Ian McKellen and Maggie Smith were two of Britain’s most respected actors, celebrated for their remarkable contributions to theatre, film and television. McKellen became internationally recognised for playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Magneto in X-Men, while Smith earned worldwide admiration as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey. Both enjoyed extraordinary careers spanning several decades, collected prestigious awards and left lasting impressions on generations of audiences.
Ian McKellen and Maggie Smith Quick Bio
| Key Information | Ian McKellen | Maggie Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Sir Ian Murray McKellen | Dame Margaret Natalie Smith |
| Date of Birth | 25 May 1939 | 28 December 1934 |
| Net Worth | Estimated $60 million | Estimated $21 million at death |
| Age | 87 years (2026) | 89 years at death (2024) |
| Birthplace | Burnley, Lancashire, England | Ilford, Essex, England |
| Nationality | British | British |
| Profession | Actor, theatre performer | Actress, stage and screen performer |
| Nickname | Ian; Serena (a nickname used by friends) | Maggie; Dame Maggie |
| Famous For | Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and Magneto in X-Men | Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey |
| Father | Denis Murray McKellen | Nathaniel Smith |
| Mother | Margery Lois Sutcliffe | Margaret Hutton |
| Siblings | One older sister, Jean | Two older twin brothers, Ian and Alistair |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) | 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) |
| Weight | Not reliably confirmed | Not reliably confirmed |
| Hair Colour | Grey | Grey |
| Eye Colour | Blue (commonly reported) | Not reliably confirmed |
| Education | Bolton School; St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge | Oxford High School; Oxford Playhouse School |
| Acting Career Began | 1950s | 1952 |
| Major Film Roles | Gods and Monsters, X-Men, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit | The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, California Suite, Harry Potter, Gosford Park |
| Television Roles | Vicious, The Prisoner | Downton Abbey, Talking Heads |
| Awards | Tony Award, Laurence Olivier Awards and numerous other honours | Two Academy Awards, BAFTAs, Emmy Awards, Golden Globes and a Tony Award |
| Marital Status | Never married | Married twice |
| Spouse | No publicly recorded marriage | Robert Stephens and Beverley Cross |
| Children | No publicly reported children | Two sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin |
| Family | Parents Denis and Margery, and sister Jean | Parents Nathaniel and Margaret, two sons and grandchildren |
| Hobbies and Interests | Theatre, Shakespeare and charitable activism | Acting and theatre; personal hobbies were kept private |
| Public Instagram presence | No verified personal account | |
| Social Media | Maintains a public online presence | No confirmed personal social media account |
| Notable Recognition | Knighted in 1991 | Appointed Dame Commander in 1990 |
| Date of Death | Alive as of November 2026 | 27 September 2024 |
| Legacy | Celebrated for Shakespearean theatre and internationally recognised film performances | Remembered as one of Britain’s most distinguished stage and screen actresses |
Ian McKellen and Maggie Smith Images
