Actor Ian McKellen was hospitalized Monday after falling off the stage during a performance in London.
The 85-year-old star was appearing in “Player Kings” at the Noël Coward theater in London when he lost his footing during a battle scene.
“Player Kings” is a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Henry IV.” McKellen plays Falstaff in the show.
He fell off the front of the stage and cried out in pain as the crew rushed to help him and the audience was evacuated, BBC News reported. The rest of the show was cancelled soon after.
His condition was not immediately known, but a rep told Deadline he was “doing OK.” He was expected to make a full recovery, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
“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,’” a McKellen rep said in a statement. “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.”
McKellen, who played Gandalf in the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” movies and Magneto in several “X-Men” films, has been appearing in “Player Kings” since its West End run began in April. The show is scheduled for 12 weeks, but it’s unclear if that will be extended or shortened because of McKellen’s injuries.
The thespian frequently appears in productions in London and on Broadway.
He’s won a Tony Award, six Olivier Awards, a Golden Globe Award, five BAFTA Awards and five Emmy Awards. He’s also been nominated for two Oscars.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1991.
In 2018, McKellen was forced to cancel a performance of “King Lear” after he hurt his leg while running for a train. He instead turned the event into a Q&A for the audience.
