Ian McKellen played Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films. Gandalf is one of the Istari, a group of supernatural beings sent to Middle-earth to oppose the growing power of Sauron.
In Tolkien’s story, Gandalf first appears as the wandering wizard who organizes Bilbo Baggins’s adventure in The Hobbit. In The Lord of the Rings, he guides the Fellowship and helps unite the Free Peoples against Mordor. His staff, wisdom, and knowledge of the Ring make him central to the quest.
McKellen portrayed both Gandalf the Grey and Gandalf the White. The change follows Gandalf’s battle with the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and his return in a transformed state. McKellen received an Academy Award nomination for the role in The Fellowship of the Ring.