John Lithgow is an American actor, author, and musician with a career spanning over five decades. Born on October 19, 1945, in Rochester, New York, he is the son of Sarah Jane (Price), an actress, and Arthur Washington Lithgow III, a theatrical producer and director.
Career Highlights:
- Television: Lithgow gained prominence for his role as Dick Solomon in the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001), earning three Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He also portrayed Winston Churchill in Netflix’s The Crown (2016–2019), winning another Emmy for his performance.
- Film: His film career includes notable performances in The World According to Garp (1982) and Terms of Endearment (1983), both earning him Academy Award nominations. Other significant films include Footloose (1984), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), Shrek (2001), Interstellar (2014), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
- Theater: Lithgow has a distinguished stage presence, with two Tony Awards for Best Featured Actor in a Play for The Changing Room (1972) and Best Actor in a Musical for Sweet Smell of Success (2002). He also portrayed Roald Dahl in the play Giant at London’s Royal Court Theatre in 2024, earning a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
Upcoming Projects:
- Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter Series: Lithgow is set to play Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s forthcoming Harry Potter television series. He expressed confidence in the role, stating it wouldn’t be “that hard a job,” and is currently reading the books to prepare.
- Personal Life: Married to UCLA professor Mary Yeager since 1981, Lithgow describes their partnership as an “unlikely couple” due to their differing careers in entertainment and academia. They have two children together.
For more information on John Lithgow’s work and upcoming projects, you can visit his official website.