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.
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Lord of the Rings was one of the most ambitious projects of the era, and, per Rotten Tomatoes, 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.
Elijah Wood
New Line Cinema
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. His latest projects so far were the crime mystery film No Man of God, in which he also served as producer, and, per Deadline, the upcoming movie The Toxic Avenger, starring Peter Dinklage.
Viggo Mortensen
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. His latest projects to date have been the science fiction horror film Crimes of the Future and the biographical survival film Thirteen Lives.
Sean Bean
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, we can mention him co-starring with Nicola Walker in the British drama series Marriage, from 2022, and the upcoming live action Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac.
Sean Astin
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. 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, and his latest film roles so far were in the movies Hero Mode and Charming the Hearts of Men.
Ian McKellen
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. 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 upcoming thriller film The Critic, whose release has yet to be announced.
Dominic Monaghan
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 portrayal of Charlie Pace in the TV series Lost, but Monaghan also took part in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. His most recent projects so far were the mystery film Last Looks and the AMC+ dystopian sci-fi series Moonhaven.
John Rhys-Davies
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 Sallah in the Indiana Jones movies, starred in films such as Victor/Victoria and Glory Daze, and 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. His latest role to date was in the 2021 film Prick’d.
Orlando Bloom
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. His latest project so far is the action thriller film Red Right Hand, which has not yet been released.
