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