When you think of The Lord of the Rings movies, you probably remember the big players, Frodo, Aragorn, Legolas dramatically flipping onto a horse, and, of course, Gollum arguing with himself. However, with a story as massive as Middle-earth, not everyone got the spotlight. Some characters showed up, did something kind of important, and then vanished into the background like they were never there.
Peter Jackson’s trilogy had over 11 hours of runtime (extended editions, of course), but even with all that time, some characters got the short end of the stick. Maybe they were meant to be more important but got their roles trimmed down, or maybe they were just there to move the plot along before being completely forgotten. You might remember a cool fight scene, a cryptic line, or a side character looking vaguely familiar, but can you name them? Probably not.
Some of these forgotten faces actually played a huge role in Tolkien’s books, but the movies didn’t have time to do them justice. Others were just random guys who popped up, had a moment, and then faded into obscurity. Either way, they were there, whether you remember them or not.
So, let’s take a second to appreciate those Lord of the Rings characters you completely forgot existed. They were in the movies, they played their part, and then they disappeared faster than the Witch-king after Éowyn’s iconic “I am no man” moment.
15. The Mouth of Sauron
If there’s an award for “Creepiest Character with the Least Screentime,” The Mouth of Sauron would win hands down. This unsettling, grinning nightmare of a villain appears only in the extended edition of The Return of the King, and even then, his moment is brief, but oh boy, is it memorable.
Played by Bruce Spence (who you might recognize from Mad Max 2 or Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith), The Mouth of Sauron rides out of the Black Gate, looking like he lost a bet with an orthodontist. His grotesque, stretched-out mouth was achieved with CGI, making his unsettling grin even more disturbing.
In the movie, he serves as Sauron’s spokesperson, meeting Aragorn and company to deliver some truly bad news that Frodo has been captured. He smugly shows off Frodo’s Mithril shirt, trying to break the morale of the army. But before he can gloat too much, Aragorn does what everyone was thinking and chops his head clean off. No negotiations, no second chances, just snikt.
Sadly, this terrifying character was cut from the theatrical release, robbing audiences of one of the film’s eeriest moments. His presence added to the horror of Sauron’s rule, showing that the Dark Lord didn’t even need to speak; his messengers were disturbing enough on their own.
14. Háma
Háma might not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking about The Lord of the Rings, but he’s the kind of character who quietly holds things together until he doesn’t. As the captain of Théoden’s guard, he’s loyal to his king, but he’s also smart enough to know when something isn’t right.
That’s why he hesitates when Wormtongue (played by Brad Dourif) sneers and tells him to take Gandalf’s staff away. Háma lets the wizard keep it, leading to one of the most iconic moments in the trilogy, Gandalf dramatically freeing Théoden from Saruman’s influence. Imagine if Háma had just obeyed orders, Middle-earth would’ve been doomed.
Played by John Leigh, Háma isn’t just a glorified doorman. He rides into battle alongside the Rohirrim and fights bravely during the defense of Helm’s Deep. Unfortunately, his fate isn’t as grand as some of Rohan’s other warriors. We don’t see him fall, but after the battle, Théoden finds his body and mourns him, proving just how much he matters.
He’s easy to forget, but next time you watch The Two Towers, give Háma a little extra appreciation. Without him, Gandalf’s big reveal wouldn’t have been nearly as epic.
13. Madril
Madril is one of those characters who seems important but somehow slips through the cracks of memory. He serves as Faramir’s trusted lieutenant in The Two Towers and The Return of the King, offering advice and looking concerned whenever things go wrong (which, let’s be honest, is most of the time).
Played by John Bach, Madril is a completely original character, meaning he doesn’t exist in Tolkien’s books. He’s there to give Faramir someone to talk to and, eventually, someone to die to show how bad things are getting for Gondor. Yikes.
