John Lithgow
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John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. Lithgow studied at
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his work on the stage and screen. He has been the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards, six Primetime Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two
Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...
. He has also received nominations for two
Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
, a
BAFTA Award The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTA Film Awards is an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international contributions to film. The cer ...
, and four Grammy Awards. Lithgow has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and he was inducted into the
American Theater Hall of Fame The American Theater Hall of Fame in New York City was founded in 1972. Earl Blackwell was the first head of the organization's Executive Committee. In an announcement in 1972, he said that the new ''Theater Hall of Fame'' would be located in the ...
. In 1973 Lithgow made his
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
debut in ''The Changing Room'' for which he received his first
Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
. In 1976 Lithgow acted alongside
Meryl Streep Mary Louise Meryl Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Often described as "the best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility and accent adaptability. She has received numerous accolades throu ...
in the plays ''
27 Wagons Full of Cotton This is a list of the one-act plays written by American playwright Tennessee Williams. 1930s ''Beauty Is the Word'' ''Beauty Is the Word'' is Tennessee Williams' first play. The 12-page one-act was written in 1930 while Williams was a freshman ...
'', ''
A Memory of Two Mondays ''A Memory of Two Mondays'' is a one-act play by Arthur Miller. He began writing the play in 1952, while working on '' The Crucible'', and completed it in 1955. Based on Miller's own experiences, the play focuses on a group of desperate workers ...
'' and ''Secret Service'' at
The Public Theatre The Public Theater is a New York City arts organization founded as the Shakespeare Workshop in 1954 by Joseph Papp, with the intention of showcasing the works of up-and-coming playwrights and performers.Epstein, Helen. ''Joe Papp: An American L ...
. He received Tony Award nominations for ''
Requiem for a Heavyweight "Requiem for a Heavyweight" is a teleplay written by Rod Serling and produced for the live television show ''Playhouse 90'' on 11 October 1956. Six years later, it was adapted as a 1962 feature film starring Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey R ...
'' (1985), ''
M. Butterfly ''M. Butterfly'' is a play by David Henry Hwang. The story, while entwined with that of the opera ''Madama Butterfly'', is based most directly on the relationship between French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Shi Pei Pu, a Peking opera singer. T ...
'' (1988), and '' Dirty Rotten Scoundrels'' (2005). In 2002, Lithgow received his second Tony Award, this time for a musical, '' The Sweet Smell of Success''. In 2007, he made his Royal Shakespeare Company debut as
Malvolio Malvolio is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's comedy ''Twelfth Night, or What You Will''. His name means "ill will" in Italian, referencing his disagreeable nature. He is the vain, pompous, authoritarian steward of Olivia's househo ...
in ''
Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vi ...
''. He returned to Broadway in the plays ''
The Columnist ''The Columnist'' is a play by American playwright David Auburn. It opened on Broadway's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, under the direction of Daniel J. Sullivan. The play opened on April 25, 2012 and closed July 8, 2012 with John Lithgow starr ...
'' (2012), '' A Delicate Balance'' (2014), and ''
Hillary and Clinton ''Hillary and Clinton'' is a play written by Lucas Hnath that premiered in 2016 at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. The play is set in an alternate universe and tells a story centering on Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. ...
'' (2019). Lithgow starred as
Dick Solomon Dr. Dick Solomon is a character played by John Lithgow in the late-1990s NBC sitcom '' 3rd Rock from the Sun''. Solomon is the High Commander of a highly trained alien unit, sent to Earth by their leader, The Big Giant Head. His crew is made up o ...
in the television sitcom '' 3rd Rock from the Sun'' (1996–2001) winning three Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance. He also played Arthur Mitchell in the drama '' Dexter'' (2009) for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama. In 2004, Lithgow played
Blake Edwards Blake Edwards (born William Blake Crump; July 26, 1922 – December 15, 2010) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. Edwards began his career in the 1940s as an actor, but he soon began writing screenplays and radio s ...
in the HBO movie ''
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers ''The Life and Death of Peter Sellers'' is a 2004 television film about the life of English comedian Peter Sellers, based on Roger Lewis's book of the same name. 1108 pagesPublished in the U.S. via Applause BooksA very comprehensive biography, w ...
''. He has also appeared on '' 30 Rock'', '' How I Met Your Mother'', and '' Louie''. Lithgow portrayed
Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from ...
in the
Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...
drama ''
The Crown The Crown is the state in all its aspects within the jurisprudence of the Commonwealth realms and their subdivisions (such as the Crown Dependencies, overseas territories, provinces, or states). Legally ill-defined, the term has different ...
'' (2016–2019) receiving a Primetime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He starred in HBO's ''
Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...
'' (2020) and FX's '' The Old Man'' (2022). His early screen roles included
Bob Fosse Robert Louis Fosse (; June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American actor, choreographer, dancer, and film and stage director. He directed and choreographed musical works on stage and screen, including the stage musicals ''The Pajam ...
's '' All That Jazz'' (1979) and
Brian De Palma Brian Russell De Palma (born September 11, 1940) is an American film director and screenwriter. With a career spanning over 50 years, he is best known for his work in the suspense, crime and psychological thriller genres. De Palma was a leading ...
's ''
Blow Out ''Blow Out'' is a 1981 American neo-noir mystery thriller film written and directed by Brian De Palma. The film stars John Travolta as Jack Terry, a movie sound effects technician from Philadelphia who, while recording sounds for a low-budget ...
'' (1981). He received Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nominations for his breakout performance in ''
The World According to Garp ''The World According to Garp'' is John Irving's fourth novel, about a man, born out of wedlock to a feminist leader, who grows up to be a writer. Published in 1978, the book was a bestseller for several years. It was a finalist for the Natio ...
'' (1982) and his role in ''
Terms of Endearment ''Terms of Endearment'' is a 1983 American family comedy-drama film directed, written, and produced by James L. Brooks, adapted from Larry McMurtry's 1975 novel of the same name. It stars Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson, Dann ...
'' (1983). He then starred in the films ''
Footloose Footloose may refer to: * ''Footloose'' (1984 film), a musical film ** ''Footloose'' (1984 soundtrack) ** "Footloose" (song), performed by Kenny Loggins * ''Footloose'' (2011 film), a remake of the 1984 film ** ''Footloose'' (2011 soundtrack) ...
'' (1984), '' Harry and the Hendersons'' (1987), ''
The Pelican Brief ''The Pelican Brief'' is a legal-suspense thriller by John Grisham, published in 1992 by Doubleday. It is his third novel after '' A Time to Kill'' and ''The Firm''. Two paperback editions were published, both by Dell Publishing in 1993. A na ...
'' and ''
Cliffhanger A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode or a film of serialized fiction. A cliffhang ...
'' (1993), ''
A Civil Action ''A Civil Action'' is a 1995 non-fiction book by Jonathan Harr about a water contamination case in Woburn, Massachusetts, in the 1980s. The book became a best-seller. It won the National Book Critics Circle Award for nonfiction. The case is ...
'' (1998), '' Rugrats in Paris: The Movie'' (2000), ''
Shrek ''Shrek'' is a 2001 American computer-animated comedy film loosely based on the 1990 book of the same name by William Steig. It is the first installment in the ''Shrek'' franchise. The film was directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jen ...
'' (2001), '' Kinsey'' (2004), ''
Dreamgirls ''Dreamgirls'' is a Broadway musical, with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based on the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others,G ...
'' (2006), ''
Love Is Strange "Love Is Strange" is a crossover hit by American rhythm and blues duet Mickey & Sylvia, which was released in late November 1956 by the Groove record label. The song was based on a guitar riff by Jody Williams and was written by Bo Diddley ...
'' (2014), ''
Miss Sloane ''Miss Sloane'' is a 2016 political thriller film directed by John Madden and written by Jonathan Perera. The film stars Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alison Pill, Jake Lacy, John Lithgow, and Sam Waterston. ...
'' (2016), ''
Beatriz at Dinner ''Beatriz at Dinner'' is a 2017 comedy-drama film directed by Miguel Arteta from a screenplay by Mike White. The film stars Salma Hayek, John Lithgow, Connie Britton, Jay Duplass, Amy Landecker, Chloë Sevigny, and David Warshofsky. ''Beat ...
'' (2017), '' Late Night'', and '' Bombshell'' (both 2019), and ''
Killers of the Flower Moon ''Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI'' is the third non-fiction book by the American journalist David Grann. The book was released on April 18, 2017 by Doubleday. ''Time'' magazine listed ''Killers of the Fl ...
'' (2022).


Early life

Lithgow was born on October 19, 1945, in
Rochester, New York Rochester () is a city in the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Monroe County, and the fourth-most populous in the state after New York City, Buffalo, and Yonkers, with a population of 211,328 at the 2020 United States census. Located in W ...
. His mother, Sarah Jane Lithgow (née Price), was a retired actress. His father, Arthur Washington Lithgow III was a theatrical producer and director who ran
McCarter Theatre McCarter Theatre Center is a not-for-profit, professional company on the campus of Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. The institution is currently led by Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen and Managing Director Michael S. Rosenberg. ...
in
Princeton, New Jersey Princeton is a municipality with a borough form of government in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It was established on January 1, 2013, through the consolidation of the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township, both of whi ...
. His father was born in Puerto Plata,
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...
, to a European-American family; his great-grandfather was a vice consul and vice commercial agent in the country.Stated on ''
Finding Your Roots ''Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'' is a documentary television series hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. that premiered on March 25, 2012, on PBS. In each episode, celebrities are presented with a "book of life" that is compiled with ...
'', April 13, 2021
He is the third of four children and has three siblings: an older brother David Lithgow, an older sister Robin Lithgow, and a younger sister Sarah Jane Boaker. On the show ''
Finding Your Roots ''Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'' is a documentary television series hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. that premiered on March 25, 2012, on PBS. In each episode, celebrities are presented with a "book of life" that is compiled with ...
'', Lithgow discovered that he is a descendant of eight ''
Mayflower ''Mayflower'' was an English ship that transported a group of English families, known today as the Pilgrims, from England to the New World in 1620. After a grueling 10 weeks at sea, ''Mayflower'', with 102 passengers and a crew of about 30, r ...
'' passengers, including colonial governor William Bradford. Because of his father's job, the family moved frequently during Lithgow's childhood. He spent his childhood years in
Yellow Springs, Ohio Yellow Springs is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,697 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is home to Antioch College. History The area of the village had long b ...
, where activist
Coretta Scott King Coretta Scott King ( Scott; April 27, 1927 – January 30, 2006) was an American author, activist, and civil rights leader who was married to Martin Luther King Jr. from 1953 until his death. As an advocate for African-American equality, she w ...
was his babysitter. He spent his teenage years in
Akron Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city prop ...
(living at
Stan Hywet Hall Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (70 acres) is a historic house museum in Akron, Ohio. The estate includes gardens, a greenhouse, carriage house, and the main mansion, one of the largest houses in the United States. A National Historic Landmark, it is ...
) and Lakewood, Ohio. Lithgow graduated from Princeton High School in 1963. He then studied
history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
and
English literature English literature is literature written in the English language from United Kingdom, its crown dependencies, the Republic of Ireland, the United States, and the countries of the former British Empire. ''The Encyclopaedia Britannica'' defines E ...
at
Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...
. Lithgow lived in Adams House as an undergraduate and later served on Harvard's Board of Overseers. He credits a performance at Harvard of
Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...
's ''
Utopia Limited ''Utopia, Limited; or, The Flowers of Progress'', is a Savoy opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It was the second-to-last of Gilbert and Sullivan's fourteen collaborations, premiering on 7 October 1893 for ...
'' with helping him decide to become an actor. He was a pupil of dramatist Robert Chapman who was the director of Harvard's Loeb Drama Center. Lithgow graduated from Harvard in 1967 with an
A.B. Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...
''
magna cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some So ...
'' and was elected to
Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal a ...
. After he graduated, Lithgow won a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Also after graduation, he served as the Director of the Arts and Literature Department at
WBAI WBAI (99.5 FM) is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station licensed to New York, New York. Its programming is a mixture of political news, talk and opinion from a left-leaning, liberal or progressive viewpoint, and eclectic music. ...
, the Pacifica radio station in New York City.


