<Ul> <Li> Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins : a young hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo . Wood was the first actor to be cast on 7 July 1999 . Wood was a fan of the book , and he sent in an audition dressed as Frodo , reading lines from the novel . Wood was selected from 150 actors who auditioned , including Jake Gyllenhaal . </Li> <Li> Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey : an Istari wizard and mentor to Frodo . Sean Connery was approached for the role , but did not understand the plot , while Patrick Stewart turned it down as he disliked the script . Before being cast , McKellen had to sort his schedule with 20th Century Fox as there was a two - month overlap with X-Men . He enjoyed playing Gandalf the Grey more than his transformed state in the next two films , and based his accent on Tolkien . Unlike his on - screen character , McKellen did not spend much time with the actors playing the Hobbits ; instead he worked with their scale doubles . </Li> <Li> Sean Astin as Samwise `` Sam '' Gamgee : a hobbit gardener and Frodo 's best friend . Astin , who had recently become a father , bonded with the 18 - year - old Wood in a protective manner , which mirrored Sam 's relationship with Frodo . </Li> <Li> Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn II Elessar : a Dúnedain ranger , the descendant of Isildur , and heir to Gondor 's throne . Daniel Day - Lewis was offered the part at the beginning of pre-production , but turned it down . Nicolas Cage also received an offer , declining because of `` family obligations '' , while Vin Diesel , a fan of the book , auditioned for Aragorn . Stuart Townsend was cast in the role , before being replaced during filming when Jackson realized he was too young . Russell Crowe was considered as a replacement , but he turned it down after taking what he thought to be a similar role in Gladiator . Day - Lewis was offered the role for a second time , but declined again . Executive Producer Mark Ordesky saw Mortensen in a play . Mortensen 's son , a fan of the book , convinced him to take the role . Mortensen read the book on the plane , received a crash course lesson in fencing from Bob Anderson and began filming the scenes on Weathertop . Mortensen became a hit with the crew by patching up his costume and carrying his `` hero '' sword around with him off - camera . </Li> <Li> Billy Boyd as Peregrin `` Pippin '' Took : a hobbit who travels with the Fellowship on their journey to Mordor . </Li> <Li> Dominic Monaghan as Meriadoc `` Merry '' Brandybuck : a distant cousin of Frodo . Monaghan was cast as Merry after auditioning for Frodo . </Li> <Li> John Rhys - Davies as Gimli : a dwarf warrior who accompanies the Fellowship to Mordor after they set out from Rivendell and a descendant of Durin 's Folk . Billy Connolly , who was considered for the part of Gimli , later portrayed Dáin II Ironfoot in Peter Jackson 's The Hobbit film trilogy . Rhys - Davies wore heavy prosthetics to play Gimli , which limited his vision , and eventually developed eczema around his eyes . </Li> <Li> Orlando Bloom as Legolas Greenleaf : a prince of the elves ' Woodland Realm and a skilled archer . Bloom initially auditioned for Faramir , who appears in the second film , a role which went to David Wenham . </Li> <Li> Sean Bean as Boromir : a prince of the Stewards of Gondor who journeys with the Fellowship towards Mordor . Bruce Willis , a fan of the book , expressed interest in the role , while Liam Neeson was sent the script , but passed . </Li> <Li> Ian Holm as Bilbo Baggins : Frodo 's uncle who gives him the Ring after he decides to retire to Rivendell . Holm previously played Frodo in a 1981 radio adaption of The Lord of the Rings , and was cast as Bilbo after Jackson remembered his performance . Sylvester McCoy , who would later play Radagast the Brown in The Hobbit , was contacted about playing the role , and was kept in place as a potential Bilbo for six months before Jackson went with Holm . </Li> <Li> Liv Tyler as Arwen Undomiel : an elven princess of Rivendell and Aragorn 's lover . The filmmakers approached Tyler after seeing her performance in Plunkett & Macleane
