Denis Murray McKellen: Who is Ian McKellen’s father

Denis Murray McKellen is a Civil engineer and the father of Ian McKellen. Denis Murray McKellen’s son is a celebrated English actor. With a career spanning more than six decades, he is noted for his roles on the screen and stage in genres ranging from Shakespearean dramas and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is the recipient of numerous accolades including a Tony Award, six Olivier Awards, and a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, and five Emmy Awards.

Denis Murray McKellen: Bio Summary

Who was Ian McKellen’s father?

Denis Murray McKellen was born in 1905 in Stockport, Cheshire, England, UK. He was the son of William Henry McKellen and Alice Beatrice (Murray) McKellen. Denis was of Protestant Irish and Scottish descent. Ian McKellen’s father who was a Civil engineer, was also a Preacher and also played the piano. Denis followed in his father’s footsteps and worked as an engineer estimator within the gas engineering industry; Denis was listed as a chartered coal engineer in 1939.

He is also famous for being the father of British actor Ian McKellen. Denis has been married twice. His first marriage was to Margery Lois (Sutcliffe) McKellen — married 1931 (to 1951) in Stockport, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom, and his second to Gladys Irene (Abraham) McKellen — married 1954 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England.

ALSO, READ; Margery Lois Sutcliffe: What happened to Ian McKellen’s mother?

Ian McKellen was Denis’ second child, with his sister, Jean McKellen, five years his senior. Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Denis and the family moved to Wigan. The family lived there until Ian was twelve years old, before relocating to Bolton in 1951 after his father had been promoted.

McKellen’s parents were fans of the theater and encouraged his early interest in it. They took him to see his first play, Peter Pan, at the Manchester Opera House when he was three years old. At nine, he received a toy theater for Christmas. His sister was theatrically inclined as well and exposed McKellen to Shakespeare at a Wigan’s Little Theater performance of Twelfth Night. With all that familial influence, it is hardly surprising that McKellen took to the boards himself, starting in grammar school.

ALSO, READ; Jean McKellen: Who is Ian McKellen’s sister?

Denis Murray McKellen remarried when his wife died

Ian’s mother died of breast cancer when he was 12. While talking to Emma Brockes of the London Guardian, the actor said- “If I could rewrite my life(,) it would be that, a) my mother didn’t die when I was 12, because if so she might even be alive now …” His father, Denis Murray McKellen remarried quickly and Ian did have the good fortune to enjoy a long and warm relationship with his stepmother, Gladys Irene (Abraham) McKellen.

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What happened to Ian McKellen’s father?

Denis passed away in 1964 at about age 59 in the UK. Ian’s father died when he was 25. The cause of his death has not been revealed by the actor. The actor came out as gay in 1988 to his stepmother, Gladys McKellen, who was a Quaker, he said, “Not only was she not fazed, but as a member of a society which declared its indifference to people’s sexuality years back, I think she was just glad for my sake that I wasn’t lying any more“.