Gandalf the Grey — The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Character Profile

About Gandalf the Grey

A wise and powerful wizard who guides Middle-earth's free peoples against rising darkness.

Gandalf the Grey — Character Profile

Alignment

Hero

Species

Enhanced_human

Abilities

Magic, Swordsmanship, Leadership, Wisdom

• Strength: 8/10
• Intelligence: 10/10
• Charisma: 9/10
• Morality: 9/10
• Influence: 10/10

Affiliations

• White Council
• Istari
• Fellowship of the Ring
• Tolkien's legendarium

Quick Facts about Gandalf the Grey

Occupation

magician, military officer, diplomat

First Appearance

The Hobbit

Gandalf the Grey's Known Relations

• Sauron — Enemy
• Smaug — Enemy
• Saruman — Enemy
• White Council — Member of
• Istari — Member of
• Fellowship of the Ring — Member of

Gandalf the Grey appears in 8 titles

• The Lord of the Rings (1978) — character page
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) — character page
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) — character page
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) — character page
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) — character page
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) — character page
• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022) — character page

Character Facts

Played by

Ian McKellen

Appears in

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Role

Protagonist

Relationships (8)

• Gandalf the Grey — Narrative Recruiter — Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman)

  Gandalf initiates Bilbo's transformation by drawing him into the quest.

  Gandalf tricks Bilbo into hosting the Dwarves and recruits him as the company's burglar.

• Gandalf the Grey — Alliance Strategic Ally — Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage)

  Gandalf supports Thorin's mission while also managing the larger threat.

  Gandalf helps organize Thorin's quest, guides the company, and secretly arranges for the Dwarves to continue without him.

• Gandalf the Grey — Conflict Combatant — The Great Goblin (Barry Humphries)

  Gandalf decisively defeats the Goblin leader.

  Gandalf arrives during the Goblin captivity, helps the Dwarves escape, and kills the Great Goblin.

• Gandalf the Grey — Alliance Informant — Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy)

  Radagast supplies Gandalf with crucial intelligence about the dark threat.

  Radagast tells Gandalf about the Necromancer's corruption of Greenwood and gives him a Morgul blade obtained from Dol Guldur.

• Gandalf the Grey — Professional Council Colleague — Elrond (Hugo Weaving)

  They cooperate in interpreting the map and assessing the Necromancer.

  Gandalf meets Elrond in Rivendell and later presents the Morgul blade to the White Council.

• Gandalf the Grey — Social Confidant — Galadriel (Cate Blanchett)

  Gandalf trusts Galadriel with his private strategy.

  Gandalf secretly reveals to Galadriel that he anticipated opposition and had the Dwarves move forward without him.

• Gandalf the Grey — Professional Council Colleague — Saruman the White (Christopher Lee)

  They are council members who disagree over the importance of the quest.

  Gandalf presents the Morgul blade to the White Council, while Saruman requests that he end the Dwarves' quest.

• Gandalf the Grey — Conflict Investigator — Necromancer (Benedict Cumberbatch)

  Gandalf recognizes the Necromancer as a strategic danger beyond the Dwarves' mission.

  Gandalf investigates Radagast's report and presents the Morgul blade as evidence that the Necromancer is linked to a possible return of Sauron.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

More characters from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

• Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman)
• Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage)
• Bofur (James Nesbitt)
• Ori (Adam Brown)
• Balin (Ken Stott)
• Dori / Bert Troll (Mark Hadlow)
• Galadriel (Cate Blanchett)
• Bifur / Tom Troll (William Kircher)
• Elrond (Hugo Weaving)
• Gollum (Andy Serkis)
• Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy)
• King Thranduil (Lee Pace)