Sir Ian McKellen has been snapped for the first time since his alarming tumble off stage last Monday.
The 85-year-old acting legend gave fans a fright when he took a “head first” plunge during a showing of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in the capital.
But fear not, the iconic Gandalf portrayer from the Lord of the Rings series is on the road to recovery and has been caught on camera saying hello to a mate outside his pad in East London, sporting a wrist guard just to be safe after the scare.
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Dressed in a cosy robe, sporting a flat cap, and with his trademark bushy beard, the celeb was spotted barefoot as he popped out to welcome his friend. Sir Ian, who’s sporting a pretty nasty bruise on his hand, seemed chuffed to bits to see his buddy, giving them a big old squeeze.
(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Following the dramatic incident that shook up the West End last Monday, one audience member described how the esteemed thespian “flew head first” towards her following his misstep from the stage. Sir Ian was embodying John Falstaff in the Bard’s play when he lost his footing in a combat scene and took a dive off the edge, reports the Mirror.
Johanna, who was sat in the front row, dished the dirt to the BBC about her unexpected encounter with Gandalf the Grey. The 30-year-old from Leatherhead, Surrey, spilled: “Getting crushed by Gandalf the Grey, that’s something you don’t expect.
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(Image: CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)
She detailed how the actor appeared to “trip on this bit of prop” and ended up tumbling onto her, whacking her knee “quite hard” with his head.
Johanna recounted: “As he tripped on that he built up momentum and flew head first into me in the audience.” She then spilled the beans that Sir Ian hollered for assistance and theatre staff scrambled to help him. Yet, Johanna claimed the crew “seemed unsure” about what to do next and didn’t get any paramedics to check her out.
(Image: CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)
Post-collision, she found herself off to the hospital nursing soft tissue damage. The crowd was quickly booted out of the theatre and told the night’s show was a no-go. Fans hit X, the new Twitter, post-tumble to send their love to the acting legend, with one calling it a “really bad fall”.
In an update on Sir Ian’s condition, the London theatre’s spokesperson announced: “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.”
(Image: CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA)
In an update on Sir Ian’s condition, the London theatre’s spokesperson announced: “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.”
They added: “The production has made the decision to cancel the performance on Tuesday June 18 so Ian can rest. Those affected will be contacted by their point of purchase as soon as possible tomorrow.”
Sir Ian has announced he will be taking a break from his London performances to undergo physiotherapy and recover.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
