Hamfast Gamgee
Hamfast "The Gaffer" Gamgee was a Hobbit of the Shire, a gardener by trade and father of Samwise Gamgee.
Hamfast "The Gaffer" Gamgee was a Hobbit of the Shire, a gardener by trade and father of Samwise Gamgee.
Biography
Hamfast was the son of Hobson "Roper" Gamgee. He married Bell Goodchild, with whom he had six children, including Samwise Gamgee, his youngest son. He was a gardener on the Baggins property at Bag End for many years. He was frequently consulted for his knowledge of root vegetables (generally over a pint at the local inn), and was seen as a particular authority on the growing of potatoes. As the time of Bilbo Baggins's birthday party drew near, he was also in demand for his stories of Bilbo and his family. He didn't particularly like Sandyman the miller.
On the evening that Frodo Baggins left Bag End, the Gaffer encountered a Black Rider asking about Frodo. He told the Rider that Frodo had gone to Bucklebury. He later reported the conversation to his son Sam, who in turn told Frodo about it.
During the troubles fomented by Lotho Sackville-Baggins, the Gaffer was turned out of his hole at Number Three, Bagshot Row, as Sam saw in Galadriel's mirror. Farmer Cotton helped look after him, sharing food, although this was against the Rules that the Chief and later Sharkey enforced. When Sam arrived back in the Shire, the Gaffer was rather disbelieving of his son's adventures and disapproved of Sam's wearing "ironmongery." Once the Shire had been cleaned up, the Gaffer was restored to Number Three of the new, brick-lined holes in the hill where he was well-looked after by Widow Rumble. He would live there until his death in SR 1428.
Etymology
Hamfast means 'stay-at-home' or 'Home-fast' in the Hobbits' own language, and the full name is translated into Westron as "Ranugad Galbasi".
In adaptations
Peter Jackson'sThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy
Hamfast is portrayed by Norman Forsey in The Fellowship of the Ring film, appearing briefly in the Green Dragon inn early in the film.
In the film adaptation of The Return of the King, Samwise briefly references Hamfast, whom he called "my old Gaffer", when slaying various Orcs while raiding one of Sauron's towers to save Frodo.
1981 Radio series
Hamfast is portrayed in The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series), voiced by John Church.
Video games
Hamfast appeared as a child in The Hobbit (2003 video game).
In The Fellowship of the Ring video game, he appears as an NPC in his conversation with the Black Rider on the hill.
In The Lord of the Rings Online, Hamfast Gamgee is found working in his garden just outside Bag End. He only offers one regional Shire quest, but has more story involvement during various seasonal festivals.
Voice dubbing actors
Behind the scenes
The word Gaffer means "the chief electrician in a film production". It is also a historical and contemporary British colloquialism that refers to an overseer or boss, who is often older than his subordinates. J.R.R. Tolkien was more likely thinking of the latter definition when he gave Sam's father his nickname.