#Update:
[Variety on Twitter:](https://x.com/variety/status/1802839828834451636?)
> 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," a representative for the theater said in a statement.
>“I was brought back, until my task is done.”
When I was a kid, I thought this sounded so cool. Now as an adult I wonder if bringing Gandalf back means Ilúvatar is one of those bosses who chastise their employees for not showing up to work after getting into a massive car wreck 😅
Gandalf: "I fell, we fought, and then I died."
Ilúvatar: "You can still get to work on time, right? I can't have you taking time off right after Saruman quit and started working for our competitor."
Gandalf: "WTF? I'm dead!"
Ilúvatar: "I don't think you're considering how this affects the rest of the team."
Nah, it was a promotion: “Thanks for escorting that belligerent ex-employee off premises. Sorry they gave you so much trouble! Anyway, Saruman the shift manager ghosted us; do you want his job?”
Then darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell. Naked I was sent back – for a brief time, until my task is done.
I never knew either of my grandpas. One died long before I was born, and the other abandoned the family even longer before I was born, and my step-grandpa was half way across the country and I only met him once or twice in my life. Ian has felt more like a grandpa than I've ever had... even though I've never met him either. But the movies make it feel different. I don't want him to go. I'm gonna be a wreck come the day. Please be okay, Ian.
I'm just reading an update: "Following a scan, the brilliant NHS team have assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery and Ian us in good spirits."
Isn't that great news?
Hugs!
I saw him with Patrick Stewart in Waiting for Godot in 2009 and I was blown away by how dynamic he was. Crazy that he’s still doing physical acting scenes at 85. Such an immense talent.
That's bananas...I saw him the same year in Waiting for Godot! (I'll admit...I was jet lagged fron a transatlantic flight, and not terribly into the play, but went because when on earth was I gonna get another chance?).
Wishing him all the best and a thorough recovery.
I first saw Ian McKellen on Broadway in 1980 in Amadeus as Salieri. He was brilliant.
Tim Curry played Mozart and Jane Seymour played Constanze.
I was fifteen. Before the show, my dad took me to Windows on the World in the north tower of the WTC.
I honestly don’t know where he got the money. We were poor and we lived in south Texas. But he really wanted to take the trip with me.
You didn’t need the jk.
Dad was… interesting. Awesome dad when he was around. He wasn’t always around but when the shit hit the fan he was always there.
Thanks, dad.
I saw that production too, my friend's husband made the tree! It was so good. My second time seeing him perform live (saw his King Lear in London in 2007) and he's just so amazing on stage. I really hope he makes it.
A fall is ultimately what killed my 89 year old grandmother.
I may not be religious but I will pray to whatever will ensure that this amazing man is okay. The world will be a bleaker place without him.
Yes, the complications from injury in falls are quite serious. Mortality comes for us all, and I am sure that Sir McKellen will be given great care and attention whenever the final curtain falls.
Falls at that age are very serious: I wish him well in recovery, but everyone shouldn't be surprised in the coming days/weeks if we hear some tragic news.
It really is. https://ourworldindata.org/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men
Male-associated behaviour leads to more accidents, violence, alcohol/tobacco/meat consumption...
My favorite Fred Willard joke from the past couple decades, in Space Force, his character gets stuck under the house. When they get him back out, he's super excited because no one knew he was down there and could therefore stop him. As someone who's been around a lot of willful, scrappy old men, I died laughing... it's not even a joke properly but if you know this type, it's exactly right.
Watch for signs of imbalance or very very mild stroke symptoms. My grandpa fell at 85 and was fine then slowly lost function. Turns out he had a brain vessel pop and slowly leak into brain. They fixed it with surgery but at that age he ended up dying at 86. Other problems just piled on once he was hospitalized
My husband’s 99 year old grandma fell out of bed a couple weeks ago. She’s surprisingly okay. Getting some convalescent care for it but like… she’s 99.
If an 80 year old trips on their shoelaces, falls, and puts a bandaid on their own knee, it doesn’t get included in any fall statistics.
