Sir Ian McKellan falls off stage during London show

Sir Ian McKellan was rushed to hospital after falling from the stage during a performance of Player Kings at London’s Noel Coward Theatre.

The 85-year-old actor slipped and fell while filming a fight scene.

A theatre spokesman later said he was “in good spirits” and “will make a quick and full recovery.”

He is due to return to the stage in a matinee performance next Wednesday.

Audience members were evacuated from the theater and informed that the evening’s performance had been canceled.

Sir Ian, who played John Falstaff, was walking around the stage during a fight scene between the Prince of Wales and Henry Percy when he fell off the front of the stage. The actor screamed and staff rushed to his aid.

A theatre spokesman told the PA news agency that he had been examined and was expected to make a full recovery.

Next Tuesday’s performance of the play has been cancelled “to allow Ian to rest”, the spokesman added, but the actor is due to return the following day.

The spokesperson also thanked Dr Rachel and Dr Lee “who were in the audience”, as well as staff at the venue, for their support.

Sir Ian has previously appeared in Shakespeare’s plays including Richard II, Coriolanus, Iago, Richard III, King Lear and Macbeth, and will also be playing Hamlet in a new film directed by Sean Mathias.

His film credits include playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Magneto in the X-Men series, as well as roles in Beauty and the Beast, The Da Vinci Code and Mr. Holmes.

The actor also appeared in 10 episodes of the ITV soap Coronation Street as scheming romance writer Mel Hatchwright.

Five years ago, Sir Ian was forced to cancel a performance of King Lear at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London after injuring his leg while running to catch a train, but he still managed to keep the audience entertained by sitting onstage and answering questions.

Additional reporting by Hafsa Khalil