Career


1970s

In 1972, Lithgow made his film debut in '' Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues''. In 1976 he starred in a pivotal role in
Brian De Palma Brian Russell De Palma (born September 11, 1940) is an American film director and screenwriter. With a career spanning over 50 years, he is best known for his work in the suspense, crime and psychological thriller genres. De Palma was a leading ...
's '' Obsession'' with
Cliff Robertson Clifford Parker Robertson III (September 9, 1923 – September 10, 2011) was an American actor whose career in film and television spanned over six decades. Robertson portrayed a young John F. Kennedy in the 1963 film '' PT 109'', and won the 196 ...
and Genevieve Bujold as Cliff Robertson's long time business partner Robert Lasalle. In 1973, Lithgow debuted on
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
in
David Storey David Malcolm Storey (13 July 1933 – 27 March 2017) was an English playwright, screenwriter, award-winning novelist and a professional rugby league player. He won the Booker Prize in 1976 for his novel ''Saville''. He also won the MacMillan ...
's ''
The Changing Room ''The Changing Room'' is a 1971 play by David Storey, set in a men's changing room before, during and after a rugby league football game. It premiered at the Royal Court Theatre on 9 November 1971, directed by Lindsay Anderson. The 1973 Broadway ...
'' at the Morosco Theatre, earning him his first
Tony Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leagu ...
nomination for Featured Actor in a Play and his first win. He also won a Drama Desk Award. The following year he starred again on Broadway in the comedy play ''
My Fat Friend ''My Fat Friend'' is a play by Charles Laurence. Plot The comedy is an ugly duckling tale about an overweight young woman who attracts the attention of a potential suitor. With the help of her friends/roommates, she undergoes a diet and exercis ...
'' opposite
Lynn Redgrave Lynn Rachel Redgrave (8 March 1943 – 2 May 2010) was an English actress. She won two Golden Globe Awards throughout her career. A member of the Redgrave family of actors, Lynn trained in London before making her theatrical debut in 1962. By ...
at the
Brooks Atkinson Theatre The Lena Horne Theatre (previously the Mansfield Theatre and the Brooks Atkinson Theatre) is a Broadway theater at 256 West 47th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1926, it was designed by Herbert ...
. In 1976 he starred on Broadway in
Arthur Miller Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright, essayist and screenwriter in the 20th-century American theater. Among his most popular plays are '' All My Sons'' (1947), ''Death of a Salesman'' ( ...
's ''
A Memory of Two Mondays ''A Memory of Two Mondays'' is a one-act play by Arthur Miller. He began writing the play in 1952, while working on '' The Crucible'', and completed it in 1955. Based on Miller's own experiences, the play focuses on a group of desperate workers ...
'' opposite
Meryl Streep Mary Louise Meryl Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Often described as "the best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility and accent adaptability. She has received numerous accolades throu ...
and
Tom Hulce Thomas Edward Hulce (; born December 6, 1953) is an American actor and theater producer. He is best known for his portrayal of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the Academy Award-winning film ''Amadeus'' (1984), as well as the roles of Larry "Pinto" Kr ...
at the
Playhouse Theatre The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square, central London. The Theatre was built by F. H. Fowler and Hill with a seating capacity of 1,200. It was rebuilt i ...
. In 1979, Lithgow appeared in
Bob Fosse Robert Louis Fosse (; June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American actor, choreographer, dancer, and film and stage director. He directed and choreographed musical works on stage and screen, including the stage musicals ''The Pajam ...
's semi-autobiographical movie '' All That Jazz'' as Lucas Sergeant. The character was loosely based on the real-life Broadway director and choreographer Michael Bennett (theater), Michael Bennett, known for his work on ''Follies'', ''Company (musical), Company'', ''Dreamgirls (musical), Dreamgirls'' and ''A Chorus Line''. Between 1978 and 1980, Lithgow appeared in ten episodes of the radio drama revival series ''CBS Radio Mystery Theater''.


1980s

Lithgow voiced the character of Yoda in the National Public Radio Star Wars (radio), adaptations of ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi''. He provided narration for the IMAX film ''Special Effects: Anything Can Happen''. In 1982 and 1983, Lithgow was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances as Roberta Muldoon in ''
The World According to Garp ''The World According to Garp'' is John Irving's fourth novel, about a man, born out of wedlock to a feminist leader, who grows up to be a writer. Published in 1978, the book was a bestseller for several years. It was a finalist for the Natio ...
'' and as Sam Burns in ''
Terms of Endearment ''Terms of Endearment'' is a 1983 American family comedy-drama film directed, written, and produced by James L. Brooks, adapted from Larry McMurtry's 1975 novel of the same name. It stars Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson, Dann ...
''. Both films were screen adaptations of popular novels. In 1983, Lithgow appeared in a remake of the classic ''The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series), Twilight Zone'' episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" in ''Twilight Zone: The Movie'' as the paranoid passenger made famous on the television show by William Shatner. In an interview with Bill Moyers, Lithgow reveals this role as his favorite of his film career. Also in 1983 Lithgow appeared in a minor role in the nuclear apocalypse TV film The Day After. In 1984, he starred in the film ''The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension'' as Dr. Emilio Lizardo / Lord John Whorfin. Also in 1984, he starred in ''2010: The Year We Make Contact'' and played a pastor who condemns dancing in ''
Footloose Footloose may refer to: * ''Footloose'' (1984 film), a musical film ** ''Footloose'' (1984 soundtrack) ** "Footloose" (song), performed by Kenny Loggins * ''Footloose'' (2011 film), a remake of the 1984 film ** ''Footloose'' (2011 soundtrack) ...
''. In 1985, he starred opposite Jodie Foster in ''Mesmerized (film), Mesmerized''. In 1986, he starred in ''The Manhattan Project (film), The Manhattan Project'' directed by Marshall Brickman. In 1987, Lithgow starred in the Bigfoot-themed family comedy '' Harry and the Hendersons''. In 1985, he starred in ''
Requiem for a Heavyweight "Requiem for a Heavyweight" is a teleplay written by Rod Serling and produced for the live television show ''Playhouse 90'' on 11 October 1956. Six years later, it was adapted as a 1962 feature film starring Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey R ...
'' written by Rod Serling at the Martin Beck Theatre. In 1988 he starred in David Henry Hwang's ''
M. Butterfly ''M. Butterfly'' is a play by David Henry Hwang. The story, while entwined with that of the opera ''Madama Butterfly'', is based most directly on the relationship between French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Shi Pei Pu, a Peking opera singer. T ...
'' alongside BD Wong at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. In 1986, Lithgow received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his appearance in the episode ''The Doll'' of the ''Amazing Stories (1985 TV series), Amazing Stories'' anthology series. Additionally, Lithgow has been nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for ''The Day After'' (1983) and two Emmy Awards for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for ''Resting Place'' (1986) and ''My Brother's Keeper'' (1995). Lithgow was approached about playing Dr. Frasier Crane on ''Cheers'', but turned it down. Lithgow starred with Jeffrey Tambor in the NBC sitcom ''Twenty Good Years''.


1990s

In television, Lithgow is probably most widely known for his starring role as
Dick Solomon Dr. Dick Solomon is a character played by John Lithgow in the late-1990s NBC sitcom '' 3rd Rock from the Sun''. Solomon is the High Commander of a highly trained alien unit, sent to Earth by their leader, The Big Giant Head. His crew is made up o ...
in the 1996–2001 NBC sitcom '' 3rd Rock from the Sun''. He received six consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and won three times (1996, 1997, 1999). His son Ian regularly appeared alongside him as Leon, one of his physics students. In 1991, he starred in the movie ''Ricochet (1991 film), Ricochet'' opposite Denzel Washington as Earl Talbot Blake, a criminal seeking revenge against the policeman who sent him to prison. Also in 1991, he played missionary Leslie Huben in the At Play in the Fields of the Lord, film adaptation of Peter Matthiessen's novel ''At Play in the Fields of the Lord (novel), At Play in the Fields of the Lord''. In 1992, he starred as a man with multiple personality disorder in
Brian De Palma Brian Russell De Palma (born September 11, 1940) is an American film director and screenwriter. With a career spanning over 50 years, he is best known for his work in the suspense, crime and psychological thriller genres. De Palma was a leading ...
's film ''Raising Cain''. In 1993, he starred in Renny Harlin's film ''
Cliffhanger A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode or a film of serialized fiction. A cliffhang ...
'' opposite Sylvester Stallone as terrorist leader Eric Qualen.


2000s

In 2001, Lithgow gained recognition for voicing the evil Lord Farquaad in the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Academy Award-winning DreamWorks Animation, DreamWorks Animated film ''Shrek (film), Shrek'' alongside Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz. In 2002, he narrated ''Life's Greatest Miracle'', a documentary about human embryonic development. In 2002, Lithgow starred as J.J. Hunsecker in the Broadway adaptation of the 1957 film ''Sweet Smell of Success (musical), Sweet Smell of Success'' alongside Brian D'Arcy James. Lithgow won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance. In 2005, he starred on Broadway in the musical-comedy '' Dirty Rotten Scoundrels''. alongside Norbert Leo Butz at the Imperial Theatre. While both were nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, Butz won over Lithgow. That same year Lithgow was elected into the
American Theater Hall of Fame The American Theater Hall of Fame in New York City was founded in 1972. Earl Blackwell was the first head of the organization's Executive Committee. In an announcement in 1972, he said that the new ''Theater Hall of Fame'' would be located in the ...
for his work on Broadway. In 2003, Lithgow wrote the narrations for Christopher Wheeldon ballet ''Carnival of the Animals (ballet), Carnival of the Animals'' and appeared as the elephant character—nurse Mabel Buntz—with the New York City Ballet. He returned for a 2005 revival, the Houston Ballet production of the same show in 2007, and the Pennsylvania Ballet production of it in 2008. In 2007, Lithgow played
Malvolio Malvolio is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's comedy ''Twelfth Night, or What You Will''. His name means "ill will" in Italian, referencing his disagreeable nature. He is the vain, pompous, authoritarian steward of Olivia's househo ...
in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of ''
Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vi ...
'', at The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, in the United Kingdom. In 2004, he portrayed the moralistic, rigid father of Alfred Kinsey in that year's biopic '' Kinsey''; Liam Neeson also starred. In 2006, Lithgow had a small role in the Academy Award-winning film ''Dreamgirls (musical), Dreamgirls'' as Jerry Harris, a film producer offering Deena Jones (Beyoncé Knowles) a film role. In 2010, he appeared briefly in the romantic comedy ''Leap Year (2010 film), Leap Year'' playing Amy Adams' father. In 2005, Lithgow became the first ever actor to deliver a commencement speech at
Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
and received an honorary Doctor of Arts from his alma mater. He was featured at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 4–6, 2009 for performances of Mozart's Requiem with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He narrated some letters written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, some poems and sections from the Book of Revelation in certain parts of the performance. Since 2006, he has starred in Progresso commercials, advertising their soup brand. On March 5, 2009, Lithgow made a cameo on NBC's '' 30 Rock'' acting in the episode "Goodbye, My Friend" with several references to his role in ''Harry and the Hendersons''. In September 2009, Lithgow joined the cast of '' Dexter'' as Arthur Mitchell (Dexter), Arthur Mitchell, a serial killer and Dexter Morgan's nemesis. He won a Golden Globe Award for this role and won an Emmy for 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series. He guest starred on '' How I Met Your Mother'' in the role of Barney Stinson's father, Jerry. In 2008 through 2009, Lithgow played Joe Keller in a Broadway revival of
Arthur Miller Arthur Asher Miller (October 17, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright, essayist and screenwriter in the 20th-century American theater. Among his most popular plays are '' All My Sons'' (1947), ''Death of a Salesman'' ( ...
's ''All My Sons'' directed by Simon McBurney. Lithgow starred alongside Dianne Wiest, Patrick Wilson (actor), Patrick Wilson and Katie Holmes in her Broadway debut at the Schoenfeld Theater, Schoenfeld Theatre. He hosted Paloozaville, a children's Video on Demand program on Mag Rack based on his best-selling children's books. Lithgow also appears in ''Books By You'', a children's computer game and guides them through the steps to personalize a pre-designed book.


2010s

In 2010, Lithgow starred in the Off-Broadway production of Douglas Carter Beane's comedy ''Mr & Mrs Fitch'' alongside Jennifer Ehle at the Second Stage Theatre which ran from February 22, 2010, to April 4, 2010. In 2012 Lithgow returned to Broadway in David Auburn's play ''
The Columnist ''The Columnist'' is a play by American playwright David Auburn. It opened on Broadway's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, under the direction of Daniel J. Sullivan. The play opened on April 25, 2012 and closed July 8, 2012 with John Lithgow starr ...
'', which played at the Manhattan Theatre Club. The performance earned him a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. On October 1, 2010, Lithgow appeared on Doug Benson's podcast ''Doug Loves Movies'', with fellow guests Paul F. Tompkins and Jimmy Pardo. He has appeared on Chris Hardwick's show ''The Nerdist Podcast'' in 2012 and the ''WTF with Marc Maron'' podcast in 2019. In September 2011, Lithgow was featured in a one-night only production of Dustin Lance Black's play ''8 (play), 8'', a staged reenactment of the Perry v. Brown, federal trial that overturned California's Proposition 8, Prop 8 ban on Same-sex marriage in California, same-sex marriage—as Attorney Theodore Olson to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights. In 2015, Lithgow did the voice over work for Gore Vidal in the documentary film ''Best of Enemies (2015 film), Best of Enemies'' with Kelsey Grammer. On October 18, 2017, Lithgow coauthored the ''New York Times'' daily crossword puzzle. In the winter of 2012–13 he appeared in the London revival of Arthur Wing Pinero's ''The Magistrate (play), The Magistrate'' as Police Magistrate Aeneas Posket at the Royal National Theatre, National Theatre. In 2014, he returned to Central Park's Delacorte Theater and New York Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare in the Park for the 2014 summer season in the title role of Shakespeare's ''King Lear'', directed by Tony Award Winner Daniel J. Sullivan, Daniel Sullivan. The production was the first play at the theater since 1973 and Lithgow's first time there since 1975 when he had played Laertes. In Fall 2014, Lithgow returned to Broadway as Tobias in a revival of Edward Albee's '' A Delicate Balance''. He starred opposite Glenn Close, Martha Plimpton, Lindsay Duncan, Bob Balaban and Clare Higgins. Pam MacKinnon directed the limited 18-week production at the John Golden Theatre. Lithgow gained critical attention for starring in Ira Sachs' independent romance film ''
Love Is Strange "Love Is Strange" is a crossover hit by American rhythm and blues duet Mickey & Sylvia, which was released in late November 1956 by the Groove record label. The song was based on a guitar riff by Jody Williams and was written by Bo Diddley ...
'' (2014). The film received a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus reading "Held aloft by remarkable performances from John Lithgow and Alfred Molina, ''Love Is Strange'' serves as a graceful tribute to the beauty of commitment in the face of adversity." The film also received four Independent Spirit Award nominations, including for both Lithgow and Molina. Lithgow during the 2010s appeared in ''Rise of the Planet of the Apes''., Christopher Nolan's ''Interstellar (film), Interstellar'' (2014), Tommy Lee Jones' ''The Homesman'' (2014) and John Madden (director), John Madden's ''
Miss Sloane ''Miss Sloane'' is a 2016 political thriller film directed by John Madden and written by Jonathan Perera. The film stars Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alison Pill, Jake Lacy, John Lithgow, and Sam Waterston. ...
'' (2016) In 2015, Lithgow made a cameo on Louis C.K.'s Louie (U.S. TV series), Louie in the season five episode "Sleepover" alongside Glenn Close, Michael Cera and Matthew Broderick. In 2017, Lithgow starred in ''Trial & Error (TV series), Trial & Error'' as a professor who becomes implicated in the murder of his wife in the first season (spring 2017) of the mockumentary series. In 2016, Lithgow appeared in the first season of ''
The Crown The Crown is the state in all its aspects within the jurisprudence of the Commonwealth realms and their subdivisions (such as the Crown Dependencies, overseas territories, provinces, or states). Legally ill-defined, the term has different ...
'' (2016) portraying
Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from ...
. Lithgow won numerous awards for his performance including a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award. Lithgow then starred in the independent film ''
Beatriz at Dinner ''Beatriz at Dinner'' is a 2017 comedy-drama film directed by Miguel Arteta from a screenplay by Mike White. The film stars Salma Hayek, John Lithgow, Connie Britton, Jay Duplass, Amy Landecker, Chloë Sevigny, and David Warshofsky. ''Beat ...
'' (2017). Lithgow starred in the solo play ''John Lithgow: Stories by Heart'', which opened on Broadway on January 11, 2018, at the American Airlines Theatre, written by Lithgow. Lithgow has performed this play around the U.S. starting at the Lincoln Center Theater with Willie Nelson in 2008, with a return performance at Lincoln Center slated for April to May 2019. In 2018, Lithgow was one of the actors who voiced the audiobook ''A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo''. In 2019, Lithgow lent his voice for an audio play ''If You Win'' by Emily Chadick Weiss for Playing on Air and was released in spring 2020. Lithgow starred as Bill Clinton opposite Laurie Metcalf as Hillary Clinton in the Lucas Hnath play ''
Hillary and Clinton ''Hillary and Clinton'' is a play written by Lucas Hnath that premiered in 2016 at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. The play is set in an alternate universe and tells a story centering on Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. ...
'' on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre. The play opened on April 18, 2019, and closed on June 23, 2019. In 2019, Lithgow co-starred in Mindy Kaling's comedy '' Late Night''. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival was released June 7, 2019. He also played Fox News CEO Roger Ailes in the film '' Bombshell''.


