What you might not know about the American author
They even have a BFF nickname: The Sirs. This is in honor of the fact that both of them have been knighted.
The two are only about a year apart in age, with Stewart born in July 1940 and McKellen born in May 1939.
When asked to write hashtags to summarize their bromance, Stewart wrote #arentwelucky, and McKellen came up with #eternal. Awwww.
They starred together after ‘X-Men’ as well, returning to the stage with Broadway repertory productions of Samuel Becket’s 'Waiting for Godot' and Harold Pinter's 'No Man’s Land.'
And there's good reason for that. Patrick Stewart's social media is filled with hilarious photos of the two together, both at press events and just cuddling each other.
The actors initially met at the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1970s. However, they weren’t close. McKellen was already one of the stars, and Stewart apparently found him intimidating!
While answering the web’s frequently asked questions on Wired, Stewart stated that McKellen was a friend “who, I’ll be frank with you, I’m in love with.”
McKellen had Stewart cracking up at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in 2016, when he showed up on stage dressed as a fairy godmother.
They are constantly there for one another, whether it’s premieres or awards ceremonies. Here is McKellen presenting Stewart with an award at the Three Empire Awards in 2017.
McKellen attended the ‘Star Trek: Picard’ premiere in January 2020, and surprised everyone with a comical proposal! Stewart quickly accepted and they shared a kiss.
Sources: (CBS News) (Mirror) (Today) (Channel 4 News) (Wired) (BuzzFeed)
Stewart revealed that they got close off-camera, as they had adjoining trailers and would spend the day “drinking tea—and maybe in the afternoon, something a little stronger—and we got to know one another.”
In an interview with CBS News, Stewart and McKellen agree that they’re the “same actor,” and that they have had essentially the same career. They call themselves equals and not rivals.
More than fans of football, the two also watch NBA games together. Here they are at a New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks game.
Both have used acting as an escape in their life. McKellen hid his sexuality until the late ‘80s, using acting as a form of solace. Stewart, on the other hand, used it as a way of escaping his home life, as he had an abusive father.
...and together! McKellen and Stewart won awards for their pairing in 'Waiting for Godot' at the 2010 Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards.
McKellen was the only person to tell Patrick Stewart not to play Captain Picard on ‘Star Trek.’ Luckily, Stewart ignored that advice!
McKellen surprised both Stewart and Hugh Jackman when he appeared during their interview on 'The Graham Norton Show' in 2017.
Their friendship began on the set of the ‘X-Men’ movie, with Stewart playing Charles Xavier and McKellen playing Magneto.
Don’t worry about Stewart’s romantic relationship, however, as he also stated that his wife was in love with McKellen as well. He revealed in a 2016 interview that his wife even encourages their bromance!
...but not in the way you might think! McKellen performed the wedding ceremony and married Stewart and his wife, Sunny Ozell, in 2013.
They are quick to embrace and hold hands. McKellen later states that they're so similar that sometimes he thinks he is Patrick Stewart!
McKellen and Stewart shared their first very public kiss at the premiere of 'Mr. Holmes' back in 2015. At the time, it made headlines. However, now it's a commonplace occurrence in their close friendship.
They even spend their holidays together! Stewart has posted several times about spending his birthday or New Year's Eve with McKellen.
Nothing is more endearing than watching these two attempt to answer personal questions about each other during a round of the Newlywed Game—and failing miserably.
When McKellen attended the Women's March in 2017, he held up a picture of Stewart as a facepalming Captain Picard from 'Star Trek.'
There are countless photos of the two holding hands, embracing, and snuggling up together.
Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen actually became close while playing enemies on-screen, back in 2000.
The two have been known to watch sporting events together. Stewart posted a comical photo before the 2014 Super Bowl, with him in a Seahawks jersey and McKellen in a Broncos jersey. Real fans, or just having a laugh? You decide.
They did a joint interview with Seth Meyers back in 2014, with Meyers gushing that they "maybe have the most chemistry on Instagram of anyone I've ever seen."
If you’ve seen Patrick Stewart at major events, you’ve probably seen Ian McKellen right alongside him at many of them. A bromance for the ages (despite playing enemies on-screen), these two men have been inseparable for over 20 years, and only seem to be growing closer.
In this gallery, we’re going to examine some of the most unique and hilarious moments that these two cinematic icons have spent together, all the while learning about how this bromance came to be. Click on to take a deep dive into the one-of-a-kind friendship between these two prolific actors.
Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen's bromance for the ages
No doubt the old pals will be celebrating Stewart's 83rd birthday this July 13
CELEBRITY Friendship
If you’ve seen Patrick Stewart at major events, you’ve probably seen Ian McKellen right alongside him at many of them. A bromance for the ages (despite playing enemies on-screen), these two men have been inseparable for over 20 years, and only seem to be growing closer.
In this gallery, we’re going to examine some of the most unique and hilarious moments that these two cinematic icons have spent together, all the while learning about how this bromance came to be. Click on to take a deep dive into the one-of-a-kind friendship between these two prolific actors.