV
DIRECTOR: Peter Duguid
ROLE: Wolf
Co-starring: Jack Hawkins.
"The liveliest character was Wolf, given a performance of hateful, demoniac zest by Ian McKellen. He reminded me of one of those fashionable film-star-photographers that turn up on TV, with sharp little teeth they always look prepared to sink into the interviewer's wrist." — Peter Black, Daily Mail.


1965 SUNDAY OUT OF SEASON
Peter Draper
PRODUCER: ATV Sunday Playhouse
DIRECTOR: John Nelson Burton
ROLE: Victor Leech
Co-starring: Lynn Redgrave.
"What does a reasonably intelligent young man do on a damp, windy Sunday out of season? Victor meets Elaine. Is the problem solved for him?"


1964 Episode of KIPLING
PRODUCER: BBC
DIRECTOR: Herbert Wise