Biography
John Arthur Lithgow (pronounced "lith-go") was born on October 19, 1945 in Rochester, New York. An accomplished actor, Lithgow is most recently best known for his starring role as Dick Solomon in the 1996-2001 NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, for which he received six Primetime Emmy Award nominations (one for each of the program's six seasons) and three wins (in 1996, 1997 and 1999) in the category of "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series." For his work in Broadway theatre, in 2005 he was elected into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.
Previously, Lithgow was the recipient of a 1986 Primetime Emmy Award in the category of "Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series" for his appearance in an episode of the Amazing Stories anthology show. He received three additional Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 1984, 1986 and 1995.
Throughout his career, many of Lithgow's most successful and noteworthy projects have been adaptations of earlier works. In 1983 and 1984, he was nominated for Academy Awards in the category of "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" for his performances as Roberta Muldoon in The World According to Garp and as Sam Burns in Terms of Endearment; both films were screen adaptations of popular novels.
In 1984, Lithgow appeared in the instant cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, originating the character of Dr. Emilio Lizardo/Lord John Whorfin, an ebullient Italian physicist whose body is inhabited by an evil extraterrestrial formerly exiled to the "eighth dimension." Lithgow reportedly assisted in the visual development of the character as well as delivering an over-the-top performance as the psychotic Italian-accented alien leader.
Off-screen, Lithgow is known to Star Wars fans for his 1983 and 1996 performances in National Public Radio adaptations of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, in which he portrayed Yoda (a voice role originated theatrically by Frank Oz).
In 2002, Lithgow won a Tony Award in the category of "Best Leading Actor in a Musical" for his portrayal of J.J. Hunsecker (a role originated cinematically by Burt Lancaster) in the Broadway stage adaptation of the 1957 film Sweet Smell of Success. Most recently, Lithgow starred as Lawrence Jameson (a role originated theatrically by David Niven and later assumed by Michael Caine) in a Broadway musical adaptation of the 1988 film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (itself a remake of the 1964 film Bedtime Story).
In 2005, this role earned Lithgow a second Tony nomination in the category of "Best Leading Actor in a Musical," an award that went to his co-star, Norbert Leo Butz. He also won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play in The Changing Room, his Broadway debut. He was nominated two other times: for Requiem for a Heavyweight and M. Butterfly.
Lithgow also makes occasional appearances on stage and television singing children's songs and accompanying himself on guitar. He resides in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and is a Harvard University graduate, as well as a former member of its Board of Overseers.
Filmography
2004 Kinsey
2004 The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
2002 Orange County
2001 Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party
2001 Shrek
2000 C-Scam
2000 Rugrats in Paris: The Movie - Rugrats II
2000 Don Quixote
1998 Officer Buckle and Gloria | A Civil Action
1998 Homegrown | Johnny Skidmarks
1995 Hollow Point | The Tuskegee Airmen
1995 Redwood Curtain | My Brother's Keeper
1994 Silent Fall | Princess Caraboo | A Good Man in Africa
1993 The Pelican Brief | Love, Cheat & Steal
1993 The Country Mouse & the City Mouse: A Christmas Tale
1993 The Wrong Man | Cliffhanger
1992 Raising Cain
1991 At Play in the Fields of the Lord | Ricochet
1991 The Boys | L.A. Story
1990 Memphis Belle | Ivory Hunters
1989 Traveling Man | Out Cold
1988 Distant Thunder
1987 Harry and the Hendersons | Baby Girl Scott
1986 Mesmerized | The Manhattan Project | Resting Place
1985 Santa Claus: The Movie
1984 2010: Odyssey Two | The Glitter Dome
1984 The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1984 Footloose
1983 Terms of Endearment | The Day After | Twilight Zone: The Movie
1982 Not in Front of the Children | The World According to Garp
1982 I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can
1981 Blow Out
1980 Big Blonde | Mom, the Wolfman and Me | The Oldest Living Graduate
1979 All That Jazz | Rich Kids
1978 The Big Fix
1977 Secret Service
1976 Obsession
1972 Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues
Performances on Broadway
2005 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony Nomination - Best Actor in a Musical)
2003 The Retreat From Moscow
2002 Sweet Smell of Success (Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical)
1988 M. Butterfly (Tony Nomination - Best Actor in a Play)
1986 The Front Page (revival)
1985 Requiem for a Heavyweight Tony Nomination - Best Actor in a Play)
1982 Beyond Therapy
1980 Division Street
1979 Spokesong
1978 Once in a Lifetime (revival)
1977 Anna Christie (revival)
1976 Comedians
1976 Boy Meets Girl (revival)(Director) and Secret Service (revival)
1976 A Memory of Two Mondays
1975 Trelawny of the "Wells" (revival)
1974 My Fat Friend
1973 The Changing Room (Tony Award - Best Featured Actor in a Play)
