Man on birthday pub crawl dressed as Gandalf bumps into Ian McKellen
The real Gandalf FILE PHOTO: Sir Ian McKellen attends the Gala Night performance of "Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club" on October 27, 2022 in London, England. McKellen recently made one fan's birthday one to remember. (John Phillips/Getty Images)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
A 22-year-old man in the U.K. had a birthday he will never forget.
Ben Coyles recently celebrated his birthday with a pub crawl with friends, each dressed as a “Lord of the Rings” character, the Daily Mail reported.
Coyles was dressed as Gandalf when he got the surprise of a lifetime, BBC News reported.
It was Ian McKellen, who had recently wrapped up his 145-show U.K. tour in “Mother Goose” at the Bristol Hippodrome, according to BBC News.
After getting over the initial shock, Coyles and McKellen chatted, the Daily Mail reported.
“It was incredible. It took a second to recognise it was him. We were on a pub crawl at the time but it was an amazing coincidence like the universe giving me a birthday present, I was pretty speechless for the rest of the evening, and starstruck. We were walking from The Gryphon to Brewdog in the city centre. We’d previously been to WG Grace and then to The White Bear so we’d all had a few. We heard someone behind me say ‘Does your Gandalf want to meet the real Gandalf’ and then he walks up to me and greets me,” Coyles said, according to the Daily Mail.
“He asked me how old I was, then he wished me a happy birthday, shook my hand and took a photo with me and then walked off into the night as quickly as he appeared - what a legend of a man.”
Video of the impromptu meeting was shared on social media, where it quickly went viral.
McKellen has portrayed Gandalf several times in “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” film series as well as lending his voice as the wizard in several video games.
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Through the years Actor Ian McKellen, October 14th 1965. (Photo by Don Smith/Radio Times via Getty Images) (Radio Times/Radio Times via Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Ian McKellen in costume, as he appears in the television drama 'The Tragedy of King Richard II', circa 1971. (Photo by Don Smith/Radio Times/Getty Images) (Don Smith/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Ian McKellen playing rugby in character on the set of the ITV Playhouse film 'Graceless Go I', circa 1974. (Photo by TV Times via Getty Images) (TV Times/TV Times/Future Publishing via G)
Through the years Actor Ian McKellen, circa 1982. (Photo by TV Times via Getty Images) (TV Times/TV Times via Getty Images)
Through the years English actor Ian McKellen training inside a flat, UK, 21st December 1984. (Photo by John Minihan/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (John Minihan/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Ian McKellen on the set of Richard III, directed by Richard Loncraine. (Photo by Alex Bailey/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images) (Alex Bailey/Sygma via Getty Images)
Through the years Greta Scacchi And Ian McKellen In The 1997 TV Movie "Rasputin" (Photo By Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 23: Actor Sir Ian McKellen attends a photocall before receiving a "Donosti" award at the Kursaal Palace during the 57th San Sebastian International Film Festival on September 23, 2009 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
Through the years SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 14: Actors Martin Freeman (L) and Ian McKellen speak at Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Preview of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" during Comic-Con International 2012 at San Diego Convention Center on July 14, 2012 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 17: (EXCLUSIVE ACCESS) Sir Patrick Stewart (L), Sunny Ozell (R) and Sir Ian McKellen (2nd R) pose at Ronnie Scott's as part of her UK debut at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club on October 17, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images For Sunny Ozell) (Samir Hussein)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 06: Sir Ian McKellen attends "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" New York Premiere Benefiting AFI - Red Carpet And Introduction at Ziegfeld Theater on December 6, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) (Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 27: Patrict Stewart and Ian McKellen attend the TIME/CNN/PEOPLE/FORTUNE Pre-Dinner Cocktail Reception at Washington Hilton on April 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Time, Inc) (Michael Loccisano)
Through the years SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 20: (L-R) Actors Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen speaks at the 20th Century Fox "X-Men: Days of Future Past" panel during Comic-Con International 2013 at San Diego Convention Center on July 20, 2013 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 12: (l-r) Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender attend the UK Premiere of "X-Men: Days of Future Past" at Odeon Leicester Square on May 12, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) (Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 01: (L-R) Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis and Orlando Bloom attend the World Premiere of "The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies" at Odeon Leicester Square on December 1, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images) (Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)
Through the years BERLIN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 08: Sir Ian McKellen attends the 'Mr. Holmes' photocall during the 65th Berlinale International Film Festival at Grand Hyatt Hotel on February 8, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Through the years STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Harriet Walter, Sir Ian McKellen and David Tennant perform on stage as part of a special production of Shakespeare Live! from the RSC on April 23, 2016 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is President of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare Live! from the RSC marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death by celebrating Shakespeare's legacy in theatre, music, opera and ballet. (Photo by Tristan Fewings - WPA Pool / Getty Images) (Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen during the unveiling of a new plaque commemorating her friend and fellow actor Sir John Gielgud on Cowley Street in Westminster on April 27, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) (John Phillips/Getty Images)
Through the years WINDSOR, ENGLAND - JULY 15: Sir Ian McKellen during the "Hamlet" photocall at Theatre Royal, Windsor on July 15, 2021 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Through the years WINDSOR, ENGLAND - JULY 15: Sir Ian McKellen attends the "Hamlet" photocall at Theatre Royal, Windsor on July 15, 2021 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 03: Sir Ian McKellen appears from a giant golden egg during his announcement for an Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, UK and Ireland Tour Of "Mother Goose" at The Londoner Hotel on October 03, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) (Lia Toby/Getty Images)
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