John Lithgow
John Arthur Lithgow (/ˈlɪθɡoʊ/ LITH-goh; born October 19, 1945) is an American actor. He studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his diverse work on stage and screen. He has received numerous accolades, including six Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Tony Awards, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, four Grammy Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Laurence Olivier Award. Lithgow won two Tony Awards, his first for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his Broadway debut in The Changing Room (1972) and his second for Best Actor in a Musical for the musical Sweet Smell of Success (2002). He was Tony-nominated for Requiem for a Heavyweight (1985), M. Butterfly (1988), and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005). He has acted in the plays The Columnist (2012), A Delicate Balance (2014), and Hillary and Clinton (2019). He portrayed Roald Dahl in the play Giant on the West End, for which he was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actor. He starred as Dick Solomon in the television sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001), winning three Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He received further Primetime Emmy Awards for his performances as Arthur Mitchell in the drama Dexter (2009) and as Winston Churchill in the Netflix drama The Crown (2016–2019). He also starred in HBO's Perry Mason (2020) and FX's The Old Man (2022). On film, he has received two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor nominations for his roles as a transsexual ex-football player in The World According to Garp (1982) and a lonely banker in Terms of Endearment (1983). He also acted in All That Jazz (1979), Blow Out (1981), Footloose (1984), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), A Civil Action (1998), Shrek (2001), Kinsey (2004), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Love Is Strange (2014), Interstellar (2014), Late Night (2019), Bombshell (2019), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), and Conclave (2024). Description above from the Wikipedia article John Lithgow, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 ·The Rule of Jenny Penas Dave Crealy
- 2025 ·Jimpaas Jimpa
- 2025 ·SNL50: Beyond Saturday Nightas Self
- 2024 ·Spellboundas Bolinar (voice)
- 2024 ·Conclaveas Tremblay
- 2023 ·Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magicas Self
- 2021 ·Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokesas Philip Drummond
- 2021 ·Show of Titlesas "There's No Business Like Show Business" Performer
- 2019 ·On Broadwayas Self
- 2019 ·The Tomorrow Manas Ed Hemsler
- 2018 ·Mister Rogers: It's You I Likeas Self
- 2017 ·Broadway: The Next Generationas Self
- 2017 ·Beatriz at Dinneras Doug Strutt
- 2016 ·Shakespeare Live! From the RSCas Self - Performer
- 2015 ·Inside 'Interstellar'as Self
- 2014 ·9 Kissesas Man in Club
- 2014 ·The Jungle Bunch 2: The Great Treasure Questas Maurice (voice)
- 2014 ·Love Is Strangeas Ben
- 2013 ·Timms Valleyas Ol' Gregory Timms
- 2013 ·Shrek Storiesas Lord Farquaad (voice)
- 2012 ·Casting Byas Self
- 2011 ·Shrek: Once Upon a Timeas Self
- 2006 ·Twenty Good Yearsas
- 2006 ·The Best of The Tony Awards: The Playsas René Gallimard (segment "M. Butterfly")
- 2004 ·The Life and Death of Peter Sellersas Blake Edwards
- 2004 ·Kinseyas Alfred Seguine Kinsey
- 2002 ·Buckaroo Banzai Declassifiedas Self
- 2001 ·Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Partyas Lord Farquaad (singing voice)
- 2000 ·Don Quixoteas Don Quixote de La Mancha / Alonso Quixano
- 1998 ·Homegrownas Malcolm / Robert Stockman
- 1998 ·Johnny Skidmarksas Sergeant Larry Skovik
- 1996 ·Hollow Pointas Thomas Livingston
- 1994 ·Silent Fallas Dr. Rene Harlinger
- 1994 ·Princess Carabooas Professor Wilkinson
- 1994 ·A Good Man in Africaas Arthur Fanshawe, British High Commissioner
- 1993 ·Love, Cheat & Stealas Paul Harrington
- 1992 ·Raising Cainas Carter Nix / Cain / Dr. Nix / Josh / Margo
- 1991 ·At Play in the Fields of the Lordas Leslie Huben
- 1991 ·Ricochetas Earl Talbott Blake
- 1990 ·Memphis Belleas Bruce Derringer
- 1990 ·Ivory Huntersas Robert Carter
- 1990 ·Night of 100 Stars IIIas Self
- 1989 ·Out Coldas Dave
- 1988 ·Distant Thunderas Mark Lambert
- 1987 ·Harry and the Hendersonsas George Henderson
- 1986 ·The Manhattan Projectas John Mathewson
- 1986 ·Resting Placeas Maj. Kendall Laird
- 1985 ·Mesmerizedas Oliver Thompson
- 1985 ·Santa Claus: The Movieas B.Z.
