Clubgoers ‘Gobsmacked’ To Meet Sir Ian McKellen, 85, Living His Best Life At London Gay Club
Image: Image: zacidk/X & Joel C Ryan / AP
Pictures have surfaced of LGBTQIA+ icon Sir Ian McKellen, who is 85 years of age, dancing the night away and having the time of his life (not to mention surrounded by shirtless men) at popular London gay bar, Roast.
The images of McKellen first surfaced on Monday, showing the beloved actor smiling widely as he posed with two shirtless men during the evening of October 12.
X user @zacidk first alerted people to the Lord of Rings and X-Men star’s presence at Roast — which is known as “London’s beefiest club night” — when he tweeted, “WHY IS IAN MCKELLEN AT ROAST????”
WHY IS IAN MCKELLEN AT ROAST????
— Zac⚡️ (@zacidk) October 13, 2024
He then followed up this tweet with a pic of himself and a friend on either side of the actor, all smiling and laughing.
BITCH https://t.co/lfWDEx0uT0 pic.twitter.com/pv2uU5teCQ
— Zac⚡️ (@zacidk) October 13, 2024
“Everyone was gobsmacked when they spotted him on the dancefloor”
Clubgoers spoke to the Daily Mail about the star’s appearance at the LGBTQIA+ venue, saying people were ‘gobsmacked’ to see him.
“Everyone was gobsmacked when they spotted him on the dancefloor,” said a source who attended the club that night.
“Sir Ian was having such a good time soaking up the party atmosphere. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world.”
They also said they “never have guessed that he was only in hospital just a few months ago”, referencing McKellen‘s recent injury after falling off stage when taking part in a battle scene in modern Shakespeare adaptation Player Kings at London’s Noel Coward Theatre.
“He had many people approach him to send their well wishes,” said the clubgoer. “One attendee was clearly a fan of his work in the Lord of the Rings movies, as he greeted the star as ‘Gandalf the Gay’.”
The clubgoer also said McKellen took the Lord of the Rings joke in ‘good humour’.
The club’s Instagram page also reposted a picture of the actor at the venue, with the caption, “Gandalf flakes on every battle but turns up to Roast”.
Social media is ‘obsessed’ with photos of Sir Ian McKellen at London gay club Roast
The response to McKellen’s appearance at the gay club, and the reports that he was dancing and ‘living his best life’ at the tender age of 85, has been enormously positive.
Not Gandalf The Gay omgggg
— hotdogsz (@hotdogsz) October 13, 2024
Magnetos IDGAF era
— Kevin (@coastalrougarou) October 14, 2024
BECAUSE HES LIVING HIS BEST LIFE!
— Zachary Gaidzik (@ZacharyGaidzik) October 13, 2024
He looks so happy
— Preston (@prestuvius) October 13, 2024
I hope he turned them OUT!
— NOTDaBore🐛s! (@YourWildeFleur) October 13, 2024
I hope he turned them OUT!
— NOTDaBore🐛s! (@YourWildeFleur) October 13, 2024
Oh to be having as much fun as Sir Ian McKellen in old age pic.twitter.com/yBo22hSQRT
— Boku no François Arnaud (@flowerdrums) October 15, 2024
As a 74 YO man who came out at the age of 62 and married my husband at the age of 67, I think it is both great that Sir Ian McKellen clubs and dances at age 85.
I also appreciate that people respect him for his accomplishments in stage and film, and I hope that he keeps dancing past the age of 100.
If I had the means to jet set around the world on a whim, I would have traveled to London to see Sir Ian perform in a theatre role. Knowing full well that was where he had his initial Top Shelf experience as an actor. Anyone who has seen him in mammoth blockbusters like X-MEN or THE LORD OF THE RINGS to more substantial films like “Gods & Monsters” (which Brendan Fraser), would agree he effortlessly excelled in all of them! Drawing in your unwavering full attention! How much more essential would it be, to marvel witnessing him perfecting, another engaging character, where there are no retakes! The whole piece is one 1st take every night. Alas I do have his most recent & current cinema piece “The Critic” to highly recommend as amongst the Top 5 ‘Not To Be Missed” for 2024! Apart from anything else, I have adored the cute & gentle humour of the short Christmas videos he has been knitting new cardigans with (another beautiful man sharing & expressing his non-toxic masculinity) Bjorn Ulvaeus on a sofa by the fireplace. I hope they continue to do those. This year they could include Tom Daley, as much younger super keen knitter. They can acknowledge his well earnt success at the Olympics. He could probably embarrass them both with his (always gorgeous) disarming face with more accomplished pieces! The world needs such beautiful & non-violent (peaceful) examples of best behaviour NOW! More than ever!!!!