This article is about the fictional character from J.R.R. Tolkien's books. For other meanings of Gandalf see: Gandalf (disambiguation)

Gandalf is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe, Middle-earth. Along with Merlin, he is often considered the prototypical wizard in Western fiction.

Gandalf is the best-known of the Maiar of the people of Manwë and Varda. He is said to be one of the wisest of that order, rivalling Saruman. He came to Middle-earth in the Third Age as a Wizard in order to counsel and assist all those in Middle-earth who opposed Sauron.

In The Hobbit, he arranges and partially accompanies the adventurous quest of Bilbo Baggins and the thirteen Dwarves to regain the Dwarvish treasure of the Lonely Mountain that was stolen many years before by the dragon Smaug. It is on this quest that he finds his sword, Glamdring.

In The Lord of the Rings, he urges Bilbo to give his magic ring to Frodo, whom he motivates to take the ring and destroy it in Mount Doom. Gandalf is initially unable to accompany Frodo and his servant Sam, but rejoins them in Rivendell as the second half of The Fellowship of the Ring begins. Taking leadership of the fellowship (nine representatives of the free peoples of Middle-earth "set against the Nine Riders"), he and Aragorn lead the hobbits and their companions on an unsuccessful effort to cross Mount Caradhras in winter. Then they take the "dark and secret way" which leads to Gandalf's apparent demise fighting the Balrog in the Mines of Moria. Gandalf reappears as a more imposing white-clad figure, Gandalf the White. In Fangorn forest he encounters the Three Walkers (Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas) who were tracking Merry and Pippin. They then go on to prosecute the war against Isengard and Barad-Dur (the Two Towers).

Gandalf initially appears as an old man with a grey beard, a grey cloak (probably responsible for the name Gandalf the Grey) and a large, pointed blue hat. Although some of the Wise know his true nature, others mistake him for a simple conjurer. After he is resurrected the change of his signature colour from grey to white is significant, for he has been sent back to replace the corrupt Saruman as the chief of the Wizards. In the book he says that he has himself become what Saruman should have been.

Círdan the Shipwright seemed to have foreseen this, for he entrusted to Gandalf rather than Saruman the care of Narya, the ring of Fire, one of the Three Rings of the Elves.

Other names:

• Olórin, his name in Valinor and in very ancient times. It is Quenya, and means "dreamer" or "of dreams", from the root olor-.
• Mithrandir, his Sindarin name, used in Gondor, and meaning Grey Pilgrim.
• The White Rider (mounted on the great horse Shadowfax)
• Stormcrow
• Incánus (in the south)
• Tharkûn (to the Dwarves)
• Gandalf Greyhame

John Huston provided the voice of Gandalf in two animated television features. Heron Carvic played him in the BBC radio version of The Hobbit; also on BBC radio, Sir Michael Hordern played him in The Lord of the Rings. Sir Ian McKellen was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Tolkien borrowed the name Gandalf from the "Catalogue of Dwarves" section of the poem Voluspa contained within the Elder Edda. The name means "cane-elf". Many of Gandalf's attributes seem to be derived from the Norse god Odin's incarnation as "the Wanderer", an old man with one eye, a long white beard, a wide brimmed hat, and a staff.

Within the Middle-earth mythos itself, "Gandalf" translates as "Elf-of-the-wand (or cane/staff)" in old northern Mannish. Most denizens of Middle-earth incorrectly assumed Gandalf was a Man (human), although he was really a Maia spirit (approximately equivalent to an angel). However, a less common misconception that occurred during the beginning of his career in Middle-earth was that for someone to be using as much magic as he was, he must have been an Elf. Although fairly soon after that it became apparent to all that he couldn't be an Elf (he didn't look like an Elf, he was old and Elves don't generally age), the nickname stuck with him. He later gave it as his name to others he met, who didn't know its original meaning.

Ainur of Middle-earth
Music of the Ainur | Ainulindalë
Lords of the Valar:	Manwë | Aulë | Oromë | Irmo | Mandos | Tulkas | Ulmo
Queens of the Valar:	Varda | Yavanna | Vána | Estë | Vairë | Nessa | Nienna
The Enemy:	Morgoth (a.k.a. Melkor)
Maiar:	Eönwë | Ilmarë | Ossë | Uinen | Salmar | Sauron | Melian | Arien | Tilion | Gothmog Curumo (Saruman) | Olórin (Gandalf) | Aiwendil (Radagast) | Alatar and Pallando | Durin's Bane