Get ready to dive into the legendary world of John Lithgow! From hilarious comedy roles to super serious acting skills, this Hollywood star has done it all. Whether you know him from movies, TV, or even his funny voiceovers, we’ve got the ultimate list of Lithgow facts right here!

1. He’s going to play Dumbledore on TV!

First things first. John Lithgow is going to play Professor Dumbledore in a brand-new Harry Potter TV series! The show is set to start filming soon — and John can’t wait to swap his acting scripts for spells and potions! Expect plenty of wise advice, twinkly eyes… and maybe even a dance at the Hogwarts feast!

2. He was born to act!

John was born in Rochester, New York in 1945! His dad was a theatre producer, and his mum was an actress — so acting runs in the family. It’s no wonder John caught the performing bug early!

3. He’s a smarty pants!

Before he became an actor, John went to Harvard — one of the most respected universities in the whole world. He studied history and literature — but luckily, he found his way back to the stage pretty quickly! He also studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

4. He started in the theatre

John’s first big theatre role was in a play called The Changing Room — and guess what? He won a prestigious award called a Tony Award straight away! It’s like the Oscars of theatre acting.

5. He was the star of 3rd Rock from the Sun!

In the TV show 3rd Rock from the Sun, John played an alien pretending to be a human professor. He spent six whole seasons trying to figure out how humans worked — and it was absolutely hilarious!

6. He voiced a character in Shrek

Do you remember the tiny, grumpy villain Lord Farquaad from Shrek? That was John Lithgow’s voice! He made Lord Farquaad sound posh, bossy, and totally ridiculous!

7. He’s also the voice of a famous soup!

Not only can John voice evil characters like Lord Farquaad, he’s also the celebrity spokesperson for Campbell Select soups and has been since 2006! That’s a soup-er fact.

8. He’s a children’s author, too

John doesn’t just act — he writes books too! He’s written loads of children’s stories, like Marsupial Sue and I’m a Manatee — perfect a night time laugh!

9. He released an animal-themed album

John released a music album full of animal-themed songs for kids called Singin’ in the Bathtub! If you’ve ever wanted to hear a song about kangaroos or penguins, John’s got you covered!

10. He’s won many awards for acting

John has won TONS of awards! He’s got six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, and even two Tony Awards for acting on stage. Basically… he’s really, really good at acting.

11. He appeared in a drama about the British royal family

Even though John is American, he played the famous British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the Netflix series The Crown — and was very convincing! He even won an Emmy Award for his portrayal!

12. He was the voice of Yoda

Don’t listen out for his voice in the original Star Wars movies, though. He was the voice of Yoda in a National Public Radio versions of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Good voice actor, he is.

13. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

In 2001, John Lithgow’s contribution to acting was recognised with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was the 2176th person to be given a star, which can be found at 6666 Hollywood Blvd.

14. He loves Charlie Chaplin

John Lithgow is a fan of the legendary British comedy actor Charlie Chaplin and says that the 1936 film Modern Times is his favourite film! It’s the story of a kind and clumsy factory worker, who struggles to keep up with machines that move faster and faster and that kindness, friendship, and hope can help us get through tough times — even when the world feels big and confusing.

15. He loves to paint

When not acting, writing children’s books or recording animal-themed albums, John likes to draw and paint in his free time. In a TV show called Art Happens Here With John Lithgow, the actor studies different art styles including ceramics, and silkscreen printing in Los Angeles schools. “When I was a kid before I decided to be an actor, I wanted to be an artist, and a lot of that was pure inspiration from great art teachers in public schools,” he said.