He was awarded the 1989 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Othello".
He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1979 for his services to drama.
He was awarded the Companion of Honor in the Queen's 2008 New Years Honors List For his services to the gay and entertainment community.
In the Independent of Sunday 2006 Pink List - a list of the most influential gay men and women - he came no. 1, up from no. 2, knocking Elton John from top spot.
Is a vegetarian.
Is good friends with Monica Lewinsky. The two met at the The 71st Annual Academy Awards (1999) (TV). She accompanied him to the London premiere of Gods and Monsters (1998).
Like his The Da Vinci Code (2006) character, Sir Leigh Teabing, he has been knighted. As such, prior to being cast, he spotted two errors in the book's portrayal of Knighthood. Knights neither receive ID badges nor are granted any of the special privileges Teabing demands as a result of Knighthood.
Marched at London's Gay Pride Parade July 5th 2008.
Only performer to receive an acting Academy Award nomination for Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
Originally aspired to be a journalist.
Originated the role of Antonio Salieri in the Broadway production of "Amadeus."
Played "Magneto" in three consecutive films - the only other actors to play comic book criminals in three films, as of 2008, are James Franco as "Harry Osborn", Gene Hackman as "Lex Luthor" and his X-Men (2000) co-star, Rebecca Romijn.
Played Maggie Smith in a "Weekend Update" skit on an episode of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) that he hosted.
Ranked #45 in the 2008 Telegraph's list "the 100 most powerful people in British culture".
Says the same line, "The war has begun", in the trailers of both the major, unrelated blockbusters X2 (2003) and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002).
Shares his middle name, Murray, with both Michael Hordern (Michael Murray Hordern), his predecessor in the role of Gandalf, and F. Murray Abraham, his successor in the role of Antonio Salieri.
Studied at St. Catharine's College, University of Cambridge, when he was 18, with Sir Derek Jacobi, and with whom he had been "desperately in love'", as he confessed on "Inside the Actors Studio" (1994). In an article in "The Advocate", issue dated December 11, 2001, he further explained that what he had felt for Jacobi in their youth was "a passion that was undeclared and unrequited.".
The original Lord of the Rings books, and X-Men comics, both feature a character named Sauron, and a book entitled "The Return of the King." The X-Men graphic novel The Return of the King is, appropriately, about the return of Magneto.
Was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford Upon Avon, England.
Was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company at the same time as Patrick Stewart.