"The Return of the King" is the final volume of "The Lord of the Rings" and was published on October 20, 1955. And for the past six decades, Frodo has been usually seen as the hero of the tale; but Samwise Gamgee is the real badass hobbit. When things get real, Sam’s the dude you want by your side.

Everyone needs a friend like Sam! He’s loyal, brave and is there for Frodo no matter what. So to celebrate the 60th anniversary of this best-selling fantasy novel, we’re highlighting thirteen of the many times Sam proved he’s an epic best friend.

When he was all in for Frodo’s cray cray mission.

"Get up, Sam!" said Gandalf. "I have thought of something better than that. Something to shut your mouth, and punish you properly for listening. You shall go away with Mr. Frodo!"

"Me, sir!" cried Sam, springing up like a dog invited for a walk. "Me go and see Elves and all! Hooray!" he shouted, and then burst into tears.

– "The Fellowship of the Ring"

When he boasted that he’s got his boy’s back.

"If you don’t come back, sir, then I shan't, that's certain," said Sam. "Don't you leave him! they say to me. Leave him! I said. I never mean to. I am going with him, if he climbs to the Moon, and if any of those Black Riders try to stop him, they'll have Sam Gamgee to reckon with, I said."

– "The Fellowship of the Ring"

When he peeped on a secret meeting to safeguard Frodo.

"But you won't send him off alone, surely, Master?" cried Sam, unable to contain himself any longer, and jumping up from the corner where he had been quietly sitting on the floor.

"No indeed!" said Elrond, turning towards him with a smile. "You at least shall go with him. It is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not."

– "The Fellowship of the Ring"

When he ditched his pony to follow Frodo.

Sam, clinging to Frodo's arm, collapsed on a step in the black darkness. "Poor old Bill!" he said in a choking voice, "Poor old Bill! Wolves and snakes! But the snakes were too much for him. I had to choose, Mr. Frodo. I had to come with you."

– "The Fellowship of the Ring"

When he almost drowned to keep the bromance alive.

"It would be the death of you to come with me, Sam," said Frodo, "and I could not have borne that."

"Not as certain as being left behind," said Sam.

"But I am going to Mordor."

"I know that well enough, Mr. Frodo. Of course you are. And I'm coming with you."

– "The Fellowship of the Ring"

When he showed off his mad kitchen skillz.

"I’ve got a bit of a stew for you, and some broth, Mr. Frodo."

– "The Two Towers"

When he got motivational with a speech about heroes.

"But that's not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually – their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn't. And if they had, we shouldn't know, because they'd have been forgotten."

– "The Two Towers"

When he acted as Frodo’s hype man.

"And people will say: 'Let's hear about Frodo and the Ring!' And they'll say: 'Yes, that's one of my favorite stories. Frodo was very brave, wasn't he, Dad?' 'Yes, my boy, the famousest of the hobbits, and that's saying a lot.'"

– "The Two Towers"

When he went medieval on a big ass spider.

"Now come, you filth! You've hurt my master, you brute, and you'll pay for it."

– "The Two Towers"

When he begged his bestie not to die.

"Frodo, Mr. Frodo!" he called, "Don't leave me here alone! It's your Sam calling. Don't go where I can't follow!"

– "The Two Towers"

When he literally carried Frodo.

"Come, Mr. Frodo!" he cried. "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you and it as well. So up you get! Come on, Mr. Frodo dear! Sam will give you a ride. Just tell him where to go, and he'll go."

– "The Return of the King"

When he told Frodo to quit his bitchin’ and move his ass.

"I am glad that you are here with me," said Frodo. "Here at the end of all things, Sam."

"Yes, I am with you, Master," said Sam, laying Frodo's wounded hand gently to his breast. "And you're with me. And the journey's finished. But after coming all that way I don't want to give up yet. It's not like me, somehow, if you understand."

"Maybe not, Sam," said Frodo; "but it's like things are in the world. Hopes fail. An end comes. We have only a little time to wait now. We are lost in ruin and downfall, and there is no escape."

"Well, Master, we could at least go further from this dangerous place here, from this Crack of Doom, if that's its name. Now couldn't we? Come, Mr. Frodo, let's go down the path at any rate!"

– "The Return of the King"

When he finally let Frodo leave without him, even though it broke his lil’ hobbit heart.

"Your time may come. Do not be too sad, Sam. You cannot be always torn in two. You will have to be one and whole, for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be, and to do."

– "The Return of the King"