John Lithgow net worth is a topic many fans are interested in. He has built a long career in film, TV, and theater. Known for roles in 3rd Rock from the Sun, Dexter, and The Crown, he has proven his talent in both comedy and drama. His work in movies, TV shows, and stage performances has made him one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. He has also written books and done voice work, adding to his success.
So, let’s take a closer look at how he built his wealth and what keeps him at the top of his game.
| Full Name | John Arthur Lithgow |
| Date of Birth | October 19, 1945 |
| Place of Birth | Rochester, New York, USA |
| Occupation | Actor, Comedian, Author, Singer |
| Height | 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) |
| Weight | 180 lbs (82 kg) |
| Spouse | Mary Yeager (m. 1981) Jean Taynton (m. 1966–1980) |
| Children | Ian, Phoebe, and Nathan Lithgow |
| Net Worth | $50 million |
What is John Lithgow Net Worth?
John Lithgow is an American actor, comedian, author, and singer with an estimated net worth of $50 million. His wealth comes from his long career in film, television, theater, and voice acting. He has starred in blockbuster films, hit TV shows, and successful stage productions. Lithgow has won multiple Emmy Awards, Tony Awards, and a Golden Globe, proving his staying power in Hollywood.
His salary for television has varied over the years. On 3rd Rock from the Sun, Lithgow was reportedly earning $100,000 per episode. In later years, his role as the terrifying Trinity Killer in Dexter earned him another hefty paycheck.
Beyond acting, Lithgow has also made money through book sales and voice work. His deep, recognizable voice has landed him roles in animated films and audiobooks.
Early Life
John Lithgow was born on October 19, 1945, in Rochester, New York. His mother, Sarah Jane, was an actress. His father, Arthur Washington Lithgow III, was a theater producer and director. He ran McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.
John has three siblings: David, Robin, and Sarah Jane. He is the third of four children. He also discovered on Finding Your Roots that he is related to eight Mayflower passengers, including Governor William Bradford.
John’s family moved a lot when he was a child due to his father’s job. He lived in places like Yellow Springs, Ohio, where Coretta Scott King was his babysitter. Later, he lived in Akron, Lakewood, and Princeton, New Jersey.
John graduated from Princeton High School in 1963. He then studied history and English literature at Harvard College. He joined Adams House and later served on Harvard’s Board of Overseers. He decided to become an actor after watching a performance of Utopia Limited by Gilbert and Sullivan at Harvard. He also studied under Robert Chapman, a famous dramatist. John graduated from Harvard in 1967 with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
After graduating, John won a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He also worked as the Director of the Arts and Literature Department at WBAI, a radio station in New York City.
Career
John Lithgow began his career in 1972 with Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues. In 1976, he starred in Obsession with Cliff Robertson and Genevieve Bujold. He made his Broadway debut in The Changing Room in 1973, earning his first Tony nomination. Lithgow also worked on plays like My Fat Friend and A Memory of Two Mondays.
In the 1980s, Lithgow appeared in many films. He was nominated for two Academy Awards in 1982 and 1983 for The World According to Garp and Terms of Endearment. He also starred in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension and 2010: The Year We Make Contact. Lithgow worked on TV too, voicing Yoda in radio adaptations of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Lithgow gained fame with his role in 3rd Rock from the Sun, which earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards. His son, Ian Lithgow, appeared alongside him as Leon. Lithgow voiced Lord Farquaad in Shrek and appeared in Dreamgirls. He also starred in Life’s Greatest Miracle and Sweet Smell of Success.
In 2004, Lithgow played Alfred Kinsey’s father in Kinsey. He also acted in Dexter as Arthur Mitchell, which won him an Emmy and Golden Globe. In 2008, he starred in All My Sons on Broadway. Lithgow appeared in the children’s program Paloozaville, which was based on his books.
In 2014, Lithgow returned to Shakespeare in the Park as King Lear. He starred in Love Is Strange in 2014, which earned critical praise. Other films in the 2010s include Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Campaign, This Is 40, and Interstellar. In 2015, he appeared in Louie and made a cameo with Glenn Close.
In 2016, John Lithgow played Winston Churchill in The Crown and won many awards, including an Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild Award. The next year, he starred in Beatriz at Dinner. Lithgow also performed a solo play called John Lithgow: Stories by Heart, which he wrote.
This play opened on Broadway in January 2018 and had performances in different U.S. cities. Lithgow also worked in movies like The Accountant, Miss Sloane, Daddy’s Home 2, Pitch Perfect 3, and Pet Sematary.
In 2017, Lithgow played a professor involved in a murder in Trial & Error, a comedy series. He also voiced an audiobook, A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo. In 2019, Lithgow starred in Late Night, a comedy film by Mindy Kaling, and played Roger Ailes in Bombshell, starring Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie, and Nicole Kidman. He also acted in Hillary and Clinton on Broadway alongside Laurie Metcalf.
In 2020, Lithgow joined the cast of Perry Mason as a lawyer named Elias Birchard Jonathan. In 2021, he returned to play Arthur Mitchell in Dexter on Showtime. The next year, Lithgow starred in The Old Man on Hulu, playing Harold Harper.
He earned a Golden Globe nomination for this role. In 2023, Lithgow was in Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese. The film received many Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
In 2024, Lithgow took on two major roles. He starred with Olivia Colman in the movie Jimpa, directed by Sophie Hyde. He also acted in Conclave, a thriller about cardinals searching for a new Pope. Lithgow worked with Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Isabella Rossellini in this film.
Later in 2024, Lithgow was part of the cast of Spellbound, an animated movie on Netflix with Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, and Javier Bardem.
Personal life
John Lithgow married Jean Taynton, a teacher, in 1966. They had a son named Ian Lithgow. After John had an affair with actress Liv Ullmann, the couple separated. They divorced in 1980.
Later, John married Mary Yeager, a history professor at UCLA. Together, they had a son and a daughter.
Awards
John Lithgow is a famous actor who has won many awards. He has two Tony Awards, six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and an American Comedy Award. He also won four Drama Desk Awards. Lithgow was nominated for two Academy Awards and four Grammy Awards.
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. In 2019, Lithgow became a member of the American Philosophical Society.
