Thomas Robins is a New Zealand producer, director, writer, and actor who appeared in four films directed by Peter Jackson, most notably playing Sméagol’s friend Déagol in the prologue of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, the scene in which the One Ring is first discovered and Sméagol’s transformation into Gollum begins Robins also played a young Thráin in The Hobbit trilogy, adding a further connection to Jackson’s expanded Middle-earth saga across both trilogies.
Earlier in his career, Robins was the original host of Squirt, a New Zealand children’s television series, before his roles in Jackson’s productions introduced him to international audiences. In the years since, Robins has shifted his focus substantially toward producing, directing, and writing across film, television, and documentary projects, building a career behind the camera that draws on his early experience within one of the world’s most successful film productions.
His performance as Déagol in particular remains a pivotal, if brief, moment within Lord of the Rings lore, depicting the very origins of the One Ring’s corrupting influence, and he continues to be recognised by devoted fans of the franchise’s deep mythology.