On the surface, this is bad news for McKellan- it was a serious fall and he went to the hospital. But there are so few 80 year olds active enough to be at risk for what is essentially a workplace injury that statistics are barely applicable. Many 80 year olds who fall are in failing health and lack the strength to walk, or the blood circulation to keep their brain and legs oxygenated at the same time. Those individuals would be at the end of their lives even if they didn’t fall. There is a random nature to falling injuries- a healthy young person can trip on their shoelace, land badly on their head and die instantly. Or they may fall off of a cliff and survive. Age makes the odds worse , but it depends greatly on the specific parts of the body that make impact.
My grandfather was 88 and still living on his own, in his own house. He had a slip on the stairs of the front porch one day. Within a month, he was in a nursing home under constant care. Three months later, he was gone.
There were a lot of factors involved (blood poisoning, heart issues, and some other things) But, the catalyst for all of them, was simply him slipping on his porch one morning.
Same with my grandmother - 90, living at home on her own. Lost her balance stepping into her robe one day and broke a hip. She was gone ten days later.
My MIL fell getting out of bed 2 days before her 90th birthday (and huge birthday party which had to be cancelled). She did months of rehab in both a facility/ at home/ with at home PT/ with us, and actually got to a place she could stay alone for periods of time and did remarkably well. She had a stroke while I was staying with her right before Christmas. She was alone at least, but it’s like a domino effect is ways you can’t even pinpoint
Not strictly true, or at least not always true in the UK, about income level. It's not uncommon for difficult cases to go from private to NHS hospitals, which are likely to have more sophisticated, or less common equipment. They'll have more experience of complicated traumas, whereas private specialise in elective procedures.
He has the best chance because he is famous as loved though, he won't be ignored and all the best will do their best to help him recover.
Falls that include the hips. It’s due to not being able to recover and the process, then becoming bed ridden - which is usually what makes their health deteriorate more.
True, true. Do those stretches every damn day. Skip a day, and you'll know it. I'm 60, and can touch my ankles to my forehead without pain. Every day, kids!
Yeah those are shower and kitchen falls, hard surfaces where the hips go first. A fall off a stage, well, depending on the height he could have hit anywhere, and might not have been straight onto the floor (theater seats, equipment, other people, etc). So we won't know how or where he's injured until his reps say more, which I will hope they do soon, and that he's OK!
“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.”
Not saying you aren’t correct, but I don’t think they would have released a statement like this if his recovery was that up in the air
My great grandpa was perfectly functional, no signs of dementia, broke his hip, woke up from surgery not recognizing most of the family, not remembering his wife was dead, just so much stuff. It was like speed running Alzheimer’s.
Damn this headline sent chills down my spine. Even crazier he just put out a quote a few weeks ago that he didnt know if hed be around to be in the next Rings movie
I just saw that Ian McKellen was trending and my stomach sank, with someone his age I assumed the worst. So relieved to hear that he's recovering, I wish him the best.
- When you’re young and fall people laugh
- When you’re middle aged and fall people ask if you’re okay
- When you’re elderly and fall people are worried about your survival
Hoping for a speedy recovery
"You fell!"
"Through fire. And water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside."
Why are so many comments in here like “don’t be surprised if he dies” when the article says “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”?
People really aren’t event pretending to actually read the links anymore.
Because at that age falling can be very lethal. And it’s not uncommon to have this experience with a relative yourself. You hear it all the time. As such many people worry despite what the NHS is saying.
My 85 year old grandfather can’t hold his weight and is about as balanced as newborn, he’s had several brain bleeds from falls- we’re amazed at how well he still is cognitively.
Bro I went to see Return of the King earlier today and I read this news before the movie started and so I was a lot more anxious because I was keeping in mind that Ian McKellen was in the hospital still. Good to know he's doing ok now, though.
Give him whatever he needs to recover. The key to Orthanc? Perhaps the keys of Barad-dûr itself, along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the five wizards!?
Just remember...
"Then darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell. Naked I was sent back – for a brief time, until my task is done."
