How old was Ian McKellen in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?

Have you ever watched a movie and found yourself curious about a celebrity’s age at the time? Knowing that can offer insight into their career stage and personal growth. In this article, we reveal the age behind the role.

While The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was being made, Ian McKellen was:

72 years old

That number reflects the celebrity’s real age when the movie was made.

To determine the age, we considered the first day of the year The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey premiered:

January 1, 2012

And the birth day of Ian McKellen, that is:

May 25, 1939

Because movies often premiere within a year of starting production, Ian McKellen might have been either one year younger or older while filming some scenes.