The Lord of the Rings franchise remains, to this day, one of the most iconic and influential in the history of cinema. Based on the novels by J. R. R. Tolkien, this series of epic fantasy adventure films features three installments: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003), all of which were directed by Peter Jackson, who was also involved in the project as producer and screenwriter.

Over the course of the trilogy, the audience follows Frodo Baggins' adventures in the fictional world of Middle-earth as he attempts, along with the Fellowship of the Ring, to destroy the One Ring and, with it, its creator, Sauron. Lord of the Rings was one of the most ambitious projects of the era and went on to become a hit with both audiences and critics, garnering many major nominations and awards, including 17 Academy Awards.

Largely, this was due to the actors who made up the cast, as Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, and Sean Astin, to name a few, brilliantly pulled off their respective Lord of the Rings characters and kept on working and building their successful careers. By 2012, Jackson helmed yet another trilogy based on J. R. R. Tolkien's novel, The Hobbit, and while it performed quite well at the box office, it was not as critically acclaimed as the original trilogy. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, is an Amazon Prime Video series also inspired by Tolkien's novel and its appendices. Here's an overview of the cast of Lord of the Rings trilogy and their latest projects.

Update February 15, 2024: This article has been updated with more cast members from Lord of the Rings and even more recent updates on the cast of the beloved trilogy.

Elijah Wood — Frodo Baggins

Elijah Wood starred in the Lord of the Rings trilogy as Frodo Baggins, and while this is his most remembered role, his career as an actor took off a few years earlier, appearing in films such as Avalon, Paradise, and Radio Flyer. By 2016, Wood co-starred alongside Samuel Barnett in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, a TV series that lasted two seasons until its cancellation.

Wood's latest projects so far were the crime mystery film No Man of God, in which he also served as producer, portraying FBI Special Agent Bill Hagmaier, who notably interviewed and recorded conversations with notorious serial killer Ted Bundy as he awaited his death sentence. 2023 proved to be a busy year for Wood, as he starred alongside Game of Thrones alum Peter Dinklage in the superhero horror comedy The Toxic Avenger and as Walter Tattersall in the thriller series Yellowjackets.

Related: Elijah Wood: His Best Roles Outside The Lord of the Rings

Viggo Mortensen — Aragorn

Viggo Mortensen played Aragorn, Ranger of the North, in Lord of the Rings. After participating in the trilogy, Mortensen was once again recognized for many of his roles in films such as A History of Violence and Eastern Promises. In recent years, he has been working as a producer, musical composer, and director of several projects, among them, the drama film Falling.

Mortensen continued to find massive success in Hollywood, having appeared in the science fiction horror film Crimes of the Future and the biographical survival film Thirteen Lives. He earned an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for his role as Italian-American bouncer Tony Lip in Green Book, and made his directorial debut in 2020 with the drama Falling. Mortensen's most recent screen credit was the acclaimed Western The Dead Don't Hurt, which he also starred in alongside Garret Dillahunt and Danny Huston.

Sean Bean — Boromir

Sean Bean portrayed Boromir, heir of Denethor II in Lord of the Rings, but without-a-doubt, this actor is best remembered for playing Ned Stark, the Lord of Winterfell, in the first season of Game of Thrones. Bean is an accomplished actor who has appeared in both film and television hits and has even lent his voice to characters from video games such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

Among his latest roles, he co-starred alongside Nicola Walker in the British drama series Marriage from 2022, and the live-action Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac. For his engrossing performance as prison inmate Mark Crobden in the anthology series Time, Bean won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor, with many calling it one of the finest portrayals of his illustrious career. He is set to star in the upcoming animated sci-fi film Rogue Trooper, in which he will appear with fellow actors like Hayley Atwell and Asa Butterfield.

Sean Astin — Samwise Gamgee

Samwise Gamgee, better known as Sam, Frodo Baggins' sidekick, was played by Sean Astin. The actor, who had already received an Academy Award nomination for the short film Kangaroo Court by the time of his appearance in Lord of the Rings, kept himself busy working in both films and television. Astin has been working in the entertainment industry since he was a young boy, famously portraying Mikey Walsh in the '80s beloved classic The Goonies.

One of his most notable roles of the last few years was as Bob Newby in the second and (briefly) third seasons of Stranger Things, with his wholesome character quickly became a fan-favorite in the series. He has subsequently had roles in movies like Hero Mode and Charming the Hearts of Men, and will once again portray Becky's love interest Tyler in the sixth season of the hit sitcom The Conners. Astin will also star opposite John Travolta and Kristin Davis in the action flick Cash Out.

Related: How The Rings of Power Does (and Doesn't) Connect to the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Movies

Ian McKellen — Gandalf

Ian McKellen played a key role in the Lord of the Rings trilogy as Gandalf, wizard and leader of the Fellowship of the Ring. This actor boasts a highly diversified portfolio with roles on stage, film, and television, including Magneto in the X-Men films and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later king, in Richard III. McKellen's phenomenal career has spanned over fifty years, and he was even rightfully knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.

