He and
Theodore Gottlieb have both played Gollum twice. Theodore played the role in
The Hobbit (1977), while Woodthorpe played him in
The Lord of the Rings (1978). This incomplete adaptation sparked two other adaptations: the animated
The Return of the King (1980), in which Theodore reprised the role; and the BBC radio production, in which Woodthorpe reprised the role. Theodore played the role opposite
Orson Bean, who played Frodo, but had previously played Bilbo in The Hobbit. Woodthorpe played the role opposite
Ian Holm, who played Frodo, and would go on to play Bilbo in
Peter Jackson's films.