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.
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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