John Lithgow

Prior to becoming a leading man on the sitcom 3rd Rock From the Sun, this veteran actor had spent the previous two decades as a stage and screen supporting player. The son of a well-known theater producer, Lithgow earned a Tony Award for his 1973 Broadway debut in The Changing Room. Throughout the 1970s, he appeared in at least one show per year on the Great White Way while simultaneously popping up on the big screen in small roles. His Academy Award-nominated turn as a transsexual in 1982's The World According to Garp captured Hollywood's attention, and suddenly Lithgow became an in-demand screen actor. Throughout the 1980s and '90s, Lithgow used his chameleon-like talents to embody villains and victims, sadists and sad sacks, snagging his second Oscar nod for his sensitive turn in Terms of Endearment and generally earning critical raves whether appearing in movies of high quality (Pelican Brief) or high camp (Raising Cane). In the '90s Lithgow conquered a third medium, winning three Emmys during his tenure on 3rd Rock From the Sun. When the series ended, he returned to Broadway after a 14-year absence and won his second Tony for the musical The Sweet Smell of Success. In 2009, he joined the cast of Dexter for its fourth season as a devious serial killer, earning a Golden Globe in the process. When he's not acting, Lithgow has also authored a number of popular kids' books and recorded songs for children. ~ Rovi