In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Gollum is originally a Hobbit named Sméagol.
Sméagol belongs to a Hobbit-like people living near the Gladden Fields. During a birthday celebration, his relative Déagol discovers the One Ring in the river. Sméagol wants the Ring and kills Déagol to obtain it. The Ring then becomes the central influence on his life, and he eventually retreats beneath the Misty Mountains.
Long exposure to the Ring transforms Sméagol physically and mentally. He becomes the thin, cave-dwelling creature called Gollum, a name associated with the strange choking sounds he makes. Even after his transformation, traces of Sméagol’s former personality remain, creating an internal struggle that Tolkien presents through his speech and actions.
Gollum is not originally an Orc, Goblin, or Man. His Hobbit origin is important because it parallels Bilbo and Frodo: all three are small folk whose lives are profoundly affected by the One Ring.