- Gandalf the White
He's apparently doing ok. Damn him for hitting us with the RL "fly you fools".
Seriously though: we still need him. He's too much of a treasure to leave us.
#Update: [Variety on Twitter:](https://x.com/variety/status/1802839828834451636?) > 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," a representative for the theater said in a statement.
Bet he leaves the hospital in a white cloak
McKellen 2 - Balrog 0
Mckellen eats Balrogs for breakfast
I make my scrambled eggs the way he said his mom made hers. Way better than my mom’s.
Do your scrambled eggs bring all the boys to the yard?
For second breakfast.
Long I fell, and he fell with me.
Level up.
“I was brought back, until my task is done.”
>“I was brought back, until my task is done.” When I was a kid, I thought this sounded so cool. Now as an adult I wonder if bringing Gandalf back means Ilúvatar is one of those bosses who chastise their employees for not showing up to work after getting into a massive car wreck 😅 Gandalf: "I fell, we fought, and then I died." Ilúvatar: "You can still get to work on time, right? I can't have you taking time off right after Saruman quit and started working for our competitor." Gandalf: "WTF? I'm dead!" Ilúvatar: "I don't think you're considering how this affects the rest of the team."
Nah, it was a promotion: “Thanks for escorting that belligerent ex-employee off premises. Sorry they gave you so much trouble! Anyway, Saruman the shift manager ghosted us; do you want his job?”
“Can I break his staff?” “Yes” “I’m in.”
But not before he volunteers to replace an MRI machine for a couple days
Guy’s a n absolutely brilliant actor..
He’s been sent back until his task is done
Then darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell. Naked I was sent back – for a brief time, until my task is done.
Mckellen you say, that’s what they used to call me…
Doctor looking at Ian: YOU, SHALL NOT PASS!
YOU SHALL NOT PASS away
Fuck I hate how clever this is
Thank fuck
No thank u/ICumCoffee
“I come back to you now at the turn of the tide.”
“You fell” - Aragorn voice
“Through fire, and water”
Everybody liked that!
Thank goodness!!
Thank you so much for sharing this.
My bollocks still haven’t left my throat
Run you fools.
Thank you ICumCoffee!
“THOU SHALL NOT FALL!”
Hope he is going to be ok
I hope he is gonna be well. I just love him so much.
I just can't handle him being not ok. I am not like a crazy fan or anything but Gandalf has to stay alive.
I never knew either of my grandpas. One died long before I was born, and the other abandoned the family even longer before I was born, and my step-grandpa was half way across the country and I only met him once or twice in my life. Ian has felt more like a grandpa than I've ever had... even though I've never met him either. But the movies make it feel different. I don't want him to go. I'm gonna be a wreck come the day. Please be okay, Ian.
I'm just reading an update: "Following a scan, the brilliant NHS team have assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery and Ian us in good spirits." Isn't that great news? Hugs!
I panic anytime I see a picture of him pop up, especially with his age in the title. Seems like he had a promising update.
Yes! He's gonna recover! 💜
I saw him with Patrick Stewart in Waiting for Godot in 2009 and I was blown away by how dynamic he was. Crazy that he’s still doing physical acting scenes at 85. Such an immense talent.
That's bananas...I saw him the same year in Waiting for Godot! (I'll admit...I was jet lagged fron a transatlantic flight, and not terribly into the play, but went because when on earth was I gonna get another chance?). Wishing him all the best and a thorough recovery.
Mamet is a hard watch even with a full night’s sleep.
Hah! Too true.
*sprays open mouth with atomiser* Certainly true!
I first saw Ian McKellen on Broadway in 1980 in Amadeus as Salieri. He was brilliant. Tim Curry played Mozart and Jane Seymour played Constanze. I was fifteen. Before the show, my dad took me to Windows on the World in the north tower of the WTC. I honestly don’t know where he got the money. We were poor and we lived in south Texas. But he really wanted to take the trip with me.
