Barliman was the owner of the Prancing Pony in Bree. He was a human, but as Bree was inhabited by both humans and hobbits, he had two hobbit employees: Bob, who worked in the stables, and Nob, a servant.
Warning: Wikipedia contains spoilers
He had a notoriously bad memory; for example, he forgot to tell Frodo that Gandalf had left a letter for him, leaving Frodo uncertain as to Gandalf's fate. In the Return of the King, Barliman was amazed to learn that Strider, a former patron of the Prancing Pony, had become king of Gondor.
In the Fellowship of the Ring movie, he was played by David Weatherly.
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