2020s

In 2020, Lithgow portrayed the lawyer Elias Birchard "E.B." Jonathan in season one of the HBO Perry Mason (2020 TV series), reboot of ''Perry Mason''. In the story, Mr. Birchard starts out as the employer of Mason, who is his investigator. On June 28, 2021, Showtime (TV network), Showtime confirmed that Lithgow would reprise his role of Arthur Mitchell in the 10-episode ''Dexter'' limited series, with Clyde Phillips (screenwriter), Clyde Phillips returning as the head writer. The series premiered on November 7, 2021. In August 2021, Lithgow joined the cast of Martin Scorsese's ''Killers of the Flower Moon'' as Prosecutor Leaward.


Other appearances

Lithgow has done extensive work for children, including several books and albums. Some of his book titles are ''Marsupial Sue'', ''Marsupial Sue Presents "The Runaway Pancake"'', ''Lithgow Party Paloozas!: 52 Unexpected Ways to Make a Birthday, Holiday, or Any Day a Celebration for Kids'', ''Carnival of the Animals'', ''A Lithgow Palooza: 101 Ways to Entertain and Inspire Your Kids'', ''I'm a Manatee'', ''Micawber'', ''The Remarkable Farkle McBride'', ''Mahalia Mouse Goes to College'' and ''I Got Two Dogs''. He also appeared as a guest on ''Ants in Your Pants'', a Canadian children's program. Lithgow launched into a career as a recording artist with ''Singin' in the Bathtub'', a 1999 album of children's music. In June 2002, Lithgow released his second children's album ''Farkle and Friends''. It was the musical companion to his book ''The Remarkable Farkle McBride'', which tells the story of a young musical genius . ''Farkle and Friends'' features the vocal talents of Lithgow and Bebe Neuwirth, backed by the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra as well. In August 2006, Lithgow released ''The Sunny Side of the Street'', his third children's album and first with Razor & Tie. This album features versions of classic songs from the Great American Songbook, including "Getting to Know You" and "Ya Gotta Have Pep". Produced by JC Hopkins, the album features guest appearances by Madeleine Peyroux, Wayne Knight, Sherie Rene Scott and Maude Maggart. Lithgow also makes occasional appearances on stage and television singing children's songs, accompanying himself on guitar. In 2022, Lithgow presented Liv Ullman with the Academy Honorary Award at the Governors Awards.