His most notable moment happens during the battle for Osgiliath, where he fights alongside Faramir against the orc invasion. Unfortunately, things don’t go well. He’s wounded in battle and, in true Lord of the Rings fashion, is left for dead. But Gothmog, the grotesque orc commander, isn’t the type to let people suffer in peace. He casually strolls over and finishes Madril off with a brutal spear thrust. Harsh.
While his role is minor, Madril adds some emotional weight to Gondor’s struggles. Plus, he gives us one more reason to hate Gothmog as if we needed another.
12. Grimbold
Grimbold is the kind of warrior who doesn’t get the glory but fights just as hard as the big names. He’s a Rohan captain, a seasoned fighter, and someone you’ve definitely seen in The Two Towers but probably never thought much about.
Played by Bruce Phillips, Grimbold is a blink-and-you-miss-him character at Helm’s Deep. He’s one of the commanders helping defend the fortress against Saruman’s Uruk-hai army, though the movie doesn’t give him much dialogue. He’s just there, blending in with the other Rohan warriors, bravely fighting as they try to hold back the endless wave of orcs.
In Tolkien’s books, Grimbold actually has a bigger role. He fights at Helm’s Deep, sure, but he later leads part of the Rohirrim’s forces in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. He dies heroically, fighting until the end. Sadly, the movies don’t give him the same recognition. Instead, Éomer and Théoden absorb most of the leadership moments, leaving Grimbold as a background character.
He may not be a household name, but Grimbold represents the unsung heroes of Middle-earth, the ones who fight with everything they have, even if history forgets them.
11. Irolas
Irolas is one of those characters who’s just there. He’s not flashy, not overly heroic, but he’s still doing his duty. If you don’t remember him, don’t worry. Most people don’t. He appears in The Return of the King as one of the soldiers of Gondor, specifically serving under Faramir and Gandalf in Minas Tirith.
Played by Ian Hughes, Irolas was created for the films, likely as a replacement for Beregond, an important Gondorian soldier from Tolkien’s books. Beregond has a much larger role in the novel, but the movie trims things down, leaving us with Irolas instead. He doesn’t do much except deliver bad news about Mordor’s forces, look concerned when Denethor acts insane, and exchange a few words with Gandalf and Faramir.
His biggest moment? Probably when he warns everyone about the coming siege on Minas Tirith. Beyond that, he just sort of fades into the background, overshadowed by more prominent Gondorian characters like Faramir, Pippin, and even random orcs.
Ian Hughes does a solid job making Irolas feel like a real soldier. But let’s be honest; he’s mostly there to move the plot along. If you forgot about him, you’re not alone.
10. Morwen
Morwen is one of those blink-and-you-miss-her characters who only gets a couple of scenes but still manages to leave an impact. Played by Robyn Malcolm, she appears in The Two Towers as a desperate mother trying to get her children to safety when Rohan is under attack.
Her most memorable moment? That heartbreaking goodbye. As Rohan’s people evacuate to Helm’s Deep, she places her two young children, Freda and Éothain, on a horse and sends them ahead to find King Théoden. You can see the fear in her face. She has no idea if she’ll ever see them again. Luckily, her kids make it to Edoras and are taken in by Éowyn, giving them a chance to survive.
Morwen herself is later seen among the refugees when they arrive at Helm’s Deep but after that? She disappears into the sea of background characters. It’s unclear if she survives the battle, though we’d like to think she did.
Despite her short screen time, Robyn Malcolm’s performance makes Morwen feel real. She’s not a warrior, a queen, or a hero, just a mother doing everything she can to protect her kids in a world falling apart. Easily forgotten, but impossible to ignore once you notice her.
9. Snaga
Snaga is that one orc you sort of remember but probably don’t know by name. He’s one of the many goblin-like orcs in The Two Towers, serving under Uglúk in the group that kidnaps Merry and Pippin. Unlike the hulking Uruk-hai, Snaga is smaller, sneakier, and, most importantly, very unlucky.
