'Lord Of The Rings' Actor Ian McKellen Hospitalised After Falling Off Stage
British actor Ian McKellen has been hospitalised after falling off stage during a performance of 'Player Kings' at the Noel Coward Theatre.
British actor Ian McKellen has been hospitalised after falling off stage during a performance of 'Player Kings' at the Noel Coward Theatre on the West End in London, as per BBC. It was during a battle scene that he ended up losing his footing, and as a result, he ended up falling. As per Variety, the audience was then evacuated from the theatre and the evening show was then cancelled. After circling a fight scene involving two other characters, McKellen reportedly fell off the front of the stage. As per the BBC, “As the house lights came up, the actor cried out and staff rushed to help.”
A representative from the theatre has now shared a statement, saying McKellen will "make a speedy and full recovery” and that the 85-year-old actor is “in good spirits.”
“Thank you to our audience and the general public for their well wishes following Ian’s fall during this evening’s performance of ‘Player Kings,'” the statement read.
“Following a scan, the brilliant NHS team have assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery and Ian is in good spirits. The production has made the decision to cancel the performance on Tuesday 18 June so Ian can rest. Those affected will be contacted by their point of purchase as soon as possible tomorrow. Thank you to doctors Rachel and Lee who were on hand in the audience and to all the venue staff for their support," the statement added.
For the unversed, McKellen plays John Falstaff in 'Player Kings', which is a production of William Shakespeare’s 'Henry IV, Parts One and Two.'
The play started its 12-week run on the West End in April, as per Variety.
For the uninitiated, McKellen is a frequent Shakespeare actor, with stage roles including Macbeth, King Lear, Richard II and Richard III.
He also famously played Gandalf in Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, as well as Magneto in the 'X-Men' movies.
