John Lithgow

John Lithgow (born John Arthur Lithgow) was born on October 19, 1945 in Rochester, New York, US.  John Lithgow was born into entertainment.  His father, Arthur Lithgow was a theater producer and director and his mother was a stage actress (she retired).  John was in many of his father's productions, The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival only produced Shakespeare plays until 1965, when Arthur Lithgow expanded the repertoire to include plays by Chekhov, Moliére,, and Sheridan.

The Lithgow's moved around until John was nearly 16.  That's when they settled (his father became head of the McCarter Theater) in the town of Princeton, NJ, US.  John attended High School at Princeton High School, earning a scholarship to Harvard University.  After finishing Harvard, graduating magna cum laude in 1967 with a BA in history and literature, John won a  Fullbright Scholarship to study at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

John returned from London and started delving into Broadway.  Shortly thereafter he won a Tony award for his performance in Changing Room. 

John was married twice, first to Jean Taynton (1966- 1980 div) they had a son Ian (an actor), he next married Mary Yeager (1981- present) one son, Nathan, and a daughter, Phoebe.

 

 

Film

Kinsey Report: Sex on Film, The~2005 - (V) Himself

Life and Death of Peter Sellers~2004 - Blake Edwards (see Actor Connections - Film)

Kinsey~2004 - Alfred Seguine Kinsey (see Actor Connections - Film)

Shrek 4-D~2003 (voice) -  Lord Farquaad's Ghost (see Actor Connections - Film)

Orange County~2002 -  Bud Brumder

Buckaroo Banzai Declassified~2002 (V) (archive footage) -  Himself, actor

Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party~2001 (V) (singing voice) -  Lord Farquaad

Shrek~2001 (voice) -  Lord Farquaad of Duloc (see Actor Connections - Film)

C-Scam~2000

Making of 'Rugrats In Paris', The~2000 (V) -  Himself

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - Rugrats II~2000 (voice) -  Jean-Claude

Officer Buckle and Gloria~1998 -  Narrator

Civil Action, A~1998 -  Judge Walter J. Skinner

Homegrown~1998 -  Malcolm/Robert Stockman

Johnny Skidmarks~1998 -  Sergeant Larry Skovik

Special Effects: Anything Can Happen (IMAX)~1996 - Narrator (see Actor Connections - Film)

Hollow Point~1995 -  Thomas Livingston

Silent Fall~1994 -  Dr. Harlinger

Princess Caraboo~1994 -  Professor Wilkinson

Good Man in Africa, A~1994 -  Arthur Fanshawe, British High Commissioner

Pelican Brief, The~1993 -  Smith Keen, Editor Washington Herald

Country Mouse & the City Mouse: A Christmas Tale, The~1993  -  Alexander

Cliffhanger~1993 -  Eric Qualen

Raising Cain~1992 -  Carter/Cain/Dr. Nix/Josh/Margo

At Play in the Fields of the Lord~1991 -  Leslie Huben

Ricochet~1991 -  Earl Talbott Blake

L.A. Story~1991 (scenes deleted) -  Harry Zell (but you can see the deleted scenes on the 2006 15th Anniversary DVD)

Memphis Belle~1990 -  Lt. Col. Bruce Derringer

Out Cold~1989 -  Dave Geary

Distant Thunder~1988 -  Mark Lambert

Harry and the Hendersons~1987 -  George Henderson

Mesmerized~1986 -  Oliver Thompson

Manhattan Project, The~1986 -  Dr. John Mathewson

Santa Claus~1985 -  B.Z.

2010~1984 -  Walter Curnow

Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, The~1984 -  Lord John Whorfin/Dr. Emilio Lizardo

Footloose~1984 -  Reverend Shaw Moore

Terms of Endearment~1983 -  Sam Burns

Twilight Zone: The Movie~1983 -  John Valentine (Segment #4)

World According to Garp, The~1982 -  Roberta Muldoon

I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can~1982 -  Mr. Brunner

Blow Out~1981 -  Burke

All That Jazz~1979 -  Lucas Sergeant

Rich Kids~1979 -  Paul Philips

Big Fix, The~1978 -  Sam Sebastian/Oscar Procari Jr.

Obsession~1976 -  Robert Lasalle

Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues~1972 -  John

 

TV

Twenty Good Years~2006 - John Mason

58th Annual Emmy Awards~2006 - Himself 8/27/06

The Great Robot Race~2006 - narrator 

The Tony Danza Show~2004 - Himself 12/7/05

The Apprentice: Martha Stewart~2005 - Himself 10/?/05 

Einstein's Big Idea~2005 - narrator

Getaway~1992  Himself in Found (#14.20) 6/23/05

View, The~1997 - Himself  5/26/05

CBS news Sunday Morning~1979 - Himself 3/20/05

Live with Regis and Kelly~1989 - Himself 3/10/05

Late Night with Conan O'Brien~1993 - Himself 3/12/05 (with Kevin Pollack) 

Dogs and More Dogs~2004 - Himself (PBS Special)

VH1 Goes Inside~2003 Himself in Shrek 5/16/04

58th Annual Tony Awards~2004 - Presenter for Best Direction of a Play

Life and Death of Peter Sellers, The~2004  -  Blake Edwards

Heroes of Comedy~1997 - Himself in Ronnie Corbett 5/16/02

Creating a Fairy Tale World: The Making of 'Shrek'~2001  -  Himself

Late Night with Conan O'Brien~1993 - Himself: 2/19/00; 2/26/99; 4/29/98; 10/10/97

Don Quixote~2000  -  Don Quixote de La Mancha/Alonso Quixano

51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, The~1999  -  Himself

Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope~1998  -  Himself

Dennis Miller Live~1994 - Himself in UFO's (#4.3) 1/31/97

Cosby~1996 -  Himself in  Superstar (# 4.7) 11/17/99

Rosie O'Donnell Show, The~1996 - Himself 10/9/97; 11/11/96

3rd Rock from the Sun~1996  -  High Commander/Professor Dick Solomon

Christmas in Washington~1996  -  Himself

Special Effects: Anything Can Happen~1996 (voice) -  Narrator (see Actor Connections - TV)

Tuskegee Airmen, The~1995  -  Sen. Conyers

Redwood Curtain~1995  -  Laird Riordan

My Brother's Keeper~1995  -  Tom & Bob Bradley

Frasier~1993 -  Madman Martinez (voice) in  Someone to Watch Over Me (# 2.19) 3/28/95

Tales from the Crypt~1989 -  Dr. Oscar Charles in  You, Murderer (# 6.15) 1/25/95

American Cinema~1995  -  Host

Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects~1994  -  Himself

World War II: When Lions Roared~1994  -  Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Love, Cheat & Steal~1993  -  Paul Harrington

Wrong Man, The~1993  -  Phillip Mills

Late Night with Conan O'Brien~1993  (uncredited) -  Himself

Boys, The~1991  -  Artie Margulies

Ivory Hunters~1990  -  Robert Carter

Traveling Man~1989  -  Ben Cluett

Saturday Night Live~1975 -  Host (# 14.6) 11/19/88

Baby Girl Scott~1987  -  Neil Scott

Saturday Night Live~1975 -  Host (# 12.16) 4/11/87

Mesmerized~1986 - Oliver Thompson

Resting Place~1986  -  Maj. Kendall Laird

Amazing Stories~1985 -  John Walters in  The Doll (# 1.22) 5/4/86

Saturday Night Live~1975 -  Host (# 11.4) 12/7/85

Glitter Dome, The~1984  -  Sgt. Marty Wellborn

2010: The Odyssey Continues~1984 (uncredited) -  Himself

Faerie Tale Theatre~1982 -  Father in  Goldilocks and the Three Bears (# 3.1) 1/9/84

Day After, The~1983  -  Joe Huxley

Not in Front of the Children~1982  -  Richard Carruthers

Big Blonde~1980 

Mom, the Wolfman and Me~1980  -  Wally

Oldest Living Graduate, The~1980  -  Clarence

Secret Service~1977  -  Thorne

 

Commercials

Campbell's Select (soup)

Discover Card

Kemper Funds

10-10-321 Long Distance

 

Theater

Twelfth Night~2007 - Malvolio (Courtyard, Stratford, UK)

John Lithgow~2008 - performing songs from The Sunny Side of the Street (New Victory Theatre, New York, NY)

Carnival of the Animals~2007 - *Unconfirmed* Narrator/Elephant (Merriam Theatre, Philadelphia, PA)

A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening~2007 - guest (Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, CA)

Sunny Side of the Street~2006 - performing songs from the album "Sunny Side of the Street" (Joe's Pub, New York City, NY) 10/8/06

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~2004 - Lawrence Jameson (Imperial Theatre, NY; San Diego, CA)

My Fair Lady~2003 - Henry Higgins (Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, CA)

Carnival of the Animals~2003 (writer/narrator)

Retreat From Moscow~2003 - Edward (Booth Theatre, NY)

Play What I Wrote, The~2003 - Mystery Guest Star (Lyceum Theatre, NY)

Sweet Smell of Success~2002 - J. J. Hunsecker (Martin Beck Theatre, NY)

M. Butterfly~1990 - Rene Gallimard (Eugene O'Neill Theatre, NY)

Front Page, The~1986/7 - Walter Burns (Vivian Beaumont Theatre, NY)

Requiem for a Heavyweight~1985 - Harlan "Mountain" McClintock (Martin Beck Theatre, NY)

Beyond Therapy~1982 - Bruce (Brooks Atkinson Theatre, NY)

Division Street~1980 - Chris (Ambassador Theatre, NY)