- 1984 ·The Glitter Domeas Sgt. Marty Wellborn
- 1984 ·The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimensionas Lord John Whorfin
- 1982 ·The World According to Garpas Roberta Muldoon
- 1982 ·I'm Dancing as Fast as I Canas Mr. Brunner
- 1979 ·All That Jazzas Lucas Sergeant
- 1979 ·Rich Kidsas Paul Philips
- 1978 ·The Big Fixas Sam Sebastian
- 1976 ·Obsessionas Robert Lasalle
- Future ·Harry Potteras Albus Dumbledore
- 2024 ·Art Happens Here with John Lithgowas Self
- 2024 ·Cabrinias Mayor Gould
- 2023 ·Killers of the Flower Moonas Prosecutor Peter Leaward
- 2023 ·Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelledas Self
- 2023 ·Sharperas Richard Hobbes
- 2022 ·Chez Bobas
- 2022 ·Sherrias Self - Guest
- 2022 ·The Old Manas Harold Harper
- 2022 ·The Bubbleas Tom the Studio Chairman
- 2021 ·Dexter: New Bloodas Arthur Mitchell
- 2021 ·Ultra City Smithsas Ol' Gregory Timms
- 2021 ·Emily @ the Edge of Chaosas Sir Isaac Newton (voice)
- 2020 ·Give My Regards to Broadwayas Self
- 2018 ·Pet Sematary: The Tale of Timmy Batermanas Jud Crandall
- 2015 ·Best of Enemiesas Self
- 2007 ·ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadwayas Self
- 1994 ·Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effectsas Self
- Future ·Amazing Stories: The Movie IIas John Walters (archive footage)
- 2021 ·Myths and Hymnsas
- 2020 ·Perry Masonas Elias Birchard 'E.B.' Jonathan
- 2020 ·Stars in the Houseas Self - Special Guest
- 2019 ·Bombshellas Roger Ailes
- 2019 ·The Kelly Clarkson Showas Self
- 2019 ·The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Actsas President Donald J. Trump
- 2019 ·Pet Semataryas Jud Crandall
- 2019 ·Late Nightas Walter Lovell
- 2018 ·Firing Line with Margaret Hooveras
- 2018 ·James Cameron's Story of Science Fictionas Self
- 2018 ·The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Canceras Self - Guest
- 2017 ·Pitch Perfect 3as Fergus
- 2017 ·Daddy's Home 2as Don
- 2017 ·The Pulitzer At 100as Self
- 2017 ·Trial & Erroras Larry Henderson
- 2017 ·Hickory Dickory Docas Himself
- 2017 ·They All Saw a Catas
- 2016 ·Miss Sloaneas Senator Ronald Sperling
- 2016 ·The Crownas Winston Churchill
- 2016 ·The Accountantas Lamar Blackburn
- 2016 ·Ode to Joy: Beethoven's Symphony No. 9as Narrator
- 2015 ·The Late Show with Stephen Colbertas Self - Guest
- 2015 ·The Late Show with Stephen Colbertas
- 2015 ·The Late Show with Stephen Colbertas Self
- 2015 ·Close Up with The Hollywood Reporteras Self
- 2015 ·Lord Johnas
- 2015 ·Projections of Americaas Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2014 ·Variety Studio: Actors on Actorsas Self
- 2014 ·Interstellaras Donald
- 2014 ·The Roosevelts: An Intimate Historyas James Roosevelt (voice)
- 2014 ·The Homesmanas Reverend Alfred Dowd
- 2014 ·Late Night with Seth Meyersas Self
- 2014 ·The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonas Self
- 2014 ·The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonas
- 2013 ·Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Loveas Self
- 2013 ·Once Upon a Time in Wonderlandas The White Rabbit (voice)
- 2013 ·National Theatre Live: The Magistrateas Posket
- 2012 ·This Is 40as Oliver
- 2012 ·The Campaignas Glen Motch
- 2012 ·Finding Your Rootsas Self
- 2011 ·New Year's Eveas Jonathan Cox (uncredited)
- 2011 ·Prohibitionas Reader / H.L. Mencken (voice)
- 2011 ·Rise of the Planet of the Apesas Charles Rodman
- 2010 ·Conanas Self
- 2010 ·Leap Yearas Jack Brady
- 2009 ·Miracle in a Box: A Piano Rebornas Narrator
- 2009 ·Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - Guest
- 2009 ·The Macabre World of Lavender Williamsas God
- 2009 ·Confessions of a Shopaholicas Edgar West
- 2008 ·Car of the Futureas Narrator
- 2007 ·The Graham Norton Showas Self
