He agreed, and prepared for Olórin's departure from the Undying Lands with the other four, arriving about the same time that the Necromancer appeared in Mirkwood. Thus, Manwë insisted that Olórin should go as the third, but Varda convinced him to send Olórin as the second instead. Furthermore, the One Ring, containing much of Sauron's power, presumably still existed somewhere. Manwë understood, and told Olórin that such was a reason why he should go, to overcome that fear.

At first, Olórin was nervous and described himself as too weak and afraid of Sauron. When the Valar decided to send the Istari (also called Wizards) to Middle-earth to counsel and assist all those who opposed the Dark Lord Sauron, Manwë and Varda included Olórin among the five to be sent. Throughout his life he followed the example of Nienna, talking pity on the sorrows of the Children of Ilúvatar and drawing those who listened to him out of despair. He loved the Elves, but walked unseen among them, or wore the guise of an Elf, and sent them fair visions in their hearts that made them wiser. He was associated with light and fire, much like Varda, yet his ways often took him to Nienna, from whom he learned pity and patience.

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. 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 Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin