person image

John Lithgow

Born: 1945

Biography

John Arthur Lithgow (born October 19, 1945) is an American actor. Prolific in films, television and on stage, Lithgow is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards, six Primetime Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Tony Awards and nominations for two Academy Awards and four Grammy Awards. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame and has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lithgow studied at Harvard University winning a Fulbright scholarship and getting a chance to attend the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. From there he focused his training on the New York stage beginning a distinguished career on Broadway. In 1973, Lithgow received his first Tony Award for his performance in The Changing Room. In 1976 Lithgow acted alongside Meryl Streep in three plays 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, A Memory of Two Mondays and Secret Service. In the 1980s he continued to receive Tony Awards nominations for his performances in Requiem for a Heavyweight (1985) and M. Butterfly (1988). In 2002, Lithgow received his second Tony Award, this time for a musical, The Sweet Smell of Success and another nomination for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005). In 2007, he made his Royal Shakespeare Company debut as Malvolio in Neil Bartlett's production of Twelfth Night. He has also appeared on Broadway in the acclaimed plays The Columnist (2012) and A Delicate Balance (2014). He portrayed Bill Clinton in Hillary and Clinton (2019) alongside Laurie Metcalf as Hillary Clinton. Lithgow is also known for his television roles such as Dick Solomon in the 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) and he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama. In 2004, Lithgow played Blake Edwards in the HBO television movie, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. He has also appeared on 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, Louie and Drunk History. Lithgow won great acclaim for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Peter Morgan's historical drama The Crown (2016–2019) on Netflix. For acting in The Crown he won a Primetime Emmy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2020, he had a recurring role on the HBO period series Perry Mason. He is also well known for his film roles. His early screen roles included Bob Fosse's All That Jazz (1979) and Brian De Palma's Blow Out (1981). He received his first Academy Award nomination for his breakout performance in The World According to Garp (1982) and received a second Academy Award nomination for Terms of Endearment (1983). He then starred in the films Footloose (1984), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), The Pelican Brief and Cliffhanger (1993), A Civil Action (1998), Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000), Shrek (2001), Kinsey (2004), Dreamgirls (2006), Love Is Strange (2014), Miss Sloane (2016) and Beatriz at Dinner (2017). In 2019 he appeared in Mindy Kaling's comedy Late Night and portrayed Roger Ailes in Bombshell. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Lithgow, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For Acting
Gender Male
Place of Birth Rochester, New York, USA

Resources

Movies

Shrek

Lord Farquaad (voice) in Shrek

Footloose

Rev. Shaw Moore in Footloose

Sharper

Richard Hobbes in Sharper

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

Blake Edwards in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Edgar West in Confessions of a Shopaholic

2010

Dr. Walter Curnow in 2010

Obsession

Robert Lasalle in Obsession

The Manhattan Project

John Mathewson in The Manhattan Project

Terms of Endearment

Sam Burns in Terms of Endearment

Kinsey

Alfred Seguine Kinsey in Kinsey

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

Lord John Whorfin in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

The World According to Garp

Roberta Muldoon in The World According to Garp

Blow Out

Burke in Blow Out

The Day After

Joe Huxley in The Day After

The Tuskegee Airmen

Senator Conyers in The Tuskegee Airmen

Give My Regards to Broadway

Self in Give My Regards to Broadway

Leap Year

Jack Brady in Leap Year

The Ghost of Lord Farquaad

Ghost of Farquaad (voice) in The Ghost of Lord Farquaad

Harry and the Hendersons

George Henderson in Harry and the Hendersons

A Civil Action

Judge Walter J. Skinner in A Civil Action

Ricochet

Earl Talbott Blake in Ricochet

Bark, George

in Bark, George

The Pelican Brief

Smith Keen in The Pelican Brief

Cliffhanger

Eric Qualen in Cliffhanger

Santa Claus: The Movie

B.Z. in Santa Claus: The Movie

A Good Man in Africa

Arthur Fanshawe, British High Commissioner in A Good Man in Africa

Inside 'Interstellar'

Self in Inside 'Interstellar'

