Quizes

Character: Sam or Samwise Gamgee
Culture: Hobbit
Description: An ordinary Hobbit who becomes the most extraordinary and loyal of Frodo's friends.
Sam was raised in #3 Bagshot Row, a street of smials along Hobbiton Hill just below Bag End. He was born the third and youngest son of Hamfast Gamgee, more commonly known as "The Gaffer," and Bell Goodchild on April 6 (6 Astron), SR1 1380 (please see notes for full exploration of Sam's birthdate). Sam had two elder brothers (Hamson and Halfred), two older sisters (Daisy and May) and one younger sister (Marigold).
As a young hobbit Sam assisted his father in the care of the gardens at Bag End and was taught to read and write by Bilbo Baggins, who also taught him much Elven lore. Sam was friends with Frodo Baggins and was at least on friendly terms with Pippin Took, Merry Brandybuck and Fatty Bolger (who were Frodo's close friends).
By the age of twenty, Sam was performing the bulk of the work in the gardens of Bag End. He was also frequently guilty of eavesdropping, which is how he came to be a part of Frodo's quest, and it was through this eavesdropping as well that Merry and Pippin plotted to join the quest.
During the quest, Sam stayed with Frodo save the two-day period when Frodo was prisoner in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. He was present when the ring was destroyed and stayed close to Frodo until they returned to the Shire in SR 1419.
Sam married Rosie Cotton on May 1 (1 Thrimidge), SR 1420. Once married, it appears he began going by the surname Gardener, which was the family name from then on. Sam brought his bride to live in Bag End at Frodo's invitation. Sam's first child, a daughter named Elanor, was born on March 25 (25 Rethe), SR 1421. On September 29 (29Halimath) of the same year Frodo sailed into the west, leaving Bag End and all his posessions to Sam and his family.
In SR 1423 Sam's son Frodo was born, followed two years later (SR 1425) by his daughter Rose. His next son, Merry, was born in SR 1427, the same year that Sam was elected Mayor of the Shire for the first time. The term of Mayor was seven years, and Sam held the office for seven terms, a total of forty-nine years.
Sam fathered a total of thirteen children between the years SR 1421 and 1442. In SR 1442 the youngest child, Tolman, was born on the road to Gondor; Sam, Rosie and Elanor spent a year there. After Sam, Rosie and Tolman returned to the Shire, Elanor lived at Undertowers in western Eriador with her husband Fastred of Greenholm.
Sam finally stepped down as mayor in SR 1476, when he was ninety-six years old. Thirteen years later, in SR 1482, Rosie passed away on Midyear's Day (Lithe), near the end of June (Forelithe). On September 22 (22 Halimath) of the same year, Sam left Bag End (likely leaving his eldest son Frodo as heir). He visited his daughter Elanor at Undertowers and left her the red book before he sailed into the west. It is assumed he was reunited with Frodo across the sea.

Real Life

Sean Astin made his feature film debut in The Goonies and soon had a starring role in the critically acclaimed Rudy. Other film credits include Bulworth, Courage Under Fire, Memphis Belle, Encino Man, Like Father Like Son, Where the Day Takes You, Staying Together, War of the Roses and Safe Passage. Astin received Best Actor honors for his performance in Low Life at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival. Astin has also been seen in the indie releases Deterrence, Kimberly, The Last Producer and Boy Meets Girl. He made his professional debut with his mother, Patty Duke, in the television After School Special "Please Don't Hit Me Mom." For his role in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Astin and the rest of the principal cast were nominated for Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture by the Screen Actors Guild.
A promising director, Astin garnered an Academy Award nomination for his short film Kangaroo Court, which he also co-produced with his wife, Christine. A Directors Guild of America member, Astin also directed an episode of the HBO anthology series "Perversions of Science."
Astin has earned a degree in History/American Literature and Culture from UCLA.

