Below is a compiled list of the most interesting facts about John Lithgow. Check it out!
If “born to the theater” has meaning in determining a person’s life path, then John Lithgow is a prime example of this truth. He was born in Rochester, New York, to Sarah Jane (Price), an actress, and Arthur Washington Lithgow III, who was both a theatrical producer and director. John’s father was born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, where the Anglo-American Lithgow family had lived for several generations.
Interesting Facts about John Lithgow
- Born on exactly the same date as Divine.
- Despite being known for playing characters who are often pompous and unlikable or outright villainous, he has been described by many of his co-stars as an extremely kind and friendly man and a pleasure to work with.
- His ancestry includes Welsh (from his maternal grandfather), English, as well as French, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and Scottish. His father was born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, where the white American Lithgow family had lived for a few generations.
- He has two grandchildren through his son, Ian Lithgow.
- As a youth, John and his siblings were often babysat by Coretta Scott (later Coretta Scott King) in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
- He attended Harvard College and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in history and literature (1967). He lived in Adams House as an undergraduate. Lithgow later served on Harvard’s Board of Overseers.
- He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6666 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on May 2, 2001.
- He is just 12 years older than Lori Singer, who played his daughter in Footloose (1984).
- The role of Frasier Craine (first on Cheers then the spin-off) was written with Lithgow in mind. He’s said years later, “Kelsey [Grammer] did a fine job!”.
- He has won two Tony Awards: in 1973, as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for David Storey’s “The Changing Room”; and in 2002, as Best Actor (Musical) for “Sweet Smell of Success.” He has also been nominated on three occasions for Tonys — two for Best Actor (Play): for “Requiem for a Heavyweight” (1985) and “M. Butterfly.” (1988), and once for Best Actor (Musical): for “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (2005).
- He hosted the Welcoming Reception for UCLA’s new Chancellor Carnesale.
- He is the parent of Ian Lithgow with Jean Taynton, and Phoebe Lithgow and Nathan Lithgow with Mary Yeager.
Personal Quotes by John Lithgow
Everybody’s a dreamer.
John Lithgow
My wife is a professor at UCLA in Los Angeles, but otherwise, I’d be right back living on the Upper West Side.
John Lithgow
I auditioned for soap operas and commercials; I remember auditioning for Lays potato chips. It was a sort of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ sketch, where Captain Bligh was torturing the crew by saying, ‘You can only have one Lays potato chip,’ and they all rise up.
John Lithgow
Love Is Strange’ was just a beautiful experience in so many ways.
John Lithgow
Voice work is fun. But about three-quarters of the things you enjoy about acting are just not there. You’re not working with another actor; you’re not working with an audience. You’re just working with a bunch of writers and a microphone. It’s very abstract.
John Lithgow
