John Lithgow
Birth Place: Rochester, NY
The Many Roles of Laurie Metcalf on Stage and Screen (Apr 25, 2026)
2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominations- The Full List (Apr 21, 2026)
Soprano Erin Morley and Tenor Lawrence Brownlee Will Perform in GOLDEN AGE at 92NY (Apr 21, 2026)
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
John Lithgow, Giant
John Lithgow, John Lithgow: Stories by Heart
John Lithgow, The Columnist
John Lithgow, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
winner
John LithgowMrs. Farnsworth
winner
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
winner
John Lithgow, M. Butterfly
John Lithgow, M. Butterfly
winner
John Lithgow, Requiem for a Heavyweight
John Lithgow, Requiem for a Heavyweight
winner
John Lithgow, The Changing Room
winner
John Lithgow, The Changing Room
Videos
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: HARRY POTTER Teaser Unveils First Look at New HBO 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
VIDEO: Krysta Rodriguez Sings 'Good Kisser' By Lake Street Dive at Feinstein's/54 Below
by Stephi Wild - 2020-03-16 07:37:41
VIDEO: John Lithgow Talks Dissecting Roger Ailes' Personality on LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS
by Sarah Leiber - 2019-12-20 21:08:23
VIDEO: John Lithgow Talks About His BOMBSHELL Transformation on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON
by Sarah Leiber - 2019-12-18 20:14:18
News
by Stephi Wild - Apr 25, 2026
Laurie Metcalf is back on Broadway! The actress of stage and screen is back in New York, starring in Death of a Salesman. As Metcalf takes her next Broadway bow, we're looking back on some of her many iconic roles.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 21, 2026
Isa Briones and Sepideh Moafi hosted the live announcement of the 2026 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations. Check out the full list of nominations here!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 21, 2026
Soprano Erin Morley and tenor Lawrence Brownlee join pianist Malcolm Martineau at 92NY's Kaufmann Concert Hall for GOLDEN AGE, a bel canto recital tied to their new duo album.
by Genevieve Rafter Keddy - Apr 20, 2026
Honoring Broadway and Off-Broadway achievements, 2026 Drama League Awards Nominees were announced by Tony Award Winner Natalie Venetia Belcon and film, television, and stage star Corbin Bleu. See photos!
by Stephi Wild - Apr 20, 2026
The Drama League has announced the 2026 Drama League Awards Nominees, which include Chess, Heathers, Ragtime, The Rocky Horror Show, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Titanique, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), and more. Check out the full list here!
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 20, 2026
Tony Award Winner Natalie Venetia Belcon (Buena Vista Social Club) and film, television, and stage star Corbin Bleu (The Great Gatsby) will co-host the 2026 Drama League Awards Nominations announcement on Monday, April 20.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 15, 2026
Signature Theatre and Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts have revealed the headliners for the sixth annual musical theater collaboration, Broadway in the Park: Tituss Burgess and Heather Headley!
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Apr 12, 2026
Broadway has a long history of one-person shows, including many that have been added to the canon in this century. Seeing one actor powerfully create a whole world on stage can be an exceptional experience. Of course, one handers are hardly one-person projects; while there may only be one actor on stage, they are collaborating with an entire team of creatives, designers, and behind-the-scenes personnel to bring a show to life.
by Sidney Paterra - Apr 11, 2026
Beyond already-running hits like Six, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, and Operation Mincemeat, the 2025/26 Broadway season is already full of Olivier Award-winning (and nominated) productions, including...
by Jennifer Broski - Apr 5, 2026
The 2025/26 Broadway season is here at last, with many new productions set to arrive before the end of the season. If you don't live in New York City or frequent the Theater District, odds are you haven't seen Broadway's newest marquees! Check out what's up so far below.
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 2, 2026
HBO will debut a new behind-the-scenes special that chronicles the making of the upcoming Harry Potter television series. Watch the trailer for the new special now.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 1, 2026
Playwright Mark Rosenblatt, who wrote the play Giant that is now running on Broadway, has signed with CAA. Rosenblatt, a theater and film writer and director, won the Olivier Award for Giant when it had its premiere in the West End in 2024.
by - Mar 31, 2026
Grosses for all the Broadway shows for the week ending 3/29/2026.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 30, 2026
BroadwayWorld's March 2026 Debut of the Month interview features Rachael Stirling in Giant on Broadway. BroadwayWorld interviewed Stirling about bringing the play to Broadway, starring opposite John Lithgow and much more.
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 30, 2026
The first trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone marked the most-watched trailer in HBO and HBO Max history, exceeding the previous record by more than double.
by - Mar 26, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is March 26, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 25, 2026
Accio trailer! HBO Max has released the first teaser for the eight-episode first season of the upcoming original Harry Potter series, officially titled Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. Take a look at the trio, in addition to John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, and more!
by - Mar 25, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is March 25, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Bruce Glikas - Mar 24, 2026
Big things are happening at the Music Box Theatre! Just last night, March 23, Mark Rosenblatt’s Olivier Award-winning play Giant officially opened. Check out photos from the star-studded red carpet, which included special guests Sarah Paulson, Sara Bareilles, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Bobby Cannavale, Blythe Danner, and more!
by Bruce Glikas - Mar 24, 2026
The Music Box Theatre was the place to be last night, March 23, as Giant, Mark Rosenblatt’s Olivier Award-winning play Giant officially opened. It is led by two-time Tony Award winner John Lithgow as Roald Dahl and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Nicholas Hytner. Check out photos here!
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 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 won several prestigious awards throughout his career, including: - 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 - Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for M. Butterfly - Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Requiem for a Heavyweight - Outstanding Performance (Drama Desk Awards) for The Changing Room - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Changing Room
John Lithgow has written 1 shows including John Lithgow: Stories By Heart (Playwright).
Videos