Dominic Monaghan

Character: Merry or Meriadoc Brandybuck
Culture: Hobbit
Description: An adventurous young Hobbit who joins Frodo's quest
MERRY's biography Merry was always a close friend of Frodo Baggins, and with Pippin and Samwise, spied out Frodo's plan to leave the Shire and unexpectedly joined him on his journey to Rivendell. Upon the arrival in Rivendell, Merry was selected to join the Fellowship, though Elrond was against it. Gandalf thought that the loyalty of a true friend may have been better than the might of a warrior. Merry travelled with the company to Parth Galen, where he and Pippin were captured by orcs. Merry and Pippin managed to escape into Fangorn forest during an attack on the orcs by the Rohirrim. There they met Treebeard, and played a major part in the rousing of the Ents and the destruction of Isengard. It was in Isengard where Merry met King Theoden, unto whom he pledged his service. He rode with Dernhelm, of Theoden's army, to Gondor. He fought valiantly in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and aided in the avenging of Theoden's death. Merry was nearly killed by the black breath, but was healed by Aragorn. After the War of the Ring, Merry was made a knight of Rohan, and treated with honor whenever he returned. He then went home to the Shire, where he was one of the leading forces in its scouring. Upon the death of his father, Meriadoc was made Master of Buckland, and was known as Meriadoc the Magnificent.
Aliases: Merry, Meriadoc the Magnificent, Holdwine, Master Holbytla, Master Perian
Date of Birth: 2982 T.A.
Race: Hobbit
Height: about 3 1/2 feet, probably around 4 1/2 feet after the War of the Ring
Date of Death: Fourth Age 67
Alignment: Good
Parents: Saradoc Brandybuck and Esmerelda Took
Spouse: Estella Bolger
Date of Marriage: Fourth Age 14
Children: none
Physical description: Thick, curly, brown hair; Pippin and Merry were the tallest of all hobbits (thanks to the ent-draughts)

Real life

Dominic Monaghan, who was introduced to international film audiences in The Fellowship of the Ring, is best known for the British television drama "Hetty Wainthrop Investigates." His other television credits include "This is Personal -The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper," and a leading role in "Monsignoir Renard," a new series starring John Thaw. Monaghan's film debut was in Boomber with Rutger Hauer and Martin Shaw. On the stage, Monaghan has performed in the U.K. productions of "The Resurrectionists," "Whale" and "Annie and Fanny from Bolton to Rome."
He and the rest of the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring were nominated for the Screen Actor's Guild ensemble award

Billy Boyd

Character: Pippin or Peregrin Took
Culture: Hobbit
Description: A fun-loving Hobbit and member of the Fellowship
PIPPIN's biography A long time friend of Frodo Baggins, he was, although not by the choice of Frodo at first, a companion on the road to Rivendell. After the Council, Pippin was very adamant that he intended to join the Fellowship, whether he had the approval of the Council or no. Though he made two very crucial mistakes along the road, first tossing a stone into the well in Moria, and second, looking into the Palantir, Pippin far surpassed proving his worthiness. Notable deeds concerning Pippin's tale in LotR include, aiding in the rousing of the Ents, and after travelling with Gandalf to Gondor, offering his sword in service to the Steward of the city. In the final battle of the War of the Ring, Pippin was narrowly saved by Gimli, when he was crushed under the body of a mountain troll.
Aliases: Pippin, Ernil-i-Pheriannath, Pip
Date of Birth: 2990 T.A.
Race: Hobbit
Height: roughly 4 1/2 at the end of the War of the Rings
Date of Death: FO 65
Alignment: Good
Parents: Paladin Took, Eglantine Banks
Spouse: Diamond of Long Cleeve
Date of Marriage: FO 7
Children: Faramir I
Physical description: Taller than all other hobbits, and thinner than most. Thick curly brown hair on head and feet.

Real Life

Billy Boyd, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, began his acting career in the Scottish television series "Taggart." He went on to amass UK television credits including "Coming Soon" and "Chapter and Verse." Boyd made his feature film debut in An Urban Ghost Story, followed by Julie and the Cadillacs and a film short entitled Soldiers Leap. He and the rest of the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring were nominated for the Screen Actor's Guild ensemble award. He will next be seen in Peter Weir's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Prior to Master and Commander, Boyd filmed a groundbreaking science fiction one-man short film, Sniper 470, financed by Scottish Screen and STV, which world premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival 2002. It is one of only two films to be chosen from the Newfoundland series to be blown to 35 mm.
On the stage, Boyd has performed in various UK productions including "The Speculator," "An Experienced Woman Gives Advice," "Therese Racquin," "Britannia Rules," "Kill The Old, Torture Their Young," "The Chic Nerds," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Merchant of Venice," "Trainspotting" (Tour), "Merlin the Magnificent" and "The Slab Boys." Last year, Boyd starred in the Traverse production of "The Ballad of Crazy Paola," a new play by Anne Sierens.
Boyd is also a skilled singer and musician who plays the bass, drums and guitar.