Sir Ian McKellen, an 85-year-old veteran screen and stage actor, recounted the terrifying experience of falling on stage during a performance of his play “Player Kings” at the Noel Coward Theatre in the West End. The incident occurred in June, when McKellen’s foot got caught in a chair, causing him to slide across the stage on newspaper, ultimately landing on someone’s lap in the front row. McKellen described the moment as “horrible,” saying he started screaming “Help me!” and then “I’m sorry! I don’t do this!”
The experience was devastating for McKellen, who feared it was the end of his career. He felt very upset and ashamed at the thought of leaving the production. As a result of the fall, McKellen suffered wrist and neck injuries, including a chipped vertebrae and a fractured wrist, which have not yet fully healed. The injuries have made it challenging for him to return to the stage, and he expressed feelings of guilt and shame about having to leave the show.
McKellen’s understudy, David Semark, took over the role to complete the West End run and continue the national tour. The actor credited his fat suit, worn to portray John Falstaff, with saving his ribs and joints during the fall. He noted that the suit’s padding helped distribute the force of the impact, reducing the severity of his injuries.
Ian McKellen (Via Ian McKellen/Twitter)
Despite his recovery being put on hold, McKellen is being cared for by his neighbors and is also missing his regular pub quiz at The Grapes, the pub he part-owns in east London. Throughout his illustrious career, McKellen has played a wide range of roles, including iconic characters like Magneto in the X-Men films and Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s fantasy trilogy The Lord Of The Rings. He has also performed in Shakespeare’s works, such as Richard II, Macbeth, Coriolanus, and King Lear.
McKellen’s experience has been a humbling reminder of the risks involved in his profession, and he is still recovering from the terrifying ordeal. The incident has forced him to come to terms with the fragility of his body and the reality of his career. McKellen’s fall has been a sobering reminder that even the most seasoned actors are not immune to the dangers of their craft.
