عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Entertainment

British Actor Ian McKellen Recovering after Falling off London Stage

Actor Ian McKellen attends a Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Peter Hall at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, September 11, 2018. (Reuters)
Actor Ian McKellen attends a Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Peter Hall at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, September 11, 2018. (Reuters)
TT
TT

British Actor Ian McKellen Recovering after Falling off London Stage

Actor Ian McKellen attends a Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Peter Hall at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, September 11, 2018. (Reuters)
Actor Ian McKellen attends a Service of Thanksgiving for Sir Peter Hall at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, September 11, 2018. (Reuters)

British actor Ian McKellen, 85, fell off a London stage mid-performance and is now recovering after being taken to hospital, a theatre spokesman told the BBC on Tuesday.

McKellen is starring as John Falstaff in "Player Kings", a production of William Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Parts One and Two", in the capital's West End theatre district.

In a fight scene during Monday evening's performance, McKellen lost his footing and fell off the front of the stage, crying out as staff rushed to help, the BBC reported.

The show was cancelled and he was taken to hospital. He is in "good spirits" and expected to "make a speedy and full recovery" and will be back on stage on Wednesday, the theater spokesman said.

McKellen is best known for playing Gandalf in the film versions of "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" and was also Magneto in the "X-Men" movies.

His stage career stretches back to 1961, where his credits include playing Richard III, King Lear and Macbeth.

Most Viewed

 
 
Entertainment

Ann Wilson Announces Cancer Diagnosis, Postpones Heart Tour

Ann Wilson, of the band Heart, performs onstage at the "Vh1 Divas Salute the Troops" on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 in San Diego. (AP)
Ann Wilson, of the band Heart, performs onstage at the "Vh1 Divas Salute the Troops" on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 in San Diego. (AP)
TT
TT

Ann Wilson Announces Cancer Diagnosis, Postpones Heart Tour

Ann Wilson, of the band Heart, performs onstage at the "Vh1 Divas Salute the Troops" on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 in San Diego. (AP)
Ann Wilson, of the band Heart, performs onstage at the "Vh1 Divas Salute the Troops" on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 in San Diego. (AP)

Ann Wilson, lead singer of rock band Heart, says she has cancer and the band is postponing the remaining shows on its Royal Flush Tour while she undergoes treatment.

Wilson said in a statement Tuesday that she underwent a surgery to remove a cancerous growth and is recovering steadily, but that her doctors urged her to undergo preventive chemotherapy and take time off from performing "in order to fully recover." That meant the rest of the shows on the North American tour will be postponed to dates in 2025.

"To the ticket buyers, I really do wish we could do these gigs. Please know that I absolutely plan to be back on stage in 2025," Wilson said in the statement. "My team is getting those details sorted & we’ll let you know the plan as soon as we can."

All previously purchased tickets for the now-postponed shows will be honored. The rescheduled dates will be announced in the coming weeks, according to the release.

"This is merely a pause. I’ve much more to sing," Wilson continued in the statement before adding, "Respectfully, this is the last public statement l’d like to make on the matter."

Over 50 shows at stadium and arena venues in dozens of cities across the US and Canada are impacted by the postponement. Select shows were set to include performances from Def Leppard and Journey, and Heart has not announced whether those bands will accompany them at the rescheduled performances.

The band, led by Wilson and her sister Nancy Wilson on the guitar, canceled the European leg of their tour in May, citing that the singer had to have "a time-sensitive but routine procedure for which the minimum recovery time is six weeks."

Wilson posted on Instagram at the time of the European shows' cancellation, writing, "I’m okay! Please don’t worry. I do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. It’s certainly an inconvenience for me."

The Wilson sisters, who made hits like "Magic Man," "Crazy on You" and "Alone," have made music together since the ’70s. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers were honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2023.