John Lithgow

John Lithgow
Name	John Lithgow
Caption	Lithgow in 2019
Birth date	19 October 1945
Birth place	Rochester, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Harvard University, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actor, author, musician, poet
Spouse	Jean Taynton (m. 1966; div. 1980), Mary Yeager (m. 1981)
Children	3, including Ian Lithgow

John Lithgow is an acclaimed American actor, author, and musician whose versatile career spans over five decades across stage, film, and television. Renowned for his chameleonic ability to portray a wide range of characters, from sinister villains to beloved paternal figures, he has become a fixture in American popular culture. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including six Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards, alongside nominations for two Academy Awards and four Grammy Awards.

Early life and education

John Arthur Lithgow was born in Rochester, New York, to Sarah Jane, a retired actress, and Arthur Washington Lithgow III, a theatrical producer and director who founded the Great Lakes Theater festival in Cleveland. His upbringing was steeped in the arts, with early exposure to Shakespeare and classic theater through his father's work. He attended high school in Princeton, New Jersey, before enrolling at Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1967 with a degree in history and literature. Following his undergraduate studies, he received a Fulbright Program scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, which solidified his classical training.

Career

Lithgow's professional career began on the stage, with early success in The Public Theater's production of The Changing Room, which earned him his first Tony Award in 1973. His film breakthrough came with a supporting role in Brian De Palma's The Fury (1978), but it was his portrayal of a transgender former football player in Bob Fosse's All That Jazz (1979) that garnered wider attention. He received his first Academy Award nomination for his role as a troubled astronaut in Robert Altman's The World According to Garp (1982) and a second for his performance in Terms of Endearment (1983). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he became known for memorable villainous roles in films like Buckaroo Banzai, Ricochet, and Cliffhanger. His television career soared with his iconic portrayal of the alien Dick Solomon on the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, winning three Primetime Emmy Awards. He later earned critical praise for dramatic roles in series such as Dexter, The Crown, and Perry Mason.

Personal life

Lithgow has been married to professor Mary Yeager since 1981, following his first marriage to Jean Taynton. He has three children: actor Ian Lithgow, and two from his second marriage. A dedicated author, he has written several bestselling children's books, including The Remarkable Farkle McBride and I'm a Manatee. He is also an accomplished musician and vocalist, having performed with the Boston Pops and released a children's album, Singin' in the Bathtub. Lithgow is a vocal advocate for arts education and has served on the board of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and as a narrator for the New York Philharmonic.

Filmography

Lithgow's extensive film career includes notable performances in a diverse array of genres. Key films include his early work in Obsession (1976), his Academy Award-nominated turns in the 1980s, and later roles in Harry and the Hendersons, The Pelican Brief, Shrek as the voice of Lord Farquaad, Kinsey, Love Is Strange, and Bombshell. His television film work includes acclaimed performances in The Day After and Don Quixote.

Stage work

A stalwart of the theater, Lithgow has had a distinguished career on Broadway and beyond. After his early Tony win, he starred in productions such as Requiem for a Heavyweight, M. Butterfly, and The Retreat from Moscow. He won his second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005). Other notable stage credits include The Columnist, A Delicate Balance, and a celebrated one-man show, Stories by Heart, which he performed at Lincoln Center Theater.

Awards and nominations

Throughout his career, Lithgow has received widespread recognition from major awarding bodies. His six Primetime Emmy Awards include wins for 3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter, and The Crown. His two Tony Awards honor his work in both drama and musical theater. He has also won two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards (for his spoken word and children's albums), and a Laurence Olivier Award.

Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:American male stage actors Category:Tony Award winners Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners