John Lithgow

Born:October 19, 1945

Place of Birth:Rochester, New York, USA

Known For:Acting

Biography

John Lithgow, born on October 19, 1945, in Rochester, New York, is a distinguished American actor whose career has spanned across stage, television, and film. Lithgow's talent and dedication to his craft have earned him a multitude of prestigious awards, including six Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Tony Awards. His ability to seamlessly transition between various genres and roles has solidified his reputation as a versatile and accomplished performer in the entertainment industry.

After honing his skills at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Lithgow made his Broadway debut in 1972 in "The Changing Room," a performance that earned him his first Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Throughout his career on stage, he has continued to captivate audiences with memorable portrayals in productions such as "Sweet Smell of Success," "M. Butterfly," and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," showcasing his range and depth as a performer.

Lithgow's success on the small screen is equally impressive, notably for his portrayal of the quirky alien Dick Solomon in the beloved sitcom "3rd Rock from the Sun," which garnered him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. His compelling performances in dramas like "Dexter" and "The Crown" further solidified his status as a versatile actor capable of tackling complex and diverse roles with finesse.

In the realm of film, Lithgow has delivered memorable performances in a wide array of movies, earning two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in "The World According to Garp" and "Terms of Endearment." His filmography includes acclaimed works such as "All That Jazz," "Interstellar," "Bombshell," and the animated hit "Shrek," where he lent his voice to the character of Lord Farquaad, showcasing his ability to excel in both live-action and animated roles.

Beyond his impressive acting credentials, Lithgow is also recognized for his contributions to the theater, having received accolades for his performances in plays like "The Columnist," "A Delicate Balance," and "Hillary and Clinton." His dedication to the craft of acting and his commitment to bringing depth and authenticity to his characters have cemented his legacy as a versatile and respected figure in the entertainment industry.

As John Lithgow continues to captivate audiences with his compelling performances on stage, screen, and television, his enduring talent and versatility serve as a testament to his status as one of the most accomplished actors of his generation. His ability to inhabit a wide range of characters with depth and nuance has solidified his reputation as a true master of his craft, leaving an indelible mark on the world of entertainment for decades to come.

Images

Filmography

Acting

Conclave

Tremblay

2024

After the unexpected death of the Pope, Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with managing the covert and ancient ritual of electing a new one. Sequestered in the Vatican with the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders until the process is complete, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy that could lead to its downfall.

The Accountant

Lamar Blackburn

2016

As a math savant uncooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his activities and the body count starts to rise.

Interstellar

Donald

2014

The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.

Shrek

Lord Farquaad (voice)

2001

It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey.

Killers of the Flower Moon

Prosecutor Peter Leaward

2023

When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one—until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.

Spellbound

Bolinar (voice)

2024

When a powerful spell turns her parents into giant monsters, a teenage princess must journey into the wild to reverse the curse before it's too late.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Charles Rodman

2011

A highly intelligent chimpanzee named Caesar has been living a peaceful suburban life ever since he was born. But when he gets taken to a cruel primate facility, Caesar decides to revolt against those who have harmed him.

Daddy's Home 2

Don

2017

Brad and Dusty must deal with their intrusive fathers during the holidays.

Sharper

Richard Hobbes

2023

A small, wealthy family in New York City gets progressively torn apart by secrets, lies, and the theft that orchestrates all of it.

The Rule of Jenny Pen

Dave Crealy

2025

Confined to a secluded rest home and trapped within his stroke-ridden body, a former Judge must stop an elderly psychopath who employs a child's puppet to abuse the home's residents with deadly consequences.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Edgar West

2009

In the glamorous world of New York City, Rebecca Bloomwood is a fun-loving girl who is really good at shopping – a little too good, perhaps. She dreams of working for her favorite fashion magazine, but can't quite get her foot in the door – until ironically, she snags a job as an advice columnist for a financial magazine published by the same company.

Pet Sematary

Jud Crandall

2019

Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, move from Boston to Ludlow, in rural Maine, with their two young children. Hidden in the woods near the new family home, Ellie, their eldest daughter, discovers a mysterious cemetery where the pets of community members are buried.

Cliffhanger

Eric Qualen

1993

A year after losing his friend in a tragic 4,000-foot fall, former ranger Gabe Walker and his partner, Hal, are called to return to the same peak to rescue a group of stranded climbers, only to learn the climbers are actually thieving hijackers who are looking for boxes full of money.

Pitch Perfect 3

Fergus

2017

After the highs of winning the world championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren't job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.

Leap Year

Jack Brady

2010

When yet another anniversary passes without a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Anna decides to take action. Aware of a Celtic tradition that allows women to pop the question on Feb. 29, she plans to follow her lover to Dublin and ask him to marry her. Fate has other plans, however, and Anna winds up on the other side of the Emerald Isle with handsome, but surly, Declan -- an Irishman who may just lead Anna down the road to true love.

Footloose

Rev. Shaw Moore

1984

When teenager Ren and his family move from big-city Chicago to a small town in the West, he's in for a real case of culture shock after discovering he's living in a place where music and dancing are illegal.

Miss Sloane

Senator Ronald Sperling

2016

An ambitious lobbyist faces off against the powerful gun lobby in an attempt to pass gun control legislation.

Bombshell

Roger Ailes

2019

Bombshell is a revealing look inside the most powerful and controversial media empire of all time; and the explosive story of the women who brought down the infamous man who created it.

The Pelican Brief

Smith Keen

1993

A law student's theory about the recent deaths of two Supreme Court justices embroils her in a far-reaching web of murder, corruption, and greed.