Played by Jed Brophy, Snaga’s biggest moment comes when he gets into an argument with Uglúk. The Uruk-hai want to take the hobbits to Isengard as ordered, but Snaga and his group are hungry and think the hobbits look like a great midnight snack. When he gets caught trying to eat Merry and Pippin, Uglúk has zero patience for his nonsense and immediately decapitates him. Ouch.
In the books, Snaga is actually an orc in Mordor rather than Isengard, but the films merged characters to streamline things. Jed Brophy, who played him, is a veteran of The Lord of the Rings films, portraying multiple orcs, elves, and even dwarves later in The Hobbit trilogy.
Snaga might not have been around for long, but his very brief hunger for hobbit meat got him a one-way ticket to the headless town.
8. Sharku
Yes, Jed Brophy strikes again! This time as Sharku, the warg-riding orc from The Two Towers. He’s the snarling, scraggly orc leading the warg attack against Rohan as they travel to Helm’s Deep.
Sharku is extra creepy because he doesn’t look like a regular orc. He’s skinnier, with sunken eyes and sharp teeth, almost like he’s part animal himself. His big moment comes when he ambushes Aragorn during the battle. While riding a warg, he grabs Aragorn and drags him off a cliff, sending the ranger plunging into the river below. For a moment, it looks like Aragorn is dead, but obviously, that’s not happening.
As for Sharku? He doesn’t get a happy ending, either. He’s mortally wounded and left dying, but before he goes, he gloats about how Saruman will emerge victorious. The classic bad guy move.
While not a major character, Sharku is one of the few orcs who actually give Aragorn a serious fight. And since he’s played by Jed Brophy, it’s safe to say he had a very busy time on set!
7. Elfhelm
Elfhelm is one of those Rohan warriors who technically exists in the movies but never really gets a proper introduction. Played by Clinton Ulyatt, he’s part of Théoden’s army, though he’s mostly seen in the background.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, Elfhelm is actually a pretty big deal. He’s a high-ranking marshal of the Rohirrim, leading troops in multiple battles, including the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. He even survives the war and becomes a key figure in Rohan’s leadership.
But in the movies? He’s barely there. You can spot him riding with Théoden, and he supposedly fights in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, but the films never mention his name. His presence was likely meant to be a little Easter egg for die-hard Tolkien fans.
If you rewatch The Return of the King, keep an eye out for a random Rohan rider in the background; that’s probably Elfhelm! It’s a shame he didn’t get more screen time, but at least he made it into the films (even if most fans never noticed).
6. Háreth
You might be wondering who Háreth is. And honestly, you’re not alone. She’s one of those super minor characters who appeared for maybe a few seconds.
Háreth is one of the women of Rohan, seen briefly in The Two Towers as the people evacuate to Helm’s Deep. She’s the mother of a young boy named Haleth, who bravely volunteers to fight despite being way too young.
Her one big moment? Hugging Haleth tightly before he leaves for battle. That’s it. It’s a tiny scene, but it’s heartbreaking because it reminds us that most of Rohan’s defenders aren’t trained warriors, just farmers and kids forced to fight for survival.
Sadly, the actress who played Háreth was never credited, so her identity remains unknown. But her small role still adds emotional weight to the Helm’s Deep battle, reminding us what’s really at stake.
5. Grishnákh
Grishnákh is that one orc who thinks he’s way smarter than everyone else. Spoiler: he’s not. A sneaky, whispery little weasel from Mordor, Grishnákh isn’t built like the hulking Uruk-hai he travels with. While they stomp around, all about brute force and yelling, “Meat’s back on the menu,” Grishnákh slithers through the ranks, scheming for his own gain.
When he realizes Merry and Pippin might have something precious (oh, you know, just the One Ring), he decides to go full thief mode and snatch them away under the cover of darkness. But, like most overconfident villains, he severely underestimates literally everyone. His grand plan? Grab the hobbits and slip away unnoticed. The result? A quick and brutal end courtesy of the Rohirrim. Oops.
