John Lithgow

Born Oct. 19, 1945, in Rochester, N.Y., John Lithgow built an impressive stage career during the 1970s and '80s. After small parts in All That Jazz (1979) and Blow Out (1981), Lithgow gained notoriety with his Oscar-nominated supporting turn in The World According to Garp (1982).

The next year, Lithgow was nominated again for his work in Terms of Endearment. He continued to deliver memorable dramatic and comedic performances throughout the 1980s and '90s in such films as Footloose (1984) and Cliffhanger (1993).

From 1996 to 2001, Lithgow played the alien High Commander (aka Prof. Dick Solomon) in the popular sitcom "3rd Rock from the Sun," winning three Emmys for his efforts. He's also lent his vocal talents to the animated blockbuster Shrek (2001) and played Alfred Kinsey's oppressive father in Kinsey (2004). Lithgow added a Golden Globe and Emmy win to his résumé for his supporting role in "Dexter."

Filmography