- 2006 ·Dreamgirlsas Jerry Harris
- 2006 ·30 Rockas John Lithgow
- 2006 ·Dexteras Arthur Mitchell
- 2006 ·The Great Robot Race: The DARPA Grand Challengeas Narrator
- 2006 ·Sangreas Cafe chef and owner
- 2005 ·The Colbert Reportas
- 2005 ·Einstein's Big Ideaas Narrator (voice) U.S. edition
- 2005 ·The Apprentice: Martha Stewartas
- 2005 ·How I Met Your Motheras Jerry Whittaker
- 2004 ·The Tony Danza Showas Self
- 2004 ·Dogs and More Dogsas Narrator
- 2003 ·VH1 Goes Insideas
- 2003 ·The Ghost of Lord Farquaadas Ghost of Farquaad (voice)
- 2003 ·Bark, Georgeas
- 2002 ·E! Live from the Red Carpetas Self
- 2002 ·Orange Countyas Bud Brumder
- 2001 ·Shrekas Lord Farquaad (voice)
- 2000 ·Rugrats in Paris: The Movieas Jean-Claude (voice)
- 2000 ·95 Worlds and Countingas Narrator
- 1999 ·The Early Showas Self
- 1999 ·Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collectionas Dr. Oscar Charles
- 1998 ·A Civil Actionas Judge Walter J. Skinner
- 1997 ·The Viewas Self
- 1997 ·The Viewas Self - Guest
- 1997 ·Officer Buckle and Gloriaas Narrator (voice)
- 1996 ·Cosbyas John Lithgow
- 1996 ·The Westas Self
- 1996 ·The Westas Self / Uriah Oblinger (voice)
- 1996 ·The Daily Showas Self
- 1996 ·Special Effects: Anything Can Happenas Narrator
- 1996 ·The Rosie O'Donnell Showas Self - Guest
- 1996 ·3rd Rock from the Sunas Dick Solomon
- 1995 ·The Tuskegee Airmenas Senator Conyers
- 1995 ·My Brother's Keeperas Tom Bradley / Bob Bradley
- 1995 ·American Cinemaas Narrator
- 1995 ·Redwood Curtainas Laird Riordan
- 1994 ·World War II: When Lions Roaredas Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- 1994 ·American Cinemaas
- 1993 ·The Country Mouse & the City Mouse: A Christmas Taleas Alexander (voice)
- 1993 ·The Pelican Briefas Smith Keen
- 1993 ·Frasieras Madman Martinez (voice)
- 1993 ·Late Night with Conan O'Brienas Self - Guest
- 1993 ·The Wrong Manas Phillip Mills
- 1993 ·Cliffhangeras Eric Qualen
- 1993 ·Sylvester and the Magic Pebbleas Narrator
- 1991 ·The Boysas Artie Margulies
- 1990 ·John Lithgow's Kid-Sized Concertas
- 1989 ·The Simpsonsas Gus (voice)
- 1989 ·The Simpsonsas John Lithgow (voice)
- 1989 ·Traveling Manas Ben Cluett
- 1989 ·Tales from the Cryptas Dr. Oscar Charles
- 1987 ·The Amazing Boneas Narrator
- 1987 ·Baby Girl Scottas Neil Scott
- 1985 ·Santa Claus: The Making of the Movieas Self
- 1985 ·Amazing Storiesas John Walters
- 1984 ·2010as Dr. Walter Curnow
- 1984 ·Footlooseas Rev. Shaw Moore
- 1984 ·Goldilocks and the Three Bearsas Goldilocks' Father
- 1984 ·2010 : The Odyssey Continuesas Himself
- 1983 ·Terms of Endearmentas Sam Burns
- 1983 ·The Day Afteras Joe Huxley
- 1983 ·Twilight Zone: The Movieas Valentine
- 1982 ·Not in Front of the Childrenas Richard Carruthers
- 1982 ·Faerie Tale Theatreas Goldilocks' Father
- 1981 ·Blow Outas Burke
- 1980 ·Big Blondeas Herbie Morse
- 1980 ·Mom, the Wolfman and Meas Wally
- 1980 ·The Oldest Living Graduateas Clarence
- 1977 ·Secret Serviceas Capt. Thorne
- 1975 ·Saturday Night Liveas Self - Host
- 1974 ·NOVAas Narrator
- 1974 ·The Country Girlas Paul Unger
- 1972 ·Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Bluesas John
- 1971 ·Great Performancesas Capt. Thorne
- 1956 ·Tony Awardsas Self - Presenter
- 1956 ·Tony Awardsas Self - Nominee & Performer
- 1956 ·Tony Awardsas Self - Winner
- 1956 ·Tony Awardsas Self - Nominee
- 1956 ·Tony Awardsas Self - Nominee/Performer
- 1953 ·The Oscarsas Self - Presenter
- 1952 ·Todayas Self
- 1951 ·Hallmark Hall of Fameas Paul Unger
- 1951 ·Hallmark Hall of Fameas Major Kendall Laird
- 1951 ·Hallmark Hall of Fameas Laird Riordan
- 1944 ·Golden Globe Awardsas Self - Nominee
- 1944 ·Golden Globe Awardsas Self - Presenter
- 1944 ·Golden Globe Awardsas Self - Winner