Satirical works


Trump portrayal

In June 2019, Lithgow portrayed Donald Trump in "The Investigation: A Search for Truth in Ten Acts", a live reading of special counsel Mueller Report, Robert Mueller's report on Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Staged on the altar of New York City's Riverside Church, the reading was created by playwright Robert Schenkkan and narrated by Annette Bening. It also featured Kevin Kline as Mueller, Joel Grey as Jeff Sessions, Jason Alexander as Chris Christie and Alfre Woodard as Hope Hicks.


Trump poetry books

In October 2019, Lithgow published ''Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse'', a book of poems and illustrations. The project originated when Lithgow was asked to perform a
Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...
-style song he wrote about Michael Flynn. The book charted at number three on the ''New York Times'' hardcover nonfiction bestsellers in its first week. A follow-up book title ''Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown'' was released on September 29, 2020, by Chronicle Books.


Voiceover work

Lithgow contributed voiceover work for the audio book version of ''A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo'', a 2018 children's book written by Jill Twiss, a comedy writer for HBO's television show ''Last Week Tonight with John Oliver''. The book is a loose parody of ''Marlon Bundo's A Day in the Life of the Vice President'', a children's book written by then-Vice President of the United States Mike Pence's daughter Charlotte Pence and illustrated by his wife Karen Pence.


Work


Filmography

Selected credits


Discography

* ''Singin' in the Bathtub'' (1999, Sony Wonder) * ''Farkle & Friends'' (2002, Kid Rhino) * ''The Sunny Side of the Street'' (2006, Razor & Tie)


Bibliography

* ''The Remarkable Farkle McBride'' (2000, Simon & Schuster) * ''Marsupial Sue'' (2001, Simon & Schuster) * ''Micawber'' (2002, Simon & Schuster) * ''I'm a Manatee'' (2003, Simon & Schuster) * ''A Lithgow Palooza'' (2004, Simon & Schuster) * ''Carnival of the Animals'' (2004, Simon & Schuster) * ''Lithgow Party Paloozas!: 52 Unexpected Ways to Make a Birthday, Holiday, or Any Day a Celebration for Kids'' (2005, Simon & Schuster) * ''Lithgow Paloozas!: Boredom Blasters'' (2005, Running Press) * ''Marsupial Sue Presents "The Runaway Pancake"'' (2005, Simon & Schuster) * ''Mahalia Mouse Goes to College'' (2007, Simon & Schuster) * ''I Got Two Dogs'' (2008, Simon & Schuster) * ''Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse'' (2019, Chronicle Prism) * ''Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown: Verses for a Despotic Age'' (2020, Chronicle Books)


Awards and honours

Lithgow has received two
Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
s, six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, an American Comedy Award, four Drama Desk Awards and has also been nominated for two
Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
and four Grammy Awards.Alvin Powell
"Lithgow to speak at Afternoon Exercises: Actor, writer, humanitarian to grace Tercentenary Theatre"
''Harvard Gazette'', April 7, 2005.
Lithgow has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and he was inducted into the
American Theater Hall of Fame The American Theater Hall of Fame in New York City was founded in 1972. Earl Blackwell was the first head of the organization's Executive Committee. In an announcement in 1972, he said that the new ''Theater Hall of Fame'' would be located in the ...
. Lithgow was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2019.


Personal life

Lithgow married Jean Taynton, a teacher in 1966. The couple had one son together, Ian Lithgow, Ian (born 1972), who is an actor and a marriage and family therapist. Lithgow and his wife separated after he had an affair with actress Liv Ullmann and they divorced in 1980. Lithgow married University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA history professor Mary Yeager in 1981 and they have a son and a daughter. Lithgow has been a supporter of Liverpool F.C. for many years.


References


External links

* * * * *
John Lithgow
at FEARnet
Profile of John Lithgow
– ''Downstage Center''
2006 bio article on Lithgow

Razor and Tie Artist Page
* *
John Lithgow speaks at the Oxonian Society November 15, 2007

NYPL gallery of selected stage production photographs, 1967-1988
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lithgow, John 1945 births 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art American banjoists American humorists American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male radio actors American male Shakespearean actors American male stage actors American male television actors American male voice actors Audiobook narrators Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (television) winners Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (television) winners Drama Desk Award winners Harvard College alumni John Lithgow, Living people Male actors from Rochester, New York Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners People from Princeton, New Jersey Princeton High School (New Jersey) alumni Royal Shakespeare Company members Tony Award winners Vietnam War draft evaders Fulbright alumni