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John Lithgow Biography

Birth Name:John Arthur Lithgow

Birth Place:Rochester, New York, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer, Art department

Fast Facts

  • Received the 2019 Jason Robards Award for Excellence in Theatre
  • Was awarded the 2017 Harvard Arts Medal
  • Won the 1973 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance for his role in "The Changing Room․"
  • Studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
  • Graduated from Harvard University in 1967
  • Quote: "I have to entertain you, That’s part of my rules․""
  • Quote: "If you hear enough applause and laughter at an early age, you are doomed to become an actor․"
  • Quote: "One of the things you learn as an actor is that human beings are capable of almost anything․ I'm sort of in the business of illustrating that fact․"
  • Well known for his work on the series "3rd Rock from the Sun․"
  • Published the children's book "Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo․"
  • Registered as a pastor at Rose Ministries

Awards

  • 1982LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1982NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1983Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1983LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1983NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1983NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1984Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1984Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1984Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special: nominated
  • 1985Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1986Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series: winner
  • 1986Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
  • 1990ACE-Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1993Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1994Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
  • 1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1996Q Award-Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1997American Comedy Award-Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication: winner
  • 1997Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1997OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Series: winner
  • 1997OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1997TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: nominated
  • 1997Q Award-Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1998OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1998Q Award-Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1999OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1999Q Award-Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2001Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2005Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Film Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2009Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2010Saturn Award-Best Guest Performance in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2010Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: winner
  • 2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2010Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actor - Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2010Scream Award-Best Villain: nominated
  • 2010TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: nominated
  • 2011Dagger-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: winner
  • 2015Días de Cine Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
  • 2015Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
  • 2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2017BAFTA TV Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2017CinEuphoria-Best Actor - International Competition: nominated
  • 2017Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2017Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2017INOCA TV-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2017INOCA TV-Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Halfway Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2017OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2018Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2019Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2019FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2019IFJA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2020AACTA International Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2020Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2020DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2020Chainsaw Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2021Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021HCA Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2021OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2023Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2023Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical-Comedy or Drama Television Series: nominated
  • 2023Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2024Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2024Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2024Best Actor-Secció Oficial Fantàstic: winner
  • 2025Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2025CinEuphoria-Best Ensemble - International Competition: nominated
  • 2025Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2025Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2025New Zealand Screen Award-Best Actor in a Feature: winner
  • 2025NDFS Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2025Ensemble Cast Award-: winner