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Biography
Bob Curnow toured with Stan Kenton’s Orchestra for a while within the mid-’60s, worked seeing that general supervisor and manufacturer for Kenton’s Creative Globe label in the 1970s, and it has extensive experience being a jazz educator. In 1994, Curnow had written arrangements of twelve parts by Pat Metheny and/or Lyle Mays for his 20-piece big music group and the effective (and uncommon) results had been released on the MAMA Foundation Compact disc.
Quick Facts
Full Name Bob Curnow
Profession Music Producer
Education West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Music Songs Are We There Yet, Riverdance, Spencer Is Here!, Towednack, Keystone Shuffle, Too Soon Tomorrow, Of Another Time, Lullaby Waltz, Kenton Kollage, 5-5-7, Not to Be Forgotten
Albums Towednack - Celtic Big Band
- Facts
- Filmography
- Awards
- Salaries
- Quotes
- Trademarks
- Pictures
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | He was awarded the 1973 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for "The Changing Room" on Broadway in New York City. |
| 2 | He was awarded the 1989 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement, Lead Performance, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre production at the James A. Doolittle Theatre (University of California) in Los Angeles, California. |
| 3 | Was considered for the role of The Joker in Batman (1989). |
| 4 | 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!". |
| 5 | Lives in Los Angeles, California. |
| 6 | Is an accomplished guitar player. |
| 7 | Celebrity spokesperson for Campbell Select soups since 2006. |
| 8 | Has said that Chaplin's Modern Times (1936) is his favorite film. |
| 9 | Has two grandchildren through his son, Ian Lithgow. |
| 10 | 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. |
| 11 | He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6666 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on May 2, 2001. |
| 12 | His ancestry includes Welsh (from his maternal grandfather), English, as well as French, Scots-Irish (Northern Irish), and Scottish. His father was born in the Dominican Republic, where the white American Lithgow family had lived for a few generations. |
| 13 | Even though his parents were both actors, he was inspired to get into acting by Peter Sellers. |
| 14 | Is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS). |
| 15 | Is a registered pastor of Rose Ministries, and has officiated the wedding of his goddaughter. |
| 16 | Three of his non-film roles have been based on movies involving Frank Oz and Ian McDiarmid. Most of Oz's and McDiarmid's collaborations are the Star Wars films, in which they play Yoda and Darth Sidious, respectively. Lithgow played Yoda on the radio. Oz also directed McDiarmid in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988). Lithgow appeared in the stage musical. |
| 17 | Was called in to replace another actor in Terms of Endearment (1983), and his role was filmed in three days during a break from filming Footloose (1984). |
| 18 | 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). |
| 19 | Has provided the voice of Yoda in the NPR radio dramatizations of "The Empire Strikes Back" (1983) and "Return of the Jedi" (1996). |
| 20 | Was considered for the role of Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown in Back to the Future (1985), which went to Christopher Lloyd. |
| 21 | Biography in: "Contemporary Authors". Volume 217, pg. 219-223. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2004. |
| 22 | Parents are Sarah Jane Price (born 1917) and theater director/producer Arthur Lithgow (1915-2004). |
| 23 | His father ran a Shakespearian Acting company in the 1950s which included David Carradine. |
| 24 | His wife Mary Yeager is an economics professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. |
| 25 | Has won both the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award as Best Actor in a Broadway musical, for performance in "Sweet Smell of Success". [May 2002] |
