Sorry this is long and probably too much info but here is what theonering.net has on Smeagol…(Even though they call him a Hobbit in this blurb, I think Mentat is right, he is from a race of which Hobbits came from…I think).
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> Biography: Smeagol’s original name was Trahald, the Anglicized equivalent of which is Smeagol. Smeagol was born in the year 2430 to a fairly prominent family of hobbits of the Stoor strain near the Gladden Fields. In the year 2463, the day of Smeagol’s coming of age, he went fishing with his cousin Deagol. While fishing, Deagol saw something glittering under the surface of the water, dove in after it, and came up with a glittering gold ring. Before even knowing the qualities of the beautiful ring, Smeagol’s desire to own it overtook him, and he murdered his cousin for it. Smeagol soon developed many undesirable qualities, like stealing, eavesdropping, and being sneaky whenever he had the opportunity. It was these qualities which got him banished from his household. Cursing his bad luck and his family, he eventually made his way to a gloomy den underneath the Misty Mountains. Living in darkness, he grew to hate the light of the sun and moon, but the moon he would tolerate. Smeagol stayed there for many years until he was unexpectedly visited by Bilbo<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
One of my favorite series of all time (including The Hobbit and The Silmarillion) Two DVD’s chock full of goodies. They will be releasing a Director’s cut DVD November 12 with an additional 1/2 hour of new footage that will be incorporated back into the film. They are writing new musical scores for it as well. So it will be 3 1/2 hours long! 
I can’t wait for The Two Towers which should be playing in the next couple of months!