<Ul> <Li> Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins : a young hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo . Wood was the first actor to be cast on 7 July 1999 . Wood was a fan of the book , and he sent in an audition dressed as Frodo , reading lines from the novel . Wood was selected from 150 actors who auditioned , including Jake Gyllenhaal . </Li> <Li> Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey : an Istari wizard and mentor to Frodo . Sean Connery was approached for the role , but did not understand the plot , while Patrick Stewart turned it down as he disliked the script . Before being cast , McKellen had to sort his schedule with 20th Century Fox as there was a two - month overlap with X-Men . He enjoyed playing Gandalf the Grey more than his transformed state in the next two films , and based his accent on Tolkien . Unlike his on - screen character , McKellen did not spend much time with the actors playing the Hobbits ; instead he worked with their scale doubles . </Li> <Li> Sean Astin as Samwise `` Sam '' Gamgee : a hobbit gardener and Frodo 's best friend . Astin , who had recently become a father , bonded with the 18 - year - old Wood in a protective manner , which mirrored Sam 's relationship with Frodo . </Li> <Li> Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn II Elessar : a Dúnedain ranger , the descendant of Isildur , and heir to Gondor 's throne . Daniel Day - Lewis was offered the part at the beginning of pre-production , but turned it down . Nicolas Cage also received an offer , declining because of `` family obligations '' , while Vin Diesel , a fan of the book , auditioned for Aragorn . Stuart Townsend was cast in the role , before being replaced during filming when Jackson realized he was too young . Russell Crowe was considered as a replacement , but he turned it down after taking what he thought to be a similar role in Gladiator . Day - Lewis was offered the role for a second time , but declined again . Executive Producer Mark Ordesky saw Mortensen in a play . Mortensen 's son , a fan of the book , convinced him to take the role . Mortensen read the book on the plane , received a crash course lesson in fencing from Bob Anderson and began filming the scenes on Weathertop . Mortensen became a hit with the crew by patching up his costume and carrying his `` hero '' sword around with him off - camera . </Li> <Li> Billy Boyd as Peregrin `` Pippin '' Took : a hobbit who travels with the Fellowship on their journey to Mordor . </Li> <Li> Dominic Monaghan as Meriadoc `` Merry '' Brandybuck : a distant cousin of Frodo . Monaghan was cast as Merry after auditioning for Frodo . </Li> <Li> John Rhys - Davies as Gimli : a dwarf warrior who accompanies the Fellowship to Mordor after they set out from Rivendell and a descendant of Durin 's Folk . Billy Connolly , who was considered for the part of Gimli , later portrayed Dáin II Ironfoot in Peter Jackson 's The Hobbit film trilogy . Rhys - Davies wore heavy prosthetics to play Gimli , which limited his vision , and eventually developed eczema around his eyes . </Li> <Li> Orlando Bloom as Legolas Greenleaf : a prince of the elves ' Woodland Realm and a skilled archer . Bloom initially auditioned for Faramir , who appears in the second film , a role which went to David Wenham . </Li> <Li> Sean Bean as Boromir : a prince of the Stewards of Gondor who journeys with the Fellowship towards Mordor . Bruce Willis , a fan of the book , expressed interest in the role , while Liam Neeson was sent the script , but passed . </Li> <Li> Ian Holm as Bilbo Baggins : Frodo 's uncle who gives him the Ring after he decides to retire to Rivendell . Holm previously played Frodo in a 1981 radio adaption of The Lord of the Rings , and was cast as Bilbo after Jackson remembered his performance . Sylvester McCoy , who would later play Radagast the Brown in The Hobbit , was contacted about playing the role , and was kept in place as a potential Bilbo for six months before Jackson went with Holm . </Li> <Li> Liv Tyler as Arwen Undomiel : an elven princess of Rivendell and Aragorn 's lover . The filmmakers approached Tyler after seeing her performance in Plunkett & Macleane
who plays the hobbits in lord of the rings
who plays the hobbits in lord of the rings
Elijah Wood Sean Astin Billy Boyd Dominic Monaghan Ian Holm
Elijah Wood Sean Astin Billy Boyd Dominic Monaghan Ian Holm Andy Serkis