‘Lord Of The Rings’ star McKellen ‘in good spirits’ after falling off stage
Sir Ian McKellen is in “good spirits” after falling off stage during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward Theatre in London.
The 85-year-old actor cried out in pain, calling for help, and a staff member quickly assisted him.
Sir Ian was performing in a fight scene when he appeared to lose his footing. He was taken to the hospital, and the play was subsequently canceled.
A theatre spokesperson later stated that Sir Ian had undergone a scan, and the medical team indicated that he would “make a speedy and full recovery.”
“Ian is in good spirits,” the spokesperson said.
He is expected to return to the stage on Wednesday for a matinee performance of the play.
Player Kings, a production of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Parts One and Two, began its 12-week West End run in April.
”I was in the audience when the accident occurred.
”Sir Ian, who portrays John Falstaff, was maneuvering through a battle scene involving the Prince of Wales and Henry Percy when I saw him fall off the front of the stage.
”It happened so quickly that it initially seemed to be part of the performance. However, the actor cried out, and staff rushed to assist him.”
The house lights came up, and staff evacuated the theatre. The performance was canceled “so that Ian can rest,” according to a spokesperson.
The spokesperson also thanked two doctors, Rachel and Lee, who were “on hand in the audience,” and the venue staff for their support.
Audience member Paul Critchley, from Downham Market in Norfolk, described it as a “shock” to see Sir Ian fall off the stage “directly in front of the audience.”
Sir Ian’s previous Shakespearean roles include Richard II, Coriolanus, Iago, Richard III, King Lear, and Macbeth. He is also set to star as Hamlet in a new film adaptation directed by Sean Mathias.
His on-screen credits include Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Magneto in the X-Men movies, and roles in Beauty and the Beast, The Da Vinci Code, and Mr. Holmes.
The actor also appeared in 10 episodes of the ITV soap Coronation Street as the scheming romance author Mel Hutchwright.
Five years ago, Sir Ian had to cancel a King Lear performance at London’s Duke of York Theatre after injuring his leg while running to catch a train. He made up for it by sitting on stage and answering questions from the audience.
answering questions.