McKellen reprised his role as Gandalf in The Hobbit trilogy, and went on to memorably portray Cogsworth in the live-adaptation of Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Gus the Theatre Cat in Cats. In 2021, McKellen co-starred with Tori Butler in Hart's Infinitum: Subject Unknown, a movie shot solely with an iPhone during the UK's first COVID-19-related lockdown. His most recent acting role to date was in the thriller The Critic, which made its worldwide debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Dominic Monaghan — Merry Brandybuck

Dominic Monaghan played Meriadoc Brandybuck in Lord of the Rings, better known as Merry, a hobbit and friend of Frodo Baggins. That is one of his most remembered roles, along with his unforgettable portrayal of rockstar Charlie Pace in the smash hit TV series Lost, but Monaghan also took part in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Monaghan went on to appear in television shows like FlashForward, 100 Code, and The Legend of Vox Machina, and from 2012 to 2016 he hosted the wildlife documentary series Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan. In 2022, he starred in the AMC+ dystopian sci-fi series Moonhaven and also nabbed a role in the mystery film Last Looks, which touted a spectacular ensemble cast including Charlie Hunnam, Morena Baccarin, and Mel Gibson.

John Rhys-Davies — Gimli

John Rhys-Davies played Gimli, a dwarf warrior and member of the Fellowship of the Ring, in Lord of the Rings. This Welsh actor, also known for playing Egyptian excavator and Indy's close pal Sallah in the Indiana Jones movies, starred in films such as Victor/Victoria, The Living Daylights, and Glory Daze before joining the successful adaptation of the J.R.R. Tolkien novels.

Rhys-Davies has lent his voice to a number of animated characters such as Man Ray in SpongeBob SquarePants, Ranjan's father in The Jungle Book 2, and Hades in Justice League. He reprised his role as Sallah and was subsequently reunited with Harrison Ford and Karen Allen in 2023's big-screen extravaganza Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, delighting audiences everywhere with his long-awaited return to the popular franchise.

Orlando Bloom — Legolas

Orlando Bloom starred as Legolas, a Sindar Elf of the Woodland Realm and a member of The Fellowship of the Ring. While Lord of the Rings was his breakthrough role, he subsequently gained further notoriety as Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. Bloom performed in movies of many genres, from war films such as Black Hawk Down to romantic comedies like Elizabethtown, as well as a number of stage appearances.

Bloom has headlined stage plays including like in Romeo and Juliet and Killer Joe, and from 2019 to 2023 he starred opposite Cara Delevigne in the fantasy series Carnival Row. He appeared in the sports drama Gran Tursimo as well as The Outpost and Needle in a Timestack, with his next roles being in the upcoming action thriller Red Right Hand and comedy Wizards!.

Liv Tyler — Arwen

Liv Tyler portrayed Rivendell elf and Aragorn's devoted lover Arwen in the fan-favorite trilogy, having previously garnered widespread recognition for her roles in '90s flicks like Empire Records, That Thing You Do!, and Armageddon. The daughter of music legend and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, she paved her own way in the entertainment industry and emerged as a constant presence in Hollywood throughout the 2000s, appearing in a slew of dynamic television shows and films.

Tyler starred alongside Scott Speedman in the horror sleeper hit The Strangers, which has since gone on to become a bonafide cult hit. She also landed prominent parts in The Incredible Hulk, The Ledge, and Wildling and has also portrayed the mysterious Meg Abbott in The Leftovers and Lady Isabella Fitzwilliam in Harlots. Tyler is set to reprise her MCU role as Betty Ross in the highly buzzed-about superhero film Captain America: Brave New World, which will feature Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford.

Hugo Weaving — Elrond

Elven-Lord of Rivendel is head of the Council of Elrond, and was brilliantly played by the dynamic Hugo Weaving, who had previously rose to prominence when he starred as the nefarious Agent Smith in The Matrix franchise. Weaving's other noteworthy acting credits before joining The Lord of the Rings franchise include films like Proof, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Interview, and the Australian series Bodyline.

After riding high on the massive success of two acclaimed franchises, Weaving starred alongside Natalie Portman as the titular character in V for Vendetta and subsequently appeared as Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger and in lauded films like The Dressmaker, Hacksaw Ridge, and Hearts and Bones. He has crafted a decorated voice acting resume, memorably providing his distinct vocals in Happy Feet, Transformers, and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.

Billy Boyd — Pippin Took

Billy Boyd portrayed Frodo's foolish distant cousin Peregrin "Pippin" Took, who traveled with the Fellowship on their epic quest to Mordor. The franchise served as his major breakthrough in Hollywood and helped pave the way for more television and film opportunities, with Boyd going on to star alongside Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany in the epic war drama Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, the same year the trilogy bid farewell to fans.

Boyd had no problem nabbing prominent parts in movies such as Seed of Chucky, Space Milkshake, and An Intrusion, with his most current screen credit being in the 2021 comedy Walking with Herb. He shifted his focus to the small screen and appeared in a slew of shows, including Moby Dick, Outlander, Doom Patrol, and Chucky, and is also a gifted musician, having performed the song "The Last Goodbye" for the soundtrack of 2014's The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

Andy Serkis — Gollum & Sméagol

Andy Serkis might be the biggest star to come out of Lord of the Rings. Serkis played Gollum's character in the franchise. While audiences briefly saw him at the beginning of Return of the King in his Sméagol form, audiences best know him thanks to his incredible motion capture work that includes King Kong in Peter Jackson's 2005 remake (where he also played the chef, Lumpy), Captain Haddock in The Adventures of Tintin, Ceaser in the Planet of the Apes trilogy, and Supreme Leader Snoke in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Serkis has also gotten to show his face in projects like 13 Going on 30, The Prestige, MCU films Avengers: Age of Ultron and Black Panther, where he played the villain Uylessus Klaw, Alfred in The Batman, and also another Star Wars character, Kino Loy, in the Disney+ series, Andor. He reprised his role as Gollum in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, where he also served as second unit director on all three films. This kicked off his directing career, which includes 2017's Breathe, 2018's Mowligi: Legend of the Jungle, and 2021's Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is available for streaming on Prime Video and Max.