Gollum is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle-earth legendarium. He was introduced in the 1937 fantasy novel The Hobbit, and became important in its sequel, The Lord of the Rings. Gollum was originally a Stoor Hobbit of the River-folk who lived near the Gladden Fields, and was known as Sméagol before being corrupted by the One Ring. He was later named Gollum after his habit of making "a horrible swallowing noise in his throat". Gollum is a central character in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

In Peter Jacksons The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Gollum is a CGI character voiced and performed by actor Andy Serkis. He is smaller than both Frodo and Sam, but still has considerable strength and agility. Gollum constantly struggles between good and evil, and serves as a symbol of how the ring can transform a basically decent person into a dirty, smelly, swamp creature.