John Lithgow
Birth Place: Rochester, NY
SQUIRT GUNS AND TONKA TRUCKS to Launch AFLAMDA Studio's New Reading Room Series (Jun 8, 2026)
Photos: Inside the 2026 Tony Awards Ceremony (Jun 8, 2026)
Industry Pro Newsletter: The Tony Effect: Analyzing Post-Awards Ticket Data (Jun 8, 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
winner
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 for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
by Talking Tonys - 2026-06-07 21:30:08
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: Krysta Rodriguez Performs 'Beyvita' Medley At Feinstein's/54 Below
by Linnae Medeiros - 2019-11-18 14:21:22
VIDEO: Louis Tomlinson Talks About Owning a Prop From FORREST GUMP on THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN6
by Sarah Leiber - 2019-10-29 21:36:17
News
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 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.
by Alex Freeman - Jun 1, 2026
On the legal and legislative front, a federal judge ordered the removal of President Trump's name from the Kennedy Center and temporarily blocked its planned closure, while New York State added $150 million to its theatrical production tax credit program. Broadway closed out its 2025–2026 season with a new all-time box office record of $1.91 billion, and the Broadway League and Actors' Equity announced a new audition initiative called LEAP.
by Stephi Wild - Jun 1, 2026
The Drama Bookshop is partnering with the Broadway production of GIANT to give students a free copy of Mark Rosenblatt's Tony-nominated play with a valid student ID, while supplies last.
by Joshua Wright - May 29, 2026
The newly enacted New York State Fiscal Year 2027 Budget includes a $150 million increase to the New York City Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit, extending the program's runway and clearing the way for shows that opened in recent months to apply retroactively.
by Team BWW - May 29, 2026
There's just four days left 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 A.A. Cristi - Jun 7, 2026
John Lithgow has won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for GIANT.
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.
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Giant; 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; and 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
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