Sir Ian McKellen turned down $1.5 million to officiate wedding as Gandalf
Officiating a wedding a serious responsibility, best left to religious officials, close friends and fictional wizards.
Sir Ian McKellen, best known for playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, was offered $1.5 million to officiate Sean Parker's wedding as the wizard, The Daily Mail reports. Parker, a billionaire who founded Napster and was Facebook's first president, first made the offer three years ago.
"I was offered $1.5 million dollars to marry a very famous couple in California, which I would perhaps have considered doing, but I had to go dressed as Gandalf," McKellen told The Daily Mail. "So I said, ‘I am sorry, Gandalf doesn’t do weddings.'"
Parker's fantasy-themed wedding to singer Alexandra Lenas, which caused some expensive damage to the redwood forest in which it was held, cost approximately $1.5 million dollars. Guests at the time included Sting, Sean Lennon and Emma Watson.
Each guest was custom-fitted in a Tolkienized Lord of the Rings costumes, because nothing says eternal love like cosplay.
Who doesn't see hairy ears and subsequently think of marriage?
McKellen, an accomplished theater actor is currently starring in 'No Man's Land' in London. He made the disclosure to The Daily Mail as part of a longer conversation about costumes.
"I don’t go dressing up,” McKellen told The Daily Mail. “Except in plays and things at places like this."
Ian McKellen's net worth is estimated to be in the tens of millions -- but still, an extra $1.5 million wouldn't have hurt.
Sean Parker, wherever you are -- next time you need a Gandalf, there are millions of people out there who are ready to dress in costume (raises hand) and will gladly accept your monetary offer.
We won't even ask for a tip.
BONUS: Corgi tea party
Heather was the Web Trends reporter at Mashable NYC. Prior to joining Mashable, Heather wrote regularly for UPROXX and GOOD Magazine, was published in The Daily Dot and VICE, and had her work featured in Entertainment Weekly, Jezebel, Mic, and Gawker. She loves small terrible dogs and responsible driving. Follow her on Twitter @wear_a_helmet.
