Even a fall from the West End stage is not expected to keep 85-year-old Sir Ian McKellen from performing for long who is due back on stage today. The British actor has shown little sign of slowing down during his esteemed career, even marking his milestone 80th year with an 80-date nationwide solo tour, with his actual birthday being marked at Bolton's Albert Halls . With two Oscar nominations, Sir Ian has gripped audiences both on screen and on stage and is widely considered to be one of the greatest actors of all time.
Most recently, Sir Ian has been seen playing John Falstaff in Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in London. During Monday’s performance, the veteran actor fell from the stage but has since been told he will make a “speedy and full recovery” and is expected to appear in Thursday's performance of the production. Sir Ian said he is “looking forward to returning to work” as he thanked the NHS staff who cared for him after he fell from a West End stage earlier this week.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, he said he is “hugely indebted” to the medical staff who have assured him his recovery will be “complete and speedy”. “I want to thank everyone for their kind messages and support,” Sir Ian said in the statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. “Since the accident, during a performance of Player Kings last night, my injuries have been diagnosed and treated by a series of experts, specialists and nurses working for the National Health Se.