An adaptation of a book can never be as rich and detailed as the text itself, and so certain scenes and characters have to disappear in the process. Some of them because of time constraints, some to simplify certain events, and some because they were irrelevant to the story.

On this page you can find some of the characters of Fellowship Of the Rings that didn’t make it to the screen. We also included some characters that did make it into the movies, but were heavily reduced or only mentioned in conversation.

Each lemma includes a short description of the character and its importance to the story, accompanied by a link to the Encyclopedia, where you can find more background information. Those characters that did make it to the screen also got a few lines on their appearance.
We also tried to find an explanation for the disappearance or reduction of the character, which can be found under ‘The why’s’. At the bottom of each article you’ll find a link to the article which deals with the sequence(s) in which this character does or does not appear.

We’ve limited ourselves to those characters which are actually worth mentioning, so we didn’t include characters we don’t have any information on, and are only mentioned once or twice. If you want to learn more about them, hey, read the books! (That goes without saying.)

On the bottom of the page you can find some characters that weren’t included in the book at all, and were either pulled from the appendixes or completely made up by the authors.

This is a work in progress, so please be patient with us.

Hamfest Gamgee
The whos:
Better known as ‘the Gaffer’ or ‘my old Gaffer’ (depends on who’s talking). Ham is Bilbo Baggins’ gardener of old, who lives in Number 3 Bagshot Row a little down the Hill where Bag End stands. His son Samwise helps him out, and after Bilbo’s departure takes over from his old father and becomes a loyal servant to Frodo Baggins, Bilbo’s cousin.

The whats:
Hamfest Gamgee is one of the first characters we’re introduced to: Tolkien uses a conversation between some villagers in The Ivy Bush in Bywater, to give us a description of Bilbo Baggins and show us a little what Hobbits are like. This conversation exists mainly between the Gaffer and some local ale-amateurs of which miller Sandyman will return later in the trilogy: the Gaffer gives a long speech on the honorable qualities of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, and provides us with information on Frodo’s background.

Later on in the book when Frodo, Pippin and Sam are ready to leave for Circkhollow, the old Gaffer tells his son that a great black Rider came to his door and asked for ‘Mr. Baggins’, but that he told him off. Sam however forgets to pass this information on to his master.

The Gaffer returns one more time in Fellowship Of the Ring, when Sam and Frodo are asked to look into Galadriel’s Mirror: Sam sees Bagshot Row dug up and his father evicted from their home. He is so devestated with what he sees, that for a moment he hesitates between continuing the journey and going home.

The wheres:
Hamfest wasn’t completely cut out of the movie: on the extended edition there’s a scene in The Green Dragon Inn where a similar conversation (however severely trimmed) takes place with Samwise Gamgee present. There’s an elderly Hobbit there too, which is assumed to be the Gaffer. You can find some caps of him here.

The Links:
– Hamfest Gamgee
– 2. A Long-Expected Party
– 5. The Journey to Bree
– 16.The Mirror Of Galadriel

Otho and Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
The whos:
The Sackville-Bagginses are an inheritance of ‘The Hobbit’, where they also make an appearance as ill-loved relatives of Bilbo’s. Otho is Bilbo’s cousin, both of them having Mungo Baggins as a direct ancestor. Lobelia was a Bracegirdle, and married into the Sackville-Baggins family. They had one son, Lotho.
After Bilbo returns from his quest to Erebor, he finds Lobelia and Otho auctioning off all his belongings.

The whats:
Otho and Lobelia are mentioned three times in Fellowship Of the Ring, twice in 1.I. A Long-expected Party. Their first appearance is on the party itself, where they had been invited, but Tolkien doesn’t say much about them.
Next time we see them is after Bilbo’s departure, when Frodo is handing out Bilbo’s presents – or at least trying to make sure not too many things are stolen. Lobelia and Otho make quite a dramatic entrance, demanding to see Frodo and trying to get as much out of the situation as they can. After sixty years of waiting, it’s needless to say that they aren’t very pleased to hear that Frodo is Bilbo’s only heir.
When Frodo leaves Hobbiton he sells Bag End to Lobelia, who’s become a widow in the meantime.

The wheres:
On the extended edition the Sackville-Bagginses make a special guest appearance: they are present at Biblo’s Birthday party, and Bilbo (who feels his ears twitch when they come near) hides from them with Frodo. And fair is fair: Lobelia and Otho do look like very unpleasent Hobbits.

The Links:
– Otho Sackville Baggins and Lobelia Bracegirdle
– 2. A Long-Expected Party
– 5. The Journey to Bree

Gildor Inglorion
The whos:
Gildor Inglorion is a High Elf of the House of Finrod. He and the Elves in his company dwell in the lands between The Shire and Rivendell, where some of his kinfolk still live. He is acquainted with Bilbo Baggins.

The whats:
The encounter of the Hobbits travelling to Crickhollow with Gildor Inglorion and his company makes up half of 1.III. Three Is Company. Gildor speaks with Frodo about Bilbo and his own quest, but refuses to elaborate on the Black Riders the Hobbits encounter that same day. His companions provide Sam, Pippin and Frodo with food and míruvor, a fortyfying Elvish drink.