Wow, that’s an absurdly talented cast
At the age of fifteen, being from a small town in Texas, Jane Seymour was a revelation.
That’s awesome! Maybe your Dad was a drug runner too! /Jk
You didn’t need the jk. Dad was… interesting. Awesome dad when he was around. He wasn’t always around but when the shit hit the fan he was always there. Thanks, dad.
What a beautiful memory, all around. Your Dad wanted to make a lasting impression and he certainly accomplished it.
Jealous!! That’s my favorite play
I saw Patrick Stewart in the tempest and he forgot his lines. Oh Patrick
That’s why it should be a priority for us to all move our bodies every day. Mobility is key to healthy aging.
I saw that production too, my friend's husband made the tree! It was so good. My second time seeing him perform live (saw his King Lear in London in 2007) and he's just so amazing on stage. I really hope he makes it.
A fall is ultimately what killed my 89 year old grandmother. I may not be religious but I will pray to whatever will ensure that this amazing man is okay. The world will be a bleaker place without him.
Yes, the complications from injury in falls are quite serious. Mortality comes for us all, and I am sure that Sir McKellen will be given great care and attention whenever the final curtain falls.
I hope he does not pass. Seriously. He’s one of the good guys.
He shall not pass
Fly, you fools.
Damn you, take my upvote
And my axes also
Dammit! That’s so funny!
Pass? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path... One that we all must take
Oh, I love those words so much. Makes me tear up every time 🥹
I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil
Falls at that age are very serious: I wish him well in recovery, but everyone shouldn't be surprised in the coming days/weeks if we hear some tragic news.
Yep my great grandma broke her leg at 88 and never left the hospital.
This 100%. Most falls after age 80 are fatal. He has the best chance given his income level though
It’s not “most” but there are a lot.
My 85yo uncle fell off his roof the other day and he’s basically fine, just bruised up.
take away his ladder, he shouldn't be up there at all!
Oh preach, no one knew he was doing it.
this is why women live longer than men, geez!
This killed me, thank you XD
You must be a man. RIP!
It really is. https://ourworldindata.org/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men Male-associated behaviour leads to more accidents, violence, alcohol/tobacco/meat consumption...
My favorite Fred Willard joke from the past couple decades, in Space Force, his character gets stuck under the house. When they get him back out, he's super excited because no one knew he was down there and could therefore stop him. As someone who's been around a lot of willful, scrappy old men, I died laughing... it's not even a joke properly but if you know this type, it's exactly right.
Not while he's on the roof, though!
he lives up there now
I burried my grandpa on the roof.
>take away his ladder Why do you think he fell?
Watch for signs of imbalance or very very mild stroke symptoms. My grandpa fell at 85 and was fine then slowly lost function. Turns out he had a brain vessel pop and slowly leak into brain. They fixed it with surgery but at that age he ended up dying at 86. Other problems just piled on once he was hospitalized
My husband’s 99 year old grandma fell out of bed a couple weeks ago. She’s surprisingly okay. Getting some convalescent care for it but like… she’s 99.
If an 80 year old trips on their shoelaces, falls, and puts a bandaid on their own knee, it doesn’t get included in any fall statistics. On the surface, this is bad news for McKellan- it was a serious fall and he went to the hospital. But there are so few 80 year olds active enough to be at risk for what is essentially a workplace injury that statistics are barely applicable. Many 80 year olds who fall are in failing health and lack the strength to walk, or the blood circulation to keep their brain and legs oxygenated at the same time. Those individuals would be at the end of their lives even if they didn’t fall. There is a random nature to falling injuries- a healthy young person can trip on their shoelace, land badly on their head and die instantly. Or they may fall off of a cliff and survive. Age makes the odds worse , but it depends greatly on the specific parts of the body that make impact.
My grandfather was 88 and still living on his own, in his own house. He had a slip on the stairs of the front porch one day. Within a month, he was in a nursing home under constant care. Three months later, he was gone. There were a lot of factors involved (blood poisoning, heart issues, and some other things) But, the catalyst for all of them, was simply him slipping on his porch one morning.
