All 19 Actors from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Movies Who Passed Away
The worlds of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are timeless, brought to life by a memorable cast. These films, directed by Peter Jackson, have captivated audiences for years. The movies are known for their stunning landscapes, detailed costumes, and compelling characters. Many talented actors contributed to the success of these films, creating a rich and believable Middle-earth.
As time goes on, we have sadly said goodbye to some of the actors who made these films so special. From major roles to memorable smaller parts, each actor left a lasting mark on the series. Their performances continue to be celebrated by fans around the world. We remember these talented individuals and their contributions to one of cinema’s most beloved franchises.
Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee played the powerful wizard Saruman. He appeared in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Lee was a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books and read them every year. He was the only member of the cast to have met Tolkien in person.
Lee had a long and impressive career with hundreds of acting credits. He was known for playing Dracula in many Hammer Horror films and Count Dooku in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Lee passed away in 2015 at the age of 93 due to respiratory problems and heart failure.
Ian Holm
Ian Holm played the older version of Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He also appeared in The Hobbit films. Before his role in the movies, he voiced Frodo Baggins in a 1981 BBC Radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings.
Holm had a varied career, with roles such as Ash in Alien (1979) and coach Sam Mussabini in Chariots of Fire (1981). He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease later in life and passed away in 2020 at the age of 88.
Bernard Hill
Bernard Hill played Théoden, the King of Rohan, in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). His portrayal of the noble and courageous king was a key part of the story.
Hill was also known for his role as Captain Edward Smith in Titanic (1997). He appeared in many other films and television shows, including Gandhi (1982) and Wolf Hall (2015). Hill passed away in May 2024 at the age of 79.
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries provided the voice for the Great Goblin in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). His role was created through motion capture. Humphries was a celebrated comedian and actor, best known for his character Dame Edna Everage.
He had a long career in television and film. In 2023, Humphries had a fall and underwent hip surgery. He passed away from complications during the surgery at the age of 89.
Alan Howard
Alan Howard was the voice of Sauron and the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. His deep and menacing voice gave power to the main villain of the series. Though never seen on screen, his voice was a constant presence.
Howard was a well-respected stage actor, known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He passed away from pneumonia in 2015 at the age of 77.
Bruce Allpress
Bruce Allpress played Aldor, an elderly archer in the battle of Helm’s Deep in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002). His character accidentally fires the first shot of the battle.
Allpress was a familiar face in New Zealand television and film. He also appeared in The Piano (1993). He passed away in 2020 after being diagnosed with ALS.
Noel Appleby
Noel Appleby played the hobbit Odo Proudfoot in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). He is remembered for his grumpy expression when Gandalf arrives in the Shire.
His character proudly shouts “Proudfeet!” during Bilbo’s birthday party speech. Appleby passed away in 2007 at the age of 74 from stomach cancer.
William Johnson
William Johnson appeared as the hobbit Old Noakes in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). He is seen in the Ivy Bush tavern discussing strange folk crossing the Shire.
Johnson worked with Peter Jackson again on King Kong (2005). He passed away in 2016 at the age of 92.
David Weatherley
David Weatherley played Barliman Butterbur, the innkeeper of The Prancing Pony in Bree, in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). His character was a forgetful but good-hearted man who helped Frodo and his companions.
Weatherley was a veteran actor with a career spanning over five decades. He was also known for his voice work, including the voice of the main villain in the Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive television series. He passed away in December 2024 at the age of 85 after a long illness.
Elizabeth Moody
Elizabeth Moody portrayed Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, Bilbo’s greedy cousin, in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). She was known for her memorable, albeit brief, appearance trying to claim Bag End.
Moody had worked with director Peter Jackson before, playing a notable role in his early horror-comedy film Braindead (1992), also known as Dead Alive. She passed away in 2010 at the age of 70 due to pneumonia.
Martyn Sanderson
Martyn Sanderson played the role of the Gate Keeper of Bree in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). He was the first person to greet the hobbits as they entered the town.
Sanderson was a well-known actor, poet, and director in New Zealand. He had a career that included roles in films like Utu (1983) and An Angel at My Table (1990). He passed away in 2009 at the age of 71.
Alistair Browning
Alistair Browning appeared as the Ranger of Gondor, Damrod, in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). He served under Faramir in Ithilien.
Browning was a respected New Zealand actor with numerous credits in film, television, and theatre. He also worked with Peter Jackson on King Kong (2005). He passed away in 2019 at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer.
Antony Sher
Antony Sher played Thráin II, the father of Thorin Oakenshield, in the extended edition of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013). His character is seen in a flashback sequence.
Sher was a highly acclaimed stage actor, particularly known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also appeared in films like Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Mrs Brown (1997). He passed away in 2021 at the age of 72 from cancer.
Pete Smith
Pete Smith played a featured Orc in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). He was one of the many actors who brought the fearsome armies of Mordor to life.
Smith was a New Zealand actor known for his leading role in the acclaimed 1985 science fiction film The Quiet Earth. He also had roles in Once Were Warriors (1994). Smith passed away in 2022 at the age of 63 due to kidney disease.
Peter McKenzie
Peter McKenzie portrayed Elendil, the High King of Gondor and Arnor, during the prologue of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). He is seen fighting Sauron’s forces in the War of the Last Alliance.
McKenzie was also a horse trainer, and his son, Bret McKenzie, later appeared as the elf Figwit in the Lord of the Rings films. Peter McKenzie passed away in September 2023.
Ray Henwood
Ray Henwood had roles in both trilogies. He appeared as a Council Man in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and as the Old Fisherman in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013).
Henwood was a veteran New Zealand actor and a founding member of Wellington’s Circa Theatre. He was also a city councilor in Wellington. He passed away in 2023 at the age of 86.
Peter Vere-Jones
Peter Vere-Jones lent his voice to one of the giant spiders of Mirkwood in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013). His menacing vocal performance helped bring the terrifying creatures to life as they captured Bilbo and the dwarves.
A respected New Zealand actor, Vere-Jones had a long career in television, film, and theatre. He was another actor in the Middle-earth saga who had previously worked with Peter Jackson on the film Braindead (1992). Vere-Jones passed away in January 2021 at the age of 81.
Merv Smith
Merv Smith made a brief appearance as Tosser Grubb, a hobbit in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). He can be seen in the Hobbiton market scene.
Smith was a well-known radio personality in New Zealand for many years before he began acting. His appearance in The Hobbit films was one of his few on-screen roles. He passed away in September 2018 at the age of 85.
Richard Whiteside
Richard Whiteside played multiple roles in The Hobbit trilogy, including a guard in Erebor, a Laketown guard, and Butterbur Snr., the father of Barliman Butterbur. His versatility allowed him to portray different characters within the world of Middle-earth.
Whiteside had several roles in New Zealand television and film. He passed away in August 2015 at the age of 47.