Raising Cain

Carter Nix / Cain / Dr. Nix / Josh / Margo in Raising Cain

The Big Fix

Sam Sebastian in The Big Fix

The Wrong Man

Phillip Mills in The Wrong Man

Dogs and More Dogs

Narrator in Dogs and More Dogs

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes

Philip Drummond in Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes

Officer Buckle and Gloria

Narrator (voice) in Officer Buckle and Gloria

Princess Caraboo

Professor Wilkinson in Princess Caraboo

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie

Jean-Claude (voice) in Rugrats in Paris: The Movie

All That Jazz

Lucas Sergeant in All That Jazz

Homegrown

Malcolm / Robert Stockman in Homegrown

Silent Fall

Dr. Rene Harlinger in Silent Fall

They All Saw a Cat

in They All Saw a Cat

Casting By

Self in Casting By

At Play in the Fields of the Lord

Leslie Huben in At Play in the Fields of the Lord

Resting Place

Maj. Kendall Laird in Resting Place

Mesmerized

Oliver Thompson in Mesmerized

Love, Cheat & Steal

Paul Harrington in Love, Cheat & Steal

Hollow Point

Thomas Livingston in Hollow Point

Rich Kids

Paul Philips in Rich Kids

Projections of America

Self - Narrator (voice) in Projections of America

The Campaign

Glen Motch in The Campaign

This Is 40

Oliver in This Is 40

Out Cold

Dave in Out Cold

Chez Bob

in Chez Bob

Car of the Future

Narrator in Car of the Future

The Bubble

Tom the Studio Chairman in The Bubble

Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues

John in Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues

Redwood Curtain

Laird Riordan in Redwood Curtain

Interstellar

Donald in Interstellar

95 Worlds and Counting

Narrator in 95 Worlds and Counting

Don Quixote

Don Quixote de La Mancha / Alonso Quixano in Don Quixote

Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love

Himself in Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love

Conclave

Cardinal Tremblay in Conclave

Distant Thunder

Mark Lambert in Distant Thunder

Cabrini

Mayor Gould in Cabrini

Baby Girl Scott

Neil Scott in Baby Girl Scott

Love Is Strange

Ben in Love Is Strange

Special Effects: Anything Can Happen

Narrator in Special Effects: Anything Can Happen

National Theatre Live: The Magistrate

Posket in National Theatre Live: The Magistrate

Orange County

Bud Brumder in Orange County

Spellbound

Minister Bolinar (voice) in Spellbound

Disclosure

Self (archive footage) in Disclosure

My Brother's Keeper

Tom Bradley / Bob Bradley in My Brother's Keeper

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Charles Rodman in Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Twilight Zone: The Movie

Valentine in Twilight Zone: The Movie

Memphis Belle

Bruce Derringer in Memphis Belle

The Rule of Jenny Pen

in The Rule of Jenny Pen

Ivory Hunters

Robert Carter in Ivory Hunters

The Homesman

Reverend Alfred Dowd in The Homesman

Sangre

Cafe chef and owner in Sangre

Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic

Self in Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic

Night of 100 Stars III

Self in Night of 100 Stars III

Johnny Skidmarks

Sergeant Larry Skovik in Johnny Skidmarks

Art Happens Here with John Lithgow

Self in Art Happens Here with John Lithgow

The Accountant

Lamar Blackburn in The Accountant

Miracle in a Box: A Piano Reborn

Narrator in Miracle in a Box: A Piano Reborn

The Jungle Bunch 2: The Great Treasure Quest

Maurice (voice) in The Jungle Bunch 2: The Great Treasure Quest

Lord John

in Lord John

9 Kisses

Man in Club in 9 Kisses

Dreamgirls

Jerry Harris in Dreamgirls

Broadway: The Next Generation

Self in Broadway: The Next Generation

Best of Enemies

Self in Best of Enemies

Shrek Stories

Lord Farquaad (voice) in Shrek Stories

Timms Valley

Ol' Gregory Timms in Timms Valley

The Oldest Living Graduate

Clarence in The Oldest Living Graduate

The Glitter Dome

Sgt. Marty Wellborn in The Glitter Dome

Jimpa

Jimpa in Jimpa

I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can

Mr. Brunner in I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can

Ode to Joy: Beethoven's Symphony No. 9

Narrator in Ode to Joy: Beethoven's Symphony No. 9

Miss Sloane

Senator Ronald Sperling in Miss Sloane

Amazing Stories: The Movie II

John Walters (archive footage) in Amazing Stories: The Movie II

Shakespeare Live! From the RSC

Self - Performer in Shakespeare Live! From the RSC

Beatriz at Dinner

Doug Strutt in Beatriz at Dinner

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Goldilocks' Father in Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Daddy's Home 2

Don in Daddy's Home 2

Einstein's Big Idea

Narrator (voice) U.S. edition in Einstein's Big Idea

Buckaroo Banzai Declassified

Self in Buckaroo Banzai Declassified

ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway

Self in ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway

Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party

Lord Farquaad (singing voice) in Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party

The Pulitzer At 100

Self in The Pulitzer At 100

Pitch Perfect 3

Fergus in Pitch Perfect 3

Secret Service

Capt. Thorne in Secret Service

Mister Rogers: It's You I Like

Self in Mister Rogers: It's You I Like

Late Night

Walter Lovell in Late Night

Pet Sematary

Jud Crandall in Pet Sematary

Traveling Man

Ben Cluett in Traveling Man

The Great Robot Race: The DARPA Grand Challenge

Narrator in The Great Robot Race: The DARPA Grand Challenge

Bombshell

Roger Ailes in Bombshell

The Amazing Bone

Narrator in The Amazing Bone

Hickory Dickory Doc

Himself in Hickory Dickory Doc

Not in Front of the Children

Richard Carruthers in Not in Front of the Children

The Tomorrow Man

Ed Hemsler in The Tomorrow Man

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Narrator in Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