Dreamgirls

Jerry Harris

2006

A trio of female soul singers cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960s, facing their own personal struggles along the way.

2010

Dr. Walter Curnow

1984

While planet Earth poises on the brink of nuclear self-destruction, a team of Russian and American scientists aboard the Leonov hurtles to a rendezvous with the still-orbiting Discovery spacecraft and its sole known survivor, the homicidal computer HAL.

This Is 40

Oliver

2012

Pete and Debbie are both about to turn 40, their kids hate each other, both of their businesses are failing, they're on the verge of losing their house, and their relationship is threatening to fall apart.

Twilight Zone: The Movie

Valentine

1983

An anthology film presenting remakes of three episodes from the "Twilight Zone" TV series—"Kick the Can", "It's a Good Life" and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"—and one original story, "Time Out."

Cabrini

Mayor Gould

2024

Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini arrives in 1889 New York City and is greeted by disease, crime, and impoverished children. Cabrini sets off on a daring mission to convince the hostile mayor to secure housing and healthcare for society's most vulnerable. With broken English and poor health, Cabrini uses her entrepreneurial mind to build an empire of hope unlike anything the world had ever seen.

The Campaign

Glen Motch

2012

Two rival politicians compete to win an election to represent their small North Carolina congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

Lord John Whorfin

1984

Adventurer/surgeon/rock musician Buckaroo Banzai and his band of men, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, take on evil alien invaders from the 8th dimension.

A Civil Action

Judge Walter J. Skinner

1998

Jan Schlickmann is a cynical lawyer who goes out to 'get rid of' a case, only to find out it is potentially worth millions. The case becomes his obsession, to the extent that he is willing to give up everything—including his career and his clients' goals—in order to continue the case against all odds.

New Year's Eve

Jonathan Cox (uncredited)

2011

The lives of several couples and singles in New York intertwine over the course of New Year's Eve.

Blow Out

Burke

1981

While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terry stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally from the car, but the other passenger is already dead — a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.

The Day After

Joe Huxley

1983

In the mid-1980s, the U.S. is poised on the brink of nuclear war. This shadow looms over the residents of a small town in Kansas as they continue their daily lives. Dr. Russell Oakes maintains his busy schedule at the hospital, Denise Dahlberg prepares for her upcoming wedding, and Stephen Klein is deep in his graduate studies. When the unthinkable happens and the bombs come down, the town's residents are thrust into the horrors of nuclear winter.

Late Night

Walter Lovell

2019

A legendary late-night talk show host's world is turned upside down when she hires her only female staff writer. Originally intended to smooth over diversity concerns, her decision has unexpectedly hilarious consequences as the two women separated by culture and generation are united by their love of a biting punchline.

Kinsey

Alfred Seguine Kinsey

2004

Kinsey is a portrait of researcher Alfred Kinsey, driven to uncover the most private secrets of a nation. What begins for Kinsey as a scientific endeavor soon takes on an intensely personal relevance, ultimately becoming an unexpected journey into the mystery of human behavior.

Ricochet

Earl Talbott Blake

1991

An attorney is terrorized by the criminal he put away years ago when he was a cop.

Terms of Endearment

Sam Burns

1983

Aurora, a finicky woman, is in search of true love while her daughter faces marital issues. Together, they help each other deal with problems and find reasons to live a joyful life.

Harry and the Hendersons

George Henderson

1987

Returning from a hunting trip in the forest, the Henderson family's car hits an animal in the road. At first they fear it was a man, but when they examine the "body" they find it's a "bigfoot". They think it's dead so they decide to take it home (there could be some money in this). As you guessed, it isn't dead. Far from being the ferocious monster they fear "Harry" to be, he's a friendly giant.

Memphis Belle

Bruce Derringer

1990

The "Memphis Belle" is a World War II bomber, piloted by a young crew on dangerous bombing raids into Europe. The crew only have to make one more bombing raid before they have finished their duty and can go home. In the briefing before their last flight, the crew discover that the target for the day is Bremen.

The Homesman

Reverend Alfred Dowd

2014

When three women living on the edge of the American frontier are driven mad by harsh pioneer life, the task of saving them falls to the pious, independent-minded Mary Bee Cuddy. Transporting the women by covered wagon to Iowa, she soon realizes just how daunting the journey will be, and employs a low-life drifter, George Briggs, to join her. The unlikely pair and the three women head east, where a waiting minister and his wife have offered to take the women in. But the group first must traverse the harsh Nebraska Territories marked by stark beauty, psychological peril and constant threat.

All That Jazz

Lucas Sergeant

1979

Joe Gideon is at the top of the heap, one of the most successful directors and choreographers in musical theater. But he can feel his world slowly collapsing around him - his obsession with work has almost destroyed his personal life, and only his bottles of pills keep him going.

Raising Cain

Carter Nix / Cain / Dr. Nix / Josh / Margo

1992

Child psychologist Carter Nix is a loving and caring family man, but under this appearance lies a dark and troubled past. Grappling with the consequences of this past on his own psyche and the influence of his returning father and violent brother Cain, Carter becomes involved in a series of murders and kidnappings. Meanwhile, his wife Jenny rekindles an old love affair, placing herself in the crosshairs of her increasingly unstable husband.

The World According to Garp

Roberta Muldoon

1982

A struggling young writer finds his life and work dominated by his unfaithful wife and his radical feminist mother, whose best-selling manifesto turns her into a cultural icon.