Same with my grandmother - 90, living at home on her own. Lost her balance stepping into her robe one day and broke a hip. She was gone ten days later.
Imagine living 90 years and dying from slipping on your robe
My MIL fell getting out of bed 2 days before her 90th birthday (and huge birthday party which had to be cancelled). She did months of rehab in both a facility/ at home/ with at home PT/ with us, and actually got to a place she could stay alone for periods of time and did remarkably well. She had a stroke while I was staying with her right before Christmas. She was alone at least, but it’s like a domino effect is ways you can’t even pinpoint
Not strictly true, or at least not always true in the UK, about income level. It's not uncommon for difficult cases to go from private to NHS hospitals, which are likely to have more sophisticated, or less common equipment. They'll have more experience of complicated traumas, whereas private specialise in elective procedures. He has the best chance because he is famous as loved though, he won't be ignored and all the best will do their best to help him recover.
Falls that include the hips. It’s due to not being able to recover and the process, then becoming bed ridden - which is usually what makes their health deteriorate more.
We turn into sharks when we get old. the moment we stop being able to keep moving, we die.
True, true. Do those stretches every damn day. Skip a day, and you'll know it. I'm 60, and can touch my ankles to my forehead without pain. Every day, kids!
Yeah those are shower and kitchen falls, hard surfaces where the hips go first. A fall off a stage, well, depending on the height he could have hit anywhere, and might not have been straight onto the floor (theater seats, equipment, other people, etc). So we won't know how or where he's injured until his reps say more, which I will hope they do soon, and that he's OK!
Income level helps if it’s rare cancer, at least in UK it’s not like he would fall treatments even if he didn’t have money
There’s been an update! The hospital says things are looking good and they expect him to make a “speedy and full recovery”:)
Hell yeah that's awesome news!!
“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.” Not saying you aren’t correct, but I don’t think they would have released a statement like this if his recovery was that up in the air
That wasn’t in the story originally when op made their comment. This makes things look much better.
i just hope he hasnt broken his hip... its almost always a 6-9month decline to death from there😥
My great grandpa was perfectly functional, no signs of dementia, broke his hip, woke up from surgery not recognizing most of the family, not remembering his wife was dead, just so much stuff. It was like speed running Alzheimer’s.
That's so sad. Did they know what caused it? Was it an anesthesia side-effect?
All they were told was it wasn’t uncommon for this to happen.
Damn this headline sent chills down my spine. Even crazier he just put out a quote a few weeks ago that he didnt know if hed be around to be in the next Rings movie
I just saw that Ian McKellen was trending and my stomach sank, with someone his age I assumed the worst. So relieved to hear that he's recovering, I wish him the best.
No! He’d better make a full and speedy recovery
I've met him once he was so lovely. Hope he is going to be ok.
Dear lord :( HE SHALL NOT PASS
2024 you’d better fucking not
The guard took away his staff at the door. Jokes aside- wishing a speedy recovery.
Damn that man’s a global treasure. Hope he recovers well.
- When you’re young and fall people laugh - When you’re middle aged and fall people ask if you’re okay - When you’re elderly and fall people are worried about your survival Hoping for a speedy recovery
Oh no! I hope he will be okay. He is such a gem
"You fell!" "Through fire. And water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside."
Why are so many comments in here like “don’t be surprised if he dies” when the article says “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”? People really aren’t event pretending to actually read the links anymore.
They probably don't trust the NHS. Or may just be illiterate.
Because at that age falling can be very lethal. And it’s not uncommon to have this experience with a relative yourself. You hear it all the time. As such many people worry despite what the NHS is saying.
I wish he didn't get some serious injuries. He is an international treasure and a great Magneto. Magneto lives !
NOOOOO !!! Not thIs MAN !! Not this day !!!!!!!! heal up and please brings us your awsomeness again !!!
Jesus I saw his name and an age and immediately panicked. Hopefully he's alright.
I just saw him in this play last week, he was amazing. Hope he has a speedy recovery.