The wheres:
Gildor Inglorion isn’t included in the movie, however, on the Extended Edition Sam and Frodo do watch a band of Elves travel to the Grey Havens. The way they are depicted matches the description Tolkien gives in the book.

The Links:
– Gildor Inglorion
– 5. The Journey to Bree

Glorfindel
The Whos:
The Elf-lord Glorfindel, like Elrond and Galadriel, is actually a character from the greater mythology Tolkien created, who makes a little guest appearance in Lord Of the Rings. He is introduced to us as a member of Elrond’s household, a respected Elf-lord and a good acquaintence of Strider’s.

The Whats:
On the journey from Weathertop to Rivendell, the Hobbits and Strider encounter the Elf-lord Glorfindel who was sent by Lord Elrond to find the Ring-bearer and bring him to safety. He informs Strider about the Nazgûl who are on their tail, and accompanies them on their road. When it becomes clear the Nazgûl are running in on them, he lends his horse Asfaloth to Frodo and commands it to run to Rivendell.
When Frodo reaches the Ford of Bruinen he is faced with the wraiths and faints. The combined efforts of Elrond and Gandalf (who create the tide of the Bruinen) and Glorfindel, standing on the shore with a torch scaring the wraiths’ horses into the water, save his life.
Glorfindel is also present at the feast that is held in Frodo’s honour, and at the council, where he takes part in the discussion about the fate of the Ring.

The Wheres:
Glorfindel didn’t make it into the movie at all, though it’s not completely unthinkable that one of the many Elves present at the council is in fact Glorfindel. His horse Asfaloth however, did: when Arwen urges her horse to greater speed she says ‘Noro-lim Asfaloth, noro-lim’.

The Whys:
On the audio comment for the Extended Edition of FOTR, the authors talk about the need to flesh out Arwen’s part. Because it was a difficult point in the story to introduce yet another pointless character, they felt it better for the story and the audience to replace Glorfindel by Arwen. Bakshi in his cartoon version of the movie had already replaced Glrofindel by Legolas, probably for the very same reason.

The Links:
– Glorfindel of Rivendell
– 8. Flight To the Ford
– 9. Many Meetings
– 10. The Council Of Elrond

Glóin son of Gróin
The Whos:
In ‘The Hobbit’s, Glóin is one of the thirteen Dwarves in the company that seeks to reclaim the treasure of Erebor, a quest joined by Gandalf the Grey and Bilbo Baggins. As a result of this, Glóin becomes an important Dwarf in Erebor and is sent to Rivendell as an emmassary of King Dáin to ask Lord Elrond for advice. He is also the father of Gimli.

The Whats:
Glóin arrived in Rivendell around the same time Frodo did, and is also present on the feast. Frodo spends a long time talking to this old acquaintance of his uncle Bilbo, and politely listens to Glóin’s account of the great works taking place in Dale.

Glóin evidently is also present at the council, and is the first to speak: the Dwarves of Erebor are worried about Balin son of Fundin who took a host of their people and went to reclaim Khazâd-dûm, now known as Moria. Glóin also informs those present of a strange messenger from Mordor who came to Erebor and promised King Dáin the friendship of Sauron and one of the lost Dwarven Rings of Power in exchange for information about a Hobbit and a Ring.
In the discussion about the fate of the Ring, Glóin is reluctant to destroy it and also suggests to use the other Rings of Power.

The Wheres:
Glóin didn’t make it into the movie either, but when Gimli arrives in Rivendell there’s an elderly Dwarf with long silvery hair in his company, which is often assumed to be Glóin.

The Links:
– Glóin son of Gróin
– 9. Many Meetings
– 10. The Council Of Elrond

Radagast the Brown
The Whos:
Radagast the Brown is one of the three named wizards who were sent to Middle-earth by the Valar. He has a special love for beasts and birds, and lives on the edge of Mirkwood.

The Whats:
When Gandalf after a long period of absensce returns to the Shire, he encounters Radagast who has been looking for him. Saruman sent him with the message that the Nine have set out from Rivendell (which he didn’t know to that moment) and the demand to come to Isengard as swiftly as possible.
Gandalf, worried about this turn of events, asks Radagast to contact all his animal friends and ask them to keep an eye out for any news on the Nazgul or their master; and if they were to find out something new, to bring it to Isengard immediately.
Gandalf gets imprisoned by Saruman, who had deceived Radagast, but manages to escape with the aid of Gwaihir, lord of the Eagles. Gwaihir had recieved Radagast’s message and came to Isengard to bring tidings.
All of this is told at the council, as part of Gandalf’s tale.

The Wheres:
Obviously Radagast is not mentioned at the council, and the story of Gandalf’s encounter with Saruman has been altered drastically. However, it ís Gwaihir that rescues Gandalf: Gandalf catches a moth and apparently commands it to fetch help. This may a reference to the nick-name Saruman gives to Radagast in the books: Radagast the Bird-whisperer.

The Links:
– Radagast the Brown
– 4. The Treason Of Isengard
– 10. The Council Of Elrond