René Gallimard (segment "M. Butterfly") in The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

Santa Claus: The Making of the Movie

Self in Santa Claus: The Making of the Movie

The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts

President Donald J. Trump in The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts

Big Blonde

Herbie Morse in Big Blonde

The Boys

in The Boys

New Year's Eve

Jonathan Cox (uncredited) in New Year's Eve

John Lithgow's Kid-Sized Concert

in John Lithgow's Kid-Sized Concert

Shrek: Once Upon a Time

Self in Shrek: Once Upon a Time

The Macabre World of Lavender Williams

God in The Macabre World of Lavender Williams

Mom, the Wolfman and Me

Wally in Mom, the Wolfman and Me

Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection

Dr. Oscar Charles in Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection

The Country Mouse & the City Mouse: A Christmas Tale

Alexander (voice) in The Country Mouse & the City Mouse: A Christmas Tale

American Cinema

Narrator in American Cinema

Myths and Hymns

in Myths and Hymns

The Country Girl

Paul Unger in The Country Girl

Emily @ the Edge of Chaos

Sir Isaac Newton (voice) in Emily @ the Edge of Chaos

Pet Sematary: The Tale of Timmy Baterman

Jud Crandall in Pet Sematary: The Tale of Timmy Baterman

Killers of the Flower Moon

Prosecutor Peter Leaward in Killers of the Flower Moon

On Broadway

Self in On Broadway

TV Shows

3rd Rock from the Sun

Dick Solomon in 3rd Rock from the Sun

How I Met Your Mother

Jerry Whittaker in How I Met Your Mother

The Tony Danza Show

Self in The Tony Danza Show

Twenty Good Years

in Twenty Good Years

Today

Self in Today

Tales from the Crypt

Dr. Oscar Charles in Tales from the Crypt

The View

Self in The View

Frasier

Madman Martinez (voice) in Frasier

The Apprentice: Martha Stewart

in The Apprentice: Martha Stewart

The Early Show

Self in The Early Show

Finding Your Roots

Self in Finding Your Roots

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer

Self - Guest in The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer

Faerie Tale Theatre

Goldilocks' Father in Faerie Tale Theatre

30 Rock

John Lithgow in 30 Rock

The Colbert Report

in The Colbert Report

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Paul Unger in Hallmark Hall of Fame

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Self - Guest in Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Cosby

John Lithgow in Cosby

VH1 Goes Inside

in VH1 Goes Inside

The West

Self in The West

American Cinema

in American Cinema

Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

The White Rabbit (voice) in Once Upon a Time in Wonderland

Dexter

Arthur Mitchell in Dexter

E! Live from the Red Carpet

Self in E! Live from the Red Carpet

NOVA

Narrator in NOVA

The Daily Show

Self in The Daily Show

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Self - Guest in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Tony Awards

Self - Presenter in Tony Awards

The View

Self - Guest in The View

Amazing Stories

John Walters in Amazing Stories

Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled

Self in Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Self in Late Night with Seth Meyers

Tony Awards

Self - Nominee & Performer in Tony Awards

Saturday Night Live

Self - Host in Saturday Night Live

Tony Awards

Self - Winner in Tony Awards

Dexter: New Blood

Arthur Mitchell in Dexter: New Blood

The Crown

Winston Churchill in The Crown

World War II: When Lions Roared

Franklin Delano Roosevelt in World War II: When Lions Roared

Trial & Error

Larry Henderson in Trial & Error

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Self in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Roosevelts: An Intimate History

James Roosevelt (voice) in The Roosevelts: An Intimate History

The Simpsons

Gus (voice) in The Simpsons

The Graham Norton Show

Self in The Graham Norton Show

Sherri

Self - Guest in Sherri

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Self in Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Major Kendall Laird in Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Laird Riordan in Hallmark Hall of Fame

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

Self - Guest in The Rosie O'Donnell Show

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Self - Guest in Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Perry Mason

Elias Birchard 'E.B.' Jonathan in Perry Mason

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The West

Self / Uriah Oblinger (voice) in The West

Ultra City Smiths

Ol' Gregory Timms in Ultra City Smiths

James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction

Self in James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Self in The Kelly Clarkson Show

Stars in the House

Self - Special Guest in Stars in the House

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

Self in Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

in Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Prohibition

Reader / H.L. Mencken (voice) in Prohibition

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Self in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Simpsons

John Lithgow (voice) in The Simpsons

Great Performances

Capt. Thorne in Great Performances

The Old Man

Harold Harper in The Old Man

Conan

Self in Conan