Ian McKellen's #TBTs Remind Everyone That He Was A Hot Piece

by Brandon Voss 10/15/2017

Sir Ian McKellen is still a silver fox, of course, but his recent Thursday throwbacks on Instagram show the evolution of his distinguished magnetism.

#TBT I seem to be wearing two shirts, a waistcoat and a jacket in this #ott fashion shot from the mid 1960s. Hidden away is a marvelous gold Vacheron Constantin watch.

A post shared by Ian McKellen (@ianmckellen) on Oct 12, 2017 at 9:35am PDT

Kids today may know the celebrated 78-year-old actor and outspoken LGBT activist best as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films and Magneto in the X-Men franchise, but fans of a certain age already know that he’s had prepossessing powers since his professional debut in the 1960s.

“Handsome then and even more so now,” commented one follower.

See more of McKellen’s #TBTs below.

#tbt a fine summers day in 1965. I posed @chichesterft where, 52 years later, I will be on stage as King Lear beginning Friday

A post shared by Ian McKellen (@ianmckellen) on Sep 21, 2017 at 9:47am PDT

#tbt 1989 ready for a performance of "Bent" #pride

A post shared by Ian McKellen (@ianmckellen) on Jun 25, 2015 at 6:26am PDT

#TBT 1964 Avoiding responsibilities at Golders Green Hippodrome while appearing in my first London play. http://www.mckellen.com/stage/00028b.htm

A post shared by Ian McKellen (@ianmckellen) on Dec 4, 2014 at 9:08am PST

1966, as David Copperfield for BBC TV. #tbt

A post shared by Ian McKellen (@ianmckellen) on Aug 21, 2014 at 8:39am PDT

#TBT Helmetted Henry V standing outside the Great Hall of Bolton School (Boys' Division) where we did the play in 1957. If he looks a little nervous, it's because the 6th form from the Girls' Division were wolf-whistling from across the courtyard. #throwbackthursday

A post shared by Ian McKellen (@ianmckellen) on May 14, 2014 at 10:28pm PDT

Last year McKellen shared his opinion that gay people are “disregarded” by the film industry, comparing the struggle of gay actors to that of both female actors and actors of color.

Recently seen onscreen in the live-action Beauty and the Beast, McKellen is currently starring in King Lear at England’s Chichester Festival Theatre.