Sir Ian McKellen Refuses to Retire from Acting Amid Health Issues: ‘He Isn’t Afraid of Dying’ (Exclusive)

Sir Ian McKellen has had his fair share of health problems over the years.

In 2024, the 86-year-old actor chipped a vertebra and fractured his wrist after falling off stage during a performance of Players Kings in London.

Then, in 2025, he was forced to miss the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of his movie, The Christophers, on the advice of his medical advisers.

And yet, McKellen continues to push himself harder than ever, much to the alarm of family and friends who, Globe has learned, worry that the two-time Oscar nominee is working himself into an early grave.

“He’s already filmed the next Avengers movie and if all goes according to plan, he’s going to be filming one more Lord of the Rings installment during 2026,” says a source.

In a 2025 interview with The Mirror, McKellen declared, “I am not slowing down,” and he meant it.

“Ian loves being on sets and he especially loves the giant paychecks he can still command for these big franchises,” explains the source. “He’s not going to give up this awesome career he worked so hard to create even one second before he absolutely has to.”

The X-Men star is being realistic, though.

“Ian has created an open conversation around his personal and professional circle about how much time he really has left,” says the source. “Part of it just gallows humor, which Ian has always leaned on, but there’s also this part of him that just wants the people around him to know that he isn’t afraid of dying.”