John Lithgow

John Lithgow was born on October 19, 1945, in Rochester, New York, to theatrical producer and director Arthur Washington Lithgow III and actress Sarah Jane (Price). His upbringing was influenced by his father’s work, which led to frequent relocations throughout the Midwest. The family settled in Princeton, New Jersey, when he was 16. Lithgow pursued higher education at Harvard University, where he initially studied history and literature, graduating magna cum laude in 1967. It was during his time at Harvard that he developed a strong interest in acting. He further honed his craft by attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art on a Fulbright scholarship, establishing a solid foundation for his diverse career.

Upon returning from London, Lithgow embarked on a distinguished career on Broadway, achieving critical acclaim and multiple awards early on. He made his Broadway debut in 1973 in “The Changing Room,” for which he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Subsequent Broadway nominations included “Requiem for a Heavyweight” in 1985 and “M. Butterfly” in 1988. In the early 1980s, Lithgow transitioned into film, quickly gaining recognition for his performances. He received his first Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Roberta Muldoon in “The World According to Garp” (1982), followed by a second nomination for “Terms of Endearment” (1983). His filmography expanded dramatically during this period, including notable roles in “Footloose” (1984), “Harry and the Hendersons” (1987), and “Cliffhanger” (1993).

The 1990s marked a significant career turning point for Lithgow as he moved into television. He starred as Dick Solomon in the highly successful NBC series “3rd Rock from the Sun” (1996-2001), a role that garnered him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. This period also saw him lending his voice to animated features like “Shrek” (2001) as Lord Farquaad. Lithgow continued to balance stage, film, and television work, earning another Tony Award in 2002 for “Sweet Smell of Success.” His later career has included critically acclaimed roles such as Arthur Mitchell in “Dexter” (2009), for which he won an Emmy and a Golden Globe, and Winston Churchill in “The Crown” (2016-2019), earning him another Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He also ventured into children’s literature, publishing several successful books and albums.