The man we all aspire to be when weâre older, Sir Ian McKellen, turns 80â80!âtoday and to celebrate, some of his closest friends are sharing their fondest memories of the beloved Hollywood icon.
Bill Condon, who directed the Oscar-winning film Gods and Monsters starring McKellen, share a particularly naughty story with The Guardian this week.
Condon described McKellen as a âyoung spirit,â as evidenced by the time they went to a Berlin sex club together.
âLast year, when we wrapped The Good Liar in Berlin, we went to a nasty club to celebrate,â Condon says. âIt was a really, really intense sex club but also an art installation in a factory.â
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
âI left them there at 4am, Ian barely dressed. It was wonderful.â
Dame Judy Dench, who has known McKellen since they first worked together in 1965, was also interviewed by The Guardian.Â
When told about last yearâs trip to the sex club, she replied, âHe went to sex clubs in Berlin with people? Oh dash, Iâve missed out!â
Dench described McKellen as â a very good friend to me,â adding, âI know that if I rang he would always make time to see me or be around or to be there with advice.â
âHeâs like no other animal I know. A rare beast.â
And then thereâs Patrick Stewart, with whom McKellen has enjoyed a years-long bromance.
The pair first met in 1977 but didnât become close friends until 2002 when they both worked on X-Men.
âI wasnât absolutely ready to just fall into his arms,â Stewart recalls. âBut we had adjoining luxury trailers and took to hanging out.â
âWe became very good friends. As well as X-Men, we have worked together a lot on stage. Sometimes I feel weâre enjoying it too much and the audience donât quite understand why weâre having so much fun.â
Scroll down for some of our most favorite pics from Sir Ianâs Instagram pageâŚ
spacecadet
The first X-Men flick came out in 2000, and Stewart and McKellen began work on it the year prior so Iâm assuming thatâs when they first became friends, not 2002 like the article states.
Geeker
Once a slut always a slut apparently.
sfhally
I’m sure you meant that nicely. Gives the rest of us something to aim for.
Herman75
Why bring your relatives into the discussion?
Brian
If you can still be a slut at 80 years old, you’ve earned it.
joeinpdx
More power to him. May he live forever.
sfcarlos65
Indeed!
white-queer-african
Many, many years ago i was partying away in a club in South Africa and Sir Ian was there. The early nineties. We started to chat. Our age difference then, like now, was 20+ years. Not that it matters. He was charming, funny and most entertaining. I knew who he was but did not let him know I knew. This was from my travels to the UK and my interest in the performing arts. We had numerous drinks laughing and chatting away. Not once did I feel uncomfortable nor thinking he was hitting on me. We were just two gay guys chatting away, laughing and having a fab time. He was not out looking for… nor was I. I an just see him out having a good time, at 80!!! Good on you Sir!!!!
jdr11201
Happy Birthday Sir Ian Mckellen,
Life is about experiences and who better than ian mckellen to have so many experiences and a bit of fun and fond memories with mates. Good going Sir, Ian Mckellan on your 80th. đ
bowlingbutch
Happy Birthday Sir Ian. What a wonderful life. I am envious.
kevininbuffalo
I loved Sir Ian in “Vicious” with Derek Jacobi! Happy 80th Ian!
lather
Simply incredible. Hope you continue to bring us your smile, joy, and talent for many years to come.
whitakerk861
And at 4:01 AM the real fun began amongst those in attendance.