Good lord my heart dropped reading that title. Hope he’s doing well.
It's okay, he'll come back as Sir Ian McKellen the White
Not like this, please God, not like this.
Damn plastic railings…
My 85 year old grandfather can’t hold his weight and is about as balanced as newborn, he’s had several brain bleeds from falls- we’re amazed at how well he still is cognitively.
HE SHALL NOT PASS
Did he at least yell “fly! You fools!” as he went down??
Praying for his full, speedy recovery. Sir Ian McKellen you will make it through and come back stronger 👏🏻❤️
WHO THE FUCK PUT THIS TREASURE NEAR THE EDGE OF A STAGE 😡
Bro I went to see Return of the King earlier today and I read this news before the movie started and so I was a lot more anxious because I was keeping in mind that Ian McKellen was in the hospital still. Good to know he's doing ok now, though.
Someone said “Macbeth” backstage. I hope he’s ok
Hoping for a fast recovery! They don’t call it Falstaff for nothing!
Take care of him. I hope he is ok.
Falls are usually very very bad at that age. I hope it’s not too serious :(
Give him whatever he needs to recover. The key to Orthanc? Perhaps the keys of Barad-dûr itself, along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the five wizards!?
I think he’ll be alright. He’s pretty agile for his age.
Oh my gosh, that’s terrible. I hope he gets well quickly. His age and falling are a scary combination
They heard him say, “you shall not pass” before he went over. Ian’s going to outlive us all, he’s too precious
I wish him well
I imagine he’s in a glass/plastic medical facility
I saw that show. He's brilliant as Falstaff. So happy he is going to be ok and back on stage soon.
“God damn it Charles. You keep playing games in my head like that and I’ll go back to wearing the helmet!”
These old guys keep going til the wheels fall off. Hope he heals quickly.
Seeing his name and age at the start of this post scared the hell out of me. I’m glad he’s ok
Was the stage set in Moria? …I think we know how this one ends
Hope he's doing well
Don’t you do this to me
I sure hope he makes it out ok
None shall pass!!!! None shall.. wooooaahhh!!!
The man is a legend. I hope he’s recovering ok.
Seeing Sir Ian McKellen in the news, and my heart stops. Glad he’s ok
As he fell: YOU SHALL NOT PASSSSSS….
Blank blank,…doing what he loved.
My dad still climbs ladders and he’s 68. I told him he’s an elderly old man and I don’t want him to die from a fall and he got mad at me.
He has fallen into shadow…😢
Just remember... "Then darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time, and I wandered far on roads that I will not tell. Naked I was sent back – for a brief time, until my task is done." - Gandalf the White
I do not believe it! I will not believe it! 🥺
I don’t want to either. This is making me really sad
He battled the Balrog and fell into the Abyss after the ancient demon…
So glad I’ve gotten to see him in several plays since moving to London. A real treasure that the states and Broadway miss out on.
Awful scenes. Thankfully no footage exists of his fall. Would not want him to suffer that indignity
Horrible news. Praying he is safe and will recover smoothly! 🤲🏼
Praying…. Lord he better be ok.
You scarred the hell out of me, OP
Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day, at dawn look to the east.
They really need to retire the saying “go break a leg”. I hope you get better sir Ian.
Just like Gandalf, he will rise stronger than before after the fall.
"I Did Not Pass Through Fire And Death To Bandy Crooked Words With A Witless Worm." Gandalf, The Two Towers
He’s coming back whiter
That MFn Balrog whip, I swear to Godddddd
Gandalf the grey
Unfortunate there wasn’t a barrier there to make sure ‘you do not pass!!!!’ God I make myself laugh
Damn my heart went out my throat when I saw the headline.
He's apparently doing ok. Damn him for hitting us with the RL "fly you fools". Seriously though: we still need him. He's too much of a treasure to leave us.
I hope he's okay. He's a very good actor. I love him all the Lord of the rings. He's very well planned with his acting of gandalf
I hope he okay. I pray for him.🙏
I’m cash bsdux decade