Bedroom Farce~1979 - Trevor (replacement) (Brook Atkinson Theatre, NY)

Spokesong~1979 - Frank (Circle in the Square Theatre, NY)

Once In a Lifetime~1979 - George Lewis (Circle in the Square Theatre, NY) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

Anna Christie~1977 - Mat Burke (Imperial Theatre, NY) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

Comedians~1976/77 - Ged Murray (Music Box Theatre, NY)

Secret Service~1976 - (Playhouse Theatre, NY)  (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

A Memory of Two Mondays / 27 Wagons Full of Cotton~1976 - Kenneth (Phoenix Theatre, NY)

Trelawney of the "Wells"~1975 - Mr. Ferdinand Gadd (Vivian Beaumont Theatre, NY)

My Fat Friend~1974 - James (Brooks Atkinson Theatre, NY)

Changing Room, The~1971-3 - "Kenny" Kendal Forward (Morosco Theatre, NY)

Hadrian VII~1970 - First Bailiff (Bucks County Playhouse productions)

Magistrate, The~1970 - Captain Horace Vale/Director of The Magistrate

Babbitt~ - (LA Theatre Works, Venice, CA) (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

McTeague~ (see Actor Connections - Theatre)

 

Theatre Director

Boy Meets Girl~1976 (Phoenix Theatre, NY - Directed by John Lithgow Film Sequences directed by John Lithgow)

 

Live Performances

A Celebration of P.G. Wodehouse~2007 - reading and discussing (Leonard Nimoy Thalia, NY)

Inauguration of Michael Bloomberg (Mayor of New York City)~2006 1/1/06

The Book That Changed My Life~2005 - Himself reading excerpts from Winnie the Pooh (Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space, New York, NY)

Broadway on Broadway~2005 - Host (Times Square, New York, NY)

 

CD

The Christmas That Almost Wasn't~2005 - Narrator

Singin' In The Bathtub~1999

 

Radio

Radio Playbill: Broadway's Best on Sirius Radio~2005 - Interviewee

Return of the Jedi~1983 - Yoda

Empire Strikes Back, The~1983 - Yoda

Awards, Honors and Nominations

Academy Awards:

Nom 1984 Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Terms of Endearment 
Nom 1983 Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The World According to Garp
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films

Rec'd 1984 Saturn Award Best Supporting Actor for Twilight Zone: The Movie 

American Comedy Awards

Rec'd 1997 Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication for 3rd Rock from the Sun
Emmy Awards

Nom  2001 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for: 3rd Rock from the Sun
Nom 2000 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for: 3rd Rock from the Sun
Rec'd 1999 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for: 3rd Rock from the Sun
Nom 1998 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for: 3rd Rock from the Sun
Rec'd 1997 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for: 3rd Rock from the Sun
Rec'd 1996  Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for: 3rd Rock from the Sun

Nom 1995 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for My Brother's Keeper
Rec'd 1986 Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for Amazing Stories For episode The Doll -  John Walters.

Golden Globes

Nom 1999  Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical for 3rd Rock from the Sun
Nom 1998 Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical for 3rd Rock from the Sun 
Rec'd 1997 Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical for 3rd Rock from the Sun
Golden Satellite Awards 

Nom 1999 Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical for 3rd Rock from the Sun
1997Won Golden Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy for 3rd Rock from the Sun
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards  

Rec'd 1982 LAFCA Award Best Supporting Actor for: The World According to Garp

New York Film Critics Circle Awards 

Rec'd 1982 NYFCC Award Best Supporting Actor for The World According to Garp
Razzie Awards

Nom 1994 Award Worst Supporting Actor for Cliffhanger
Screen Actors Guild Awards 

Nom 2001 Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for Don Quixote

Nom 1999 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for 3rd Rock from the Sun (shared)
Rec'd 1998 Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for 3rd Rock from the Sun

Nom 1998 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for 3rd Rock from the Sun (shared)
Rec'd 1997  Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for 3rd Rock from the Sun
Nom 1997  Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for 3rd Rock from the Sun  (shared)
Theatre Hall of Fame

Inducted 2005

Tony Awards:

Nom 2005 Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Rec'd 2002 Best Actor in a Musical for Sweet Smell of Success

Nom 1988 M. Butterfly

Nom 1985 Best Actor in a Play for Requiem For a Heavyweight

Rec'd 1974 Best Featured Actor in a Play for The Changing Room

Rec'd 1973 Best Featured Actor in a Play for The Changing Room

Viewers for Quality Television Awards 

Nom 1998 Q Award Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series for 3rd Rock from the Sun
Walk of Fame
Rec'd 2001 Star for Television

 

Miscellany

2006 - Participating in Amazon Connect which allows readers/buyers to connect directly with the authors.

 

Narrated a 16-minute video for Harvard and Radcliffe

 

Experienced an East African Safari

Archives

CONTESTS

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LINKS

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Other

Stuff!

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