Boromir is fascinating but Gandalf is truly iconic.
When non-Tolkienistas think of LotR they think of Gandalf. In fact when anyone thinks of a wizard now, they think of Gandalf. Not even the mighty Harry Potter can beat Gandalf in the public imagination. Gandalf has everything that a wizard ought to have: a staff, a cape, a pointy hat, an old man's face, yet great strength, wisdom, and most of all...magic.
Gandalf is the culmination of wizardry throughout history, a great coming together of Merlin, Odin and Cernunnos. And he's more than just some old hippy with a nifty line in making fireworks, for all our jokes, he's
the Servant of the Secret Fire.
And the final point of coolness about Gandalf, the Wand-Elf, is that despite his sheer power and incredible status, he would laugh his cloak off if you called him an old hippy
