John Lithgow
Birth Place: Rochester, NY
Latest News on John Lithgow:
BIO
JOHN LITHGOW has long been regarded as one of America's most distinguished performers. He has made an indelible impression on audiences with his work in film, television and the theater, receiving two Tonys, six Emmys, two Golden Globes, four SAG Awards and two Oscar nominations. Lithgow has appeared in a long list of critically acclaimed films, as far back as The World According to Garp and as recent as Conclave. He most recently starred in The Rule of Jenny Pen with Geoffrey Rush, and in the title role of JIMPA with Olivia Colman, which debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Lithgow has starred in the hit TV shows “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Dexter,” “The Crown,” and the recent “The Old Man” on FX. On stage, he has appeared on Broadway twenty-five times, including award-winning appearances in “The Changing Room,” “M. Butterfly,” “Requiem for a Heavyweight,” and the musicals “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “The Sweet Smell of Success.” Upcoming, Lithgow will be seen as ‘Dumbledore’ in the “Harry Potter” series for HBO. In November, Lithgow concluded a sold-out run of “Giant” at London’s Royal Court Theatre, where he starred as Roald Dahl. The production then transferred to the Harold Pinter Theatre on the West End for a limited run in Spring 2025. Lithgow won an Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance, with “Giant” also earning the award for Best New Play. For children, Lithgow has written several best-selling children’s picture books for Simon & Schuster. His recordings for kids have landed him four Grammy nominations , and he has appeared with a dozen major American orchestras in children’s concerts that feature many of his own songs. He wrote the narration for the New York City Ballet’s “Carnival of the Animals” in 2003 and danced the role of The Elephant. In 2011, a warm reception greeted Lithgow’s memoir “Drama: An Actor’s Education,” published by Harper Collins. Since 2019, he has written and illustrated the “Dumpty Trilogy,” three books of political satire from Chronicle Prism which achieved the remarkable feat of landing Lithgow on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list for three consecutive years. Mr. Lithgow recently completed his term as co-chair of the Commission on the Arts of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, producing authoritative reports on America’s creative workforce and arts in education. The Commission’s deliberations also spawned Art Happens Here, a PBS documentary which highlights the importance of all the arts in the lives of young people.
Photos
STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
Awards and Nominations
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John Lithgow, Giant
John Lithgow, Giant
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John Lithgow, Giant
John Lithgow, John Lithgow: Stories by Heart
John Lithgow, The Columnist
John Lithgow, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
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John LithgowMrs. Farnsworth
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John Lithgow, Sweet Smell of Success
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John Lithgow , Sweet Smell of Success
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John Lithgow, Sweet Smell of Success
John LithgowM. Butterfly
John Lithgow, M Butterfly
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John Lithgow, M. Butterfly
John Lithgow, M. Butterfly
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John Lithgow, Requiem for a Heavyweight
John Lithgow, Requiem for a Heavyweight
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John Lithgow, The Changing Room
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John Lithgow, The Changing Room
Videos
Video: John Lithgow Reacts to Tony Win- 'It Feels Like a Real Pinnacle'
by Talking Tonys - 2026-06-07 21:30:08
Video: John Lithgow Is Happy to Be the Old Man of Broadway- 'I Love the Job!'
by Luka Vonier - 2026-05-25 12:00:20
Video: HARRY POTTER Special Will Go Behind the Scenes of HBO Series with John Lithgow, Janet McTeer & More
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-02 10:39:11
Video/Photos: See John Lithgow, Janet McTeer & More in Teaser for HARRY POTTER Series
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-03-25 15:25:29
Video: John Lithgow Talks Roald Dahl and Bringing GIANT to Broadway
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-03-10 10:44:37
Video: Phillip Johnson Richardson Sings Acoustic 'Gramercy Park' from HELL'S KITCHEN
by Michael Major - 2025-06-20 11:12:50
Video: Kevin Bacon Visits FOOTLOOSE High School Prior to Demolition
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-04-21 09:54:48
VIDEO: Katie Holmes & Alan Cumming Star in RARE OBEJCTS Film Trailer
by Michael Major - 2023-02-23 13:16:21
VIDEO: Stephen Colbert Pays Tribute to Frank Galati on THE LATE SHOW
by Stephi Wild - 2023-01-06 08:12:03
VIDEO: TODAY Goes Behind the Scenes of MURDER IN STUDIO ONE Off-Broadway
by Michael Major - 2022-05-18 14:27:37
VIDEO: Krysta Rodriguez Sings and Signs from SPRING AWAKENING
by Taylor Brethauer-Hamling - 2021-11-07 15:51:06
VIDEO: Krysta Rodriguez Visits Backstage with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - 2021-11-05 13:30:20
VIDEO: THE CROWN's Josh O'Connor and Emma Corrin Discuss How They Met, Other Roles They'd Like to Play, and More!
by Stephi Wild - 2020-11-22 19:14:23
VIDEO: The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp Holds Virtual Benefit Gala Featuring Jonathan Groff, Carole King, and More!
by Stephi Wild - 2020-09-19 09:33:33
News
by Sidney Paterra - Jun 28, 2026
Broadway says goodbye to three productions. Death Becomes Her takes its final bow at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre following 27 previews and 666 regular performances; Giant concludes its limited run at the Music Box Theatre after 12 previews and 105 regular performances; and The Fear of 13 concludes its run at the James Earl Jones Theatre after 28 previews and 87 regular performances. The theatres will soon be home to Warriors, Inter Alia and Wanted respectively.
