Career Timeline of John Lithgow: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of John Lithgow, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
John Lithgow is a highly acclaimed American actor celebrated for his versatile performances across stage and screen. Educated at Harvard and LAMDA, he has garnered significant recognition, including six Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award, and two Tony Awards. He has also earned nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, four Grammy Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, highlighting his broad range and sustained excellence in the entertainment industry.
1999: Release of Singin' in the Bathtub
In 1999, John Lithgow launched into a career as a recording artist with Singin' in the Bathtub, an album of music for children.
June 2002: Release of Farkle and Friends
In June 2002, John Lithgow released his second album for children Farkle and Friends, dedicated to the memory of Waylon Jennings.
August 2006: Release of The Sunny Side of the Street
In August 2006, John Lithgow released a Franz Schubert tribute album, The Sunny Side of the Street, his third album for children and first with Razor & Tie.
2008: Performance of Stories by Heart with Willie Nelson
In 2008, John Lithgow acted in the play Stories by Heart with Willie Nelson at the Lincoln Center Theater.
2008: Broadway Revival of All My Sons
In 2008, John Lithgow played Joe Keller in a Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons, directed by Simon McBurney, starring alongside Dianne Wiest, Patrick Wilson, and Katie Holmes.
March 5, 2009: Lithgow's Cameo on 30 Rock
On March 5, 2009, John Lithgow made a cameo appearance on NBC's 30 Rock in the episode "Goodbye, My Friend," which included references to his role in Harry and the Hendersons.
September 2009: Lithgow Joins Dexter Cast
In September 2009, John Lithgow joined the cast of Dexter as Arthur Mitchell, a serial killer and Dexter Morgan's nemesis, a role for which he won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy.
February 22, 2010: Off-Broadway Production of Mr. & Mrs. Fitch
On February 22, 2010, John Lithgow starred in the off-Broadway production of Douglas Carter Beane's comedy, Mr. & Mrs. Fitch, alongside Jennifer Ehle at the Second Stage Theater.
April 4, 2010: Mr. & Mrs. Fitch Concludes
On April 4, 2010, John Lithgow's off-Broadway production of Douglas Carter Beane's comedy, Mr. & Mrs. Fitch, concluded its run at the Second Stage Theater.
October 1, 2010: Appearance on Doug Loves Movies Podcast
On October 1, 2010, John Lithgow appeared on Doug Benson's podcast Doug Loves Movies, with fellow guests Paul F. Tompkins and Jimmy Pardo.
September 2011: Featured in Play 8
In September 2011, John Lithgow was featured in a one-night-only production of Dustin Lance Black's play 8, a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage, as Attorney Theodore Olson.
2011: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
In 2011, John Lithgow appeared in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
2012: The Campaign and This is 40
In 2012, John Lithgow appeared in Jay Roach's The Campaign and Judd Apatow's This Is 40.
2012: The Nerdist Podcast
In 2012, John Lithgow appeared on Chris Hardwick's show The Nerdist Podcast.
2012: Return to Broadway in The Columnist
In 2012, John Lithgow returned to Broadway in David Auburn's play The Columnist, which played at the Manhattan Theatre Club and earned him a Tony Award nomination.
2014: Starring Roles in King Lear, A Delicate Balance, and Love Is Strange
In 2014, John Lithgow returned to Manhattan and Central Park for Shakespeare's King Lear, returned to Broadway in A Delicate Balance, and starred in the film Love Is Strange.
2015: Voiceover Work for Best of Enemies
In 2015, John Lithgow did the voiceover work for Gore Vidal in the documentary film Best of Enemies, with Kelsey Grammer.
2015: Cameo on Louie
In 2015, John Lithgow made a cameo on Louis C.K.'s Louie in the season-five episode "Sleepover."
2016: Portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Crown
In 2016, John Lithgow appeared in the first season of The Crown, portraying Winston Churchill, for which he won numerous awards.
2016: Portrayed Rudy Giuliani in skits on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
In 2016, John Lithgow portrayed Rudy Giuliani in a series of skits on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
October 18, 2017: Co-authored New York Times Crossword Puzzle
On October 18, 2017, John Lithgow coauthored the New York Times daily crossword puzzle.
2017: Starring Role in Trial & Error
In 2017, John Lithgow starred in the first season of Trial & Error as a professor implicated in his wife's murder.
January 11, 2018: Broadway Opening of John Lithgow: Stories by Heart
On January 11, 2018, John Lithgow's solo play John Lithgow: Stories by Heart, which he wrote, opened on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre.
2018: Contributed voiceover work for A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
In 2018, John Lithgow contributed voiceover work for the audio book version of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, a children's book written by Jill Twiss.
2018: Voiced Audiobook of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
In 2018, John Lithgow voiced the audiobook of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo.
April 18, 2019: Broadway Opening of Hillary and Clinton
On April 18, 2019, John Lithgow starred as Bill Clinton in the Lucas Hnath play Hillary and Clinton, which opened on Broadway.
May 2019: Return Performance at Lincoln Center
In May 2019, John Lithgow had a return performance of his play John Lithgow: Stories by Heart at Lincoln Center.
June 7, 2019: Release of Late Night
On June 7, 2019, John Lithgow co-starred in Mindy Kaling's comedy Late Night, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
June 2019: Portrayed Donald Trump in The Investigation
In June 2019, John Lithgow portrayed Donald Trump in The Investigation: A Search for the Truth in Ten Acts, a live reading of Robert Mueller's report.
June 23, 2019: Closing of Hillary and Clinton
On June 23, 2019, John Lithgow's play Hillary and Clinton closed on Broadway.
October 2019: Publication of Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse
In October 2019, John Lithgow published Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse, a book of poems and illustrations that charted at number three on The New York Times bestseller list.
2019: WTF with Marc Maron Podcast
In 2019, John Lithgow appeared on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast.
September 29, 2020: Release of Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown
On September 29, 2020, John Lithgow released his follow-up book, Trumpty Dumpty Wanted a Crown, by Chronicle Books.
2020: Audio Play If You Win Release
In 2020, John Lithgow performed in Emily Chadwick Weiss's audio play If You Win, released by Playing on Air in spring.
2020: Perry Mason
In 2020, John Lithgow portrayed the attorney Elias Birchard "E.B." Jonathan in season one of the HBO reboot of Perry Mason.
June 28, 2021: Reprising Role in Dexter Limited Series Confirmed
On June 28, 2021, Showtime confirmed that John Lithgow would reprise his role of Arthur Mitchell in the ten-episode Dexter limited series.
November 7, 2021: Dexter Limited Series Premiere
On November 7, 2021, the Dexter limited series, featuring John Lithgow reprising his role as Arthur Mitchell, premiered.
2022: The Old Man
In 2022, John Lithgow portrayed Harold Harper in the Hulu series The Old Man, opposite Jeff Bridges, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.
2022: Presented Liv Ullmann with Academy Honorary Award
In 2022, John Lithgow presented Liv Ullmann with the Academy Honorary Award at the Governors Awards.
2023: Starred in Killers of the Flower Moon
In 2023, John Lithgow played Peter Leaward in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, which received ten Academy Award nominations.
May 2024: Announced to Star in Jimpa
In May 2024, John Lithgow was announced to be starring alongside Olivia Colman in the film Jimpa, directed by Sophie Hyde.
September 2024: Portrayed Roald Dahl in Giant
In September 2024, John Lithgow portrayed Roald Dahl in the West End production of the Mark Rosenblatt play Giant at the Royal Court Theatre, receiving the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor.
February 25, 2025: Confirmed to Play Dumbledore in HBO Harry Potter Series
On February 25, 2025, John Lithgow confirmed that he would play Dumbledore in the HBO Harry Potter series.
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