Sir Ian McKellen, the legendary actor renowned for his role in The Lord Of The Rings, has reportedly parted ways with his boyfriend Oscar Conlon-Morrey following a year-long romance.
The 84-year-old icon found love with Oscar, 30, while working together in a pantomime in December 2022. Their on-stage collaboration saw Ian portraying Mother Goose, while Oscar, who is 54 years his junior, played the role of his son Jack.
Their romance blossomed quickly, with Oscar publicly declaring his affection for the acting legend on New Year's Eve in 2023. Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Oscar shared his excitement about their relationship, stating, "I saw in 2023 at the house of the new love of my life."
Sources close to the couple revealed that Ian was equally smitten with the young actor at the beginning of their relationship. However, their whirlwind romance has now come to an end, with the pair deciding to part ways.
According to reports from the MailOnline, Ian's close friends had expressed doubts about the long-term prospects of the relationship from the outset. One unnamed actor shared their skepticism, expressing uncertainty about Ian's willingness to settle down.
"Oscar has been telling friends and family of his big plans with McKellen. He's even said he thinks they'll get engaged," the actor disclosed. "McKellen hasn't had a boyfriend in 20 years. He is really not a marriage man."
The actor continued, shedding light on Ian's preferences and lifestyle, stating: "He doesn't want a man living in his home. He enjoys having someone when he is on tour. He gets infatuated; then as quickly as he is into them, he's fallen out with them."
McKellen, who publicly came out as gay in 1988, has been vocal about the challenges he faced due to his sexuality. Despite his openness, he revealed that his parents had passed away before he could share this aspect of his identity with them.
During an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, McKellen spoke about the heartbreaking loss of his mother Margery when he was only 12 years old, followed by his father's death when he was 22.
Reflecting on his journey, the X-Men star acknowledged the progress made in LGBTQ+ rights and expressed gratitude for the change in societal attitudes.
As he navigates this new chapter, Sir Ian McKellen remains an advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance, embracing the freedom to live authentically in a world transformed by progress and inclusivity.