Gandalf gathered the party and gave them their mission. He died to save them, and fell into the depths of Moria. He came back to life as a Maia, which was an angelic type creature in human form. He reappeared through the story when the party was in their greatest times of need.
Ian McKellen
Gandalf Three wizards played a direct part in The Lord of the Rings (movies and books): Gandalf the Gray (and later the white) Saruman the White (and we know what happened to him) Radagast the Brown -- birds, trees flowers were his specialty. Two others were mentioned obscurely. They were the Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando.
Gandalf is the white rider.
I think you are mixing characters with big long white beards in mythical movies.Richard Harris did 'Albus Dumbledore' at Harry Potter. While Ian Mckellen played Gandalf in all three LOTR films .
Saraman kind of cracked, and he lost his color. He claimed to be Saruman of Many Colours, but it was not a true title.
Gandalf was originally known as Gandalf the Grey. After his rebirth, he became Gandalf the White in replacement of Saruman. Gandalf the Grey and after his resurrection he became Gandalf the White.
Gandalf the white
Saruman the White
Ian McKellen
The basic background behind the character Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings Series is that he is a wizard. He is initially called Gandalf the Grey but after resurrecting he is then referred to Gandalf the White.
Grey And White
Gandalf Three wizards played a direct part in The Lord of the Rings (movies and books): Gandalf the Gray (and later the white) Saruman the White (and we know what happened to him) Radagast the Brown -- birds, trees flowers were his specialty. Two others were mentioned obscurely. They were the Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando.
Gandalf Note: There are a number of elves who could fit that description (maybe with blonde hair), including Legolas, but Gandalf did not have a bow and arrow.
Shadowfax is from The Lord of the Rings and is a white horse ridden by the wizard Gandalf.
There are a sufficent number of wizards in literature and myth that I would need to know which set of stories or mythologies you are referring to. If you are referring to the Lord of the Rings, for example, you have Gandalf the Grey, Gandalf the White, Saruman (all different manifestations of Gandalf), and Sauron.
Saruman was the head of the White Council until about sixty years after the Hobbit during the events of 'The Lord of the Rings' when Gandalf removed Saruman.
Gandalf the White is overwhelmingly a force for good.