Gandalf is the wizard who guides the heroes in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
He brings Bilbo Baggins into Thorin Oakenshield’s quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug. Although Bilbo initially seems an unlikely burglar, Gandalf recognizes qualities in him that become essential during the journey.
In The Hobbit, Gandalf is often called Gandalf the Grey. He is one of the Istari, supernatural emissaries sent to Middle-earth to oppose the rising power of Sauron. His role combines practical guidance, strategic planning, and a concern for the free peoples of the region.
Gandalf also appears in The Lord of the Rings. There he confronts the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and later returns as Gandalf the White, a transformation that marks a major stage in his mission.