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NYT Daily • August 21, 2025

Holm or McKellen of "The Hobbit"

Answer:

IAN

Hint:

This first name belongs to two famous actors who both played wizards in Middle-earth.

Explanation:

This clue refers to two famous actors who share the first name Ian and both appeared in The Hobbit film trilogy. Ian Holm played the older Bilbo Baggins, while Ian McKellen portrayed Gandalf. The answer is simply their shared first name, "IAN," making it a straightforward reference to their roles in the movies.

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