Grishnákh may not have the legendary status of the Nazgûl or the sheer terror of a Balrog, but his presence proves that Middle-earth’s baddies come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of backstabbing ambition. In the end, he’s just another sneaky side villain who gets what’s coming swiftly and mercilessly.
4. Figwit
Figwit, perhaps the most unexpected internet heartthrob to emerge from The Lord of the Rings, is the blink-and-you’ll-miss-him elf played by none other than Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie. His name? A fan-coined acronym, “Frodo Is Great…Who Is That?” Because, honestly, who was that insanely cool, effortlessly stoic elf chilling in the background of The Fellowship of the Ring?
With precisely zero lines (initially), Figwit still managed to ignite an online fandom, leading to Peter Jackson bringing him back in The Return of the King, this time with actual dialogue! Not bad for a guy who was just there to make Rivendell look aesthetically pleasing.
His legacy? Proof that even a silent elf can become a pop culture icon. He’s the ultimate scene-stealer, a legend among extras, and the only elf cool enough to go from Middle-earth to Flight of the Conchords. Figwit may have barely existed in the films but in the hearts of fans? Immortal.
3. Gamling
Gamling, the most underappreciated, no-nonsense warrior of The Lord of the Rings, played by Bruce Hopkins. While everyone was busy swooning over Aragorn and Legolas, this grizzled Rohirrim was out there actually doing the work, making sure King Théoden didn’t make too many questionable battle decisions.
First appearing in The Two Towers, Gamling is basically the king’s right-hand man, bodyguard, and unofficial chief of common sense. He’s the one who bluntly tells Théoden that most of their fighters are old men and kids because someone had to say it. And when Helm’s Deep turns into a raging nightmare? Gamling doesn’t hesitate to pick up a sword and start hacking Uruk-hai like it’s just another Tuesday.
By The Return of the King, he’s still fighting the good fight, leading Rohan’s forces into battle at Pelennor Fields. Does he get a dramatic character arc? Nope. Does he survive? Debatable. But does he exude pure, unshakable veteran energy? Absolutely. Gamling is the definition of a battlefield MVP, loyal, fearless, and tragically underappreciated.
2. Angbor
Angbor is another character you might not even realize to be in The Return of the King. He’s the Lord of Lamedon, one of Gondor’s many noblemen, and he has a small but important role in the books.
In the novel, he’s the leader of a resistance movement against Sauron’s forces, and when Aragorn arrives with the Army of the Dead, Angbor refuses to flee, earning Aragorn’s respect. After the ghosts clear out the enemy, Angbor and his men join Aragorn’s forces and fight in the final battles.
In the film, however, his role is barely noticeable. He can supposedly be seen in the background when Aragorn arrives with the Dead Men of Dunharrow, but he doesn’t get any dialogue or mention. Did he survive? Did he fight with Aragorn? Who knows! The movies never tell us.
Tolkien himself called Angbor “the bravest man in Gondor” since he didn’t run from battle, but Peter Jackson’s version of the story sadly leaves him in the shadows.
1. Shagrat
Shagrat is one of the more recognizable forgotten characters, mostly because he’s an absolute menace. Played by Peter Tait, Shagrat is the orc captain stationed at Cirith Ungol, the fortress where Frodo is taken after Shelob stings him.
His big moment comes when he fights Gorbag, another orc who also wants Frodo’s Mithril shirt. Their argument turns into a brutal brawl, leading to a full-on orc civil war inside the tower. When Sam arrives to rescue Frodo, all the orcs are either dead or dying, except Shagrat, who barely manages to escape with the Mithril shirt.
Unlike most orcs, Shagrat actually survives. In the book, he makes it back to Barad-dûr and delivers Frodo’s shirt to Sauron, setting off a chain reaction of paranoia as Sauron assumes Aragorn now has the Ring. In the movie, we don’t see what happens to him after he flees.
Shagrat might not be a household name, but his selfishness, brutality, and survival instincts make him one of the more interesting orcs in the series.
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