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 16, 2026
Jason Graae will reprise IT'S A GRAAE NIGHT FOR SINGING! at 54 Below in New York City, following sold-out performances in Los Angeles and an earlier NYC run. Gerald Sternbach serves as musical director.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 15, 2026
The F.M. Kirby Carriage House at Paper Mill Playhouse has unveiled its inaugural Summer Entertainment Series, introducing Broadway and cabaret artists Evan Tyrone Martin and Annie Hägg.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 8, 2026
AFLAMDA Studio will present an industry reading of squirt guns and tonka trucks, a new play by John Selby, launching its Reading Room series at A.R.T./NY Studios, featuring an all-LAMDA alumni cast.
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 8, 2026
Last night saw the 79th Annual Tony Awards, celebrating the incredible theater work seen on Broadway this past year. Take a look inside the CBS and Pluto TV broadcasts below, including presenters, performances, and acceptance speeches from shows like The Lost Boys, Schmigadoon!, Ragtime, Titaníque, and more.
by Alex Freeman - Jun 8, 2026
Following the 79th Annual Tony Awards, this coverage examines the immediate impact of Broadway's biggest night, including data-driven insights into post-ceremony ticket sales and a recap of key event moments. Outside New York, the industry continues to navigate significant organizational shifts, featuring new leadership appointments at the Berkeley and Nottingham Playhouses and strategic developments at the Kennedy Center and Norwich Theatre, alongside reports of major financial milestones at Hartford Stage and the Overture Center.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 8, 2026
The 79th Annual Tony Awards recently took place at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by music superstar and global icon P!NK, and broadcast live. Check out our roundup of speeches from the evening in the videos here!
by Emilia Ruiz de Somocurcio - Jun 8, 2026
La ceremonia de este 7 de junio concluye con un empate entre LOST BOYS, RAGTIME y SCHIGADOON! con cuatro premios cada uno
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 7, 2026
For his performance as Roald Dahl in Giant, John Lithgow has broken records with his third Tony Award, making him the oldest man to ever receive an award in an acting category.
by Talking Tonys - Jun 7, 2026
John Lithgow took home a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for GIANT. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, he checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share his initial reaction! Watch in this video.
by - Jun 8, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is June 8, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the Tony Awards fun you may have missed while watching the show!
by Bruce Glikas - Jun 7, 2026
Yesterday they were just nominees, but now... they're winners! BroadwayWorld is backstage at Radio City Music Hall for the 79th Annual Tony Awards and we've got photos of all the evening's winners.
by Bruce Glikas - Jun 7, 2026
The stars are aligning at Rockefeller Center! That's where the best of Broadway comes together today to walk the red carpet ahead of the 79th Annual Tony Awards- the biggest celebration in the American theatre. BroadwayWorld of course will be on hand at Radio City Music Hall all night to keep you up to speed on what's going on onstage, backstage, and behind the scenes!
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2026
Something's coming! The best of Broadway will take the stage Sunday night at Radio City Music Hall for the 79th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by P!nk. Need a refresher on how to watch and when? We've got you covered!
by Stephi Wild - Jun 3, 2026
Red Bull Theater honored John Lithgow with the Matador Award for Achievement in Classical Theater, and Joanna Cole with the George Mayer Award for Extraordinary Service to Classical Theater. Check out photos!
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2026
The best of Broadway takes the stage tonight at Radio City Music Hall for the 79th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by P!nk. Stay tuned all night ling for updates from inside the ceremony.
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2026
The 79th Annual Tony Awards have come and gone! As winners took the stage at the big event, BroadwayWorld brought you full text of all of the acceptance speeches; from the emotional to the humorous, and everything in between.
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 2, 2026
The 80th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony will be held today, June 2, 2026 at 2pm at The Longacre Theatre. Watch highlights from the red carpet in this video.
by Team BWW - Jun 2, 2026
This is the final chance to vote for the 2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards. The Theater Fans' Choice Awards honor and celebrate the best of New York Theater - as decided by the most important critics, the audience at large - allowing YOU to have your say during the most exciting time of the year for the theater community.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 1, 2026
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics kicked off Pride Month by bestowing Prince Faggot and Ragtime top honors in the group’s fourth annual Dorian Theater Awards.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
John Lithgow has appeared on Broadway in 25 shows.
John Lithgow has appeared on London's West End in 3 shows.
John Lithgow's first West End show was The Magistrate which opened in 2012
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Giant, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Giant, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Giant, Outstanding Solo Performance (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for John Lithgow: Stories by Heart, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Columnist, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Outstanding Featured Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Mrs. Farnsworth, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Sweet Smell of Success, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Sweet Smell of Success , Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Sweet Smell of Success, Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for M. Butterfly, Outstanding Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for M Butterfly, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for M. Butterfly, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for M. Butterfly, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Requiem for a Heavyweight, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Requiem for a Heavyweight, Outstanding Performance (Drama Desk Awards) for The Changing Room and Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Changing Room.
John Lithgow has received several prestigious awards throughout his career. He won the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for Giant, and also took home the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for Giant. He was honored with the Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for Mrs. Farnsworth and received the Outstanding Actor in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for Sweet Smell of Success. Additionally, he won the Outstanding Actor in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Sweet Smell of Success and the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for the same show. He was also recognized with the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for M. Butterfly, the Outstanding Actor in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards for Requiem for a Heavyweight, and the Outstanding Performance at the Drama Desk Awards for The Changing Room.
John Lithgow has written 1 shows including John Lithgow: Stories By Heart (Playwright).
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