THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'The Lord of the Rings'

Andrew LaSaneMar 28, 2021, 20:29 IST

The first "Lord of the Rings" film debuted in 2001.New Line Cinema/ Mike Windle / Getty

The first installment of the beloved "Lord of the Rings" trilogy came out over 19 years ago.
Several stars like Sir Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom reprised their roles in "The Hobbit" films.
Sean Bean and Karl Urban have played iconic TV characters.

Elijah Wood played Frodo Baggins.

Elijah Wood in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Wood has since acted across a variety of genres.

Elijah Wood worked on "Over the Garden Wall." Mike Windle / Getty

Viggo Mortensen played Aragorn.

Viggo Mortensen in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Mortensen has been nominated for several Academy Awards.

Viggo Mortensen directed the 2020 film "Falling." Mike Coppola / Getty Images

Sean Bean played Boromir.

Sean Bean in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Bean played another beloved fantasy character on "Game of Thrones."

Sean Bean was also on "Snowpiercer." Jerod Harris/Getty Images for A+E Networks

Dominic Monaghan played Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck.

Dominic Monaghan in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Monaghan had a major role on "Lost."

Dominic Monaghan hosted the documentary series "Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan." Getty/Joshua Blanchard

Sean Astin played Samwise Gamgee.

Sean Astin in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Astin has worked on several major TV shows.

Sean Astin played Bob Newby on “Stranger Things.” Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

Sir Ian McKellen played Gandalf.

Sir Ian McKellen in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

McKellen also appeared in "The Hobbit" films.

Sir Ian McKellen was in the film adaptation of the musical "Cats." Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

John Rhys-Davies played Gimli.

John Rhys-Davies in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Rhys-Davies has continued working on fantasy projects.

John Rhys-Davies was on "Once Upon a Time." Donato Sardella/Getty Images

Orlando Bloom played Legolas.

Orlando Bloom in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Bloom has played other action-packed roles.

Orlando Bloom played Will Turner in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series. Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Billy Boyd played Peregrin "Pippin" Took.

Billy Boyd in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Boyd continues making music and acting.

Billy Boyd was in "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World." Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images

Sir Ian Holm played Bilbo Baggins.

Sir Ian Holm in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Holms starred in a range of films.

Sir Ian Holm voiced Skinner in "Ratatouille." Chris Jackson/Getty

Liv Tyler played Arwen Undómiel.

Liv Tyler in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers." New Line Cinema

Tyler has since been on several hit shows.

Liv Tyler played Betty Ross in "The Incredible Hulk." Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Hugo Weaving played Lord Elrond.

Hugo Weaving in “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” New Line Cinema

Weaving continues to act in blockbuster hits.

Hugo Weaving was in "Captain America: The First Avenger." Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP

Cate Blanchett played Galadriel.

Cate Blanchett in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Blanchett is now an Academy Award-winning actress.

Cate Blanchett portrayed Phyllis Schlafly on "Mrs. America." Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Andy Serkis played Gollum.

Andy Serkis portraying Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers." New Line Cinema

Serkis has appeared in other major film franchises.

Andy Serkis played Snoke in the recent "Star Wars" trilogy. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Christopher Lee played Saruman.

Christopher Lee in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." New Line Cinema

Lee acted in several other notable films.

Christopher Lee reprised his role in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Eamonn McCormack/Getty

Miranda Otto played Éowyn.

Miranda Otto in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers." New Line Cinema

Otto has acted on several series.

Miranda Otto was on "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina." Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

John Noble played Denethor II.

John Noble in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." New Line Cinema

Noble has since worked on several hit TV shows.

John Noble was on "DC's Legends of Tomorrow." Walter McBride/Getty Images

Karl Urban played Éomer.

Karl Urban in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." New Line Cinema

Urban continues to make a name for himself as an action star.

Karl Urban is currently on "The Boys." Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

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