Ian McKellen to break from performing after falling off stage — but not for too long

Ian McKellen will take a break from his current acting gig to recover after falling during a stage performance in London this week. When the 85-year-old “X-Men” and “Lord of the Rings” actor lost his footing at the Noël Coward Theatre on Monday, he was portraying Sir John Falstaff in the adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Henry IV, Part 1” and “Henry IV, Part 2.” The play announced Thursday on X that McKellen will take a break from the role. “David Semark will be playing the role of Sir John Falstaff for the final three scheduled performances of ‘Player Kings’ while Ian McKellen recuperates following his fall,” the production said in its statement. In a statement shared Tuesday with The Times, the Noël Coward Theatre confirmed that McKellen was on the mend after the National Health Service team “assured us that he will make a speedy and full recovery.” The theater did not detail any injuries the actor, who was “in good spirits,” may have suffered. “Thank you to our audience and the general public for their well wishes following Ian’s fall during this evening’s performance of Player Kings,” the statement added.