Unlike Saruman, Olórin did not take up a single permanent residence and never went to the east, apparently restricting his activities to the Westlands of Middle-earth, where the remnants of the Dúnedain and the Eldar remained to oppose Sauron. He then began his sojourn in Middle-earth and during many years, he walked among the elves as a stranger, learning from them and teaching them. Círdan gave Narya to Olórin with a prediction of his future struggles with evil, and a promise that it would support and aid him in his labours. Círdan divined in Olórin a sense of strength and power despite his appearance as a bent and aged old man. At Mithlond he was welcomed by Glorfindel, his friend from Valinor (who had been sent earlier on a similar mission), and Círdan the shipwright, who possessed Narya, one of the Three Elven Rings of Power. He was robed in grey and went about as a wanderer and counsellor. Olórin, like the other Wizards, took the shape of an old man. He agreed, and prepared for his departure from the Undying Lands with the other four, arriving about the same time the Necromancer appeared in Mirkwood.

Thus, Manwë insisted that Olórin should go as the third, but Varda convinced him to have Olórin go as the second instead. Furthermore, the One Ring, which held much of Sauron's power, presumably still existed somewhere. Manwë understood, and told him that was one main reason why he should go - to overcome that fear. At first, Olórin was nervous and described himself as too weak and too afraid of Sauron. When the Valar decided to send the order of the Istari (also known as Wizards) to Middle-earth, to counsel and assist all those who opposed the Dark Lord Sauron, Manwë and Varda decided to include Olórin among the five who were sent. Throughout his existence, he followed the example of Nienna, he took pity on the sorrows of the Children of Ilúvatar and drove those who listened to him out of despair. He loved the Elves, but he walked unseen among them, or wore a fana that appeared like an Elf, and sent them fair visions in their hearts that made them wiser. Yet his ways often took him to Nienna, from whom he learned pity and patience. He was associated with light and fire, much like his peer Varda. In his 'youth', he became one of the Maiar who served Manwë, Varda, Irmo and Nienna. He was created by Ilúvatar before the Music of the Ainur, and was at the beginning of Time amongst the Ainur who entered into Eä. Originally called Olórin, he was accounted as the wisest of the Maiar (with the possible exception of Melian). Gandalf as a Maia named Olórin before leaving the Undying Lands (by Annie Claudine)

8.4 Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings.

8.1 The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings film trilogies.

The secret world the 3rd age