▁the ▁UK , ▁McK ellen ▁is ▁regarded ▁as ▁a ▁British ▁cultural ▁icon . ▁He ▁started ▁his ▁professional ▁career ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 1 ▁at ▁the ▁Bel grade ▁Theatre ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁their ▁highly ▁regarded ▁re pert ory ▁company . ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 5 , ▁McK ellen ▁made ▁his ▁first ▁West ▁End ▁appearance . ▁In ▁ 1 9 6 9 , ▁he ▁was ▁invited ▁to ▁join ▁the ▁Pro spect ▁Theatre ▁Company ▁to ▁play ▁the ▁lead ▁parts ▁in ▁Shakespeare ' s ▁Richard ▁II ▁and ▁Mar low e ' s ▁Edward ▁II , ▁and ▁he ▁firm ly ▁established ▁himself ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁country ' s ▁for em ost ▁classical ▁actors . ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s , ▁McK ellen ▁became ▁a ▁stal wart ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Shakespeare ▁Company ▁and ▁the ▁National ▁Theatre ▁of ▁Great ▁Britain . ▁ ▁McK ellen ▁was ▁appointed ▁Commander ▁of ▁the ▁Order ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Empire ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁B irth day ▁Hon ours , ▁was ▁kn ight ed ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁New ▁Year ▁Hon ours ▁for ▁services ▁to ▁the ▁performing ▁arts , ▁and ▁made ▁a ▁Comp an ion ▁of ▁Hon our ▁for ▁services ▁to ▁drama ▁and ▁to ▁equality ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁New ▁Year ▁Hon ours . ▁He ▁has ▁been ▁open ly ▁gay ▁since ▁ 1 9 8 8 , ▁and ▁continues ▁to ▁be ▁a ▁champion ▁for ▁L GB T ▁social ▁movements ▁world wide . ▁He ▁was ▁awarded ▁Fre edom ▁of ▁the ▁City