Andy Serkis (April 20, 1964, in Ruislip Manor, Middlesex, as Andrew C.G. Serkis) is a British actor. He gained fame for his portrayal of Gollum/Sméagol in Peter Jackson's film series The Lord of the Rings. In King Kong (2005), Serkis served as the motion model for the giant ape, and in Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), he portrayed the chimpanzee Caesar. Serkis has appeared in several film roles since the late 1990s, but he achieved wider recognition through his performance as Gollum/Sméagol in the film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings released between 2001 and 2003. Director Jackson has repeatedly emphasized Serkis's outstanding role in bringing Gollum to life. Initially, Serkis was only supposed to provide the character's voice, but after Jackson realized that Serkis's body language was an essential part of Gollum's portrayal, he expanded his role.