| 26 | Was considered for the role of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), which went to Anthony Hopkins. |
| 27 | Was the original voice of Hades in Disney's Hercules (1997) and recorded all the dialogue, but his performance was then replaced by the performance of James Woods. |
| 28 | Claims that his most difficult performance was in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) because he had to portray fear of the monster, although he could not really see it. |
| 29 | Hosted the Welcoming Reception for UCLA's new Chancellor Carnesale. |
| 30 | Parent of Ian Lithgow with Jean Taynton, and Phoebe Lithgow and Nathan Lithgow with Mary Yeager. |
| 31 | Was named a Fulbright scholar. |
| 32 | Studied at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. |
| 33 | 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. |
| 34 | Attended and graduated from Princeton High School in Princeton, New Jersey. |
Actor
Actor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beatriz at Dinner | 2017 | post-production | |
| Trial & Error | 2017 | TV Series pre-production | Larry / Larry Henderson |
| Miss Sloane | 2016 | ||
| The Crown | 2016 | TV Series | Winston Churchill Sir Winston Churchill |
| The Accountant | 2016 | Lamar Black | |
| Louie | 2015 | TV Series | Funny Man |
| Interstellar | 2014 | Donald | |
| Drunk History | 2014 | TV Series | George Washington William Randolph Hearst |
| The Jungle Bunch 2: The Great Treasure Quest | 2014 | Maurice (voice) | |
| The Homesman | 2014 | Reverend Alfred Dowd | |
| Once Upon a Time in Wonderland | 2013-2014 | TV Series | The White Rabbit |
| How I Met Your Mother | 2011-2014 | TV Series | Jerry Whitaker |
| Love Is Strange | 2014 | Ben Hull | |
| Timms Valley | 2013 | TV Movie | Ol' Gregory Timms |
| This Is 40 | 2012 | Oliver | |
| Shrek's Thrilling Tales | 2012 | Video short | Lord Farquad (voice) |
| The Campaign | 2012 | Glenn Motch | |
| The Colbert Report | 2012 | TV Series | Ad Narrator |
| National Theatre Live: The Magistrate | 2012 | Posket | |
| Spells | 2011/I | Video short | |
| New Year's Eve | 2011 | Jonathan Cox (uncredited) | |
| Rise of the Planet of the Apes | 2011 | Charles Rodman | |
| Leap Year | 2010 | Jack | |
| Dexter | 2009 | TV Series | Arthur Mitchell |
| The Macabre World of Lavender Williams | 2009 | Short | God |
| 30 Rock | 2009 | TV Series | John Lithgow |
| Confessions of a Shopaholic | 2009 | Edgar West | |
| Twenty Good Years | 2006-2008 | TV Series | John Mason |
| Dreamgirls | 2006 | Jerry Harris | |
| Paloozaville | 2006 | TV Series | The Mayor |
| Nova | 2005 | TV Series documentary | Narrator |
| Einstein's Big Idea | 2005 | TV Movie | Narrator (English version, voice) |
| Kinsey | 2004 | Alfred Seguine Kinsey | |
| The Life and Death of Peter Sellers | 2004 | Blake Edwards | |
| My Life, Inc. | 2004 | TV Movie | Jan van de Bunt (voice) |
| Shrek 4-D | 2003 | Short | Ghost of Farquaad (voice) |
| Bark, George | 2003 | Video short | Narrator (voice) |
| Freedom: A History of Us | 2003 | TV Series documentary | Justice Henry Billings Brown / Judge Ward Hunt / Roger Williams / ... |
| Orange County | 2002 | Bud Brumder | |
| Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party | 2001 | Video short | Lord Farquaad (singing voice) |
| 3rd Rock from the Sun | 1996-2001 | TV Series | Dr. Dick Solomon |
| Shrek | 2001 | Lord Farquaad (voice) | |
| C-Scam | 2000 | ||
| Rugrats in Paris: The Movie | 2000 | Jean-Claude (voice) | |
| Don Quixote | 2000 | TV Movie | Don Quixote de La Mancha Alonso Quixano |
| Cosby | 1999 | TV Series | John Lithgow |
| A Civil Action | 1998 | Judge Walter J. Skinner | |
| Homegrown | 1998 | Malcolm / Robert Stockman | |
| Johnny Skidmarks | 1998 | Sergeant Larry Skovik | |
| Officer Buckle and Gloria | 1997 | Short | Narrator (voice) |
| Hollow Point | 1996 | Thomas Livingston | |
| The Tuskegee Airmen | 1995 | TV Movie | Senator Conyers |
| Redwood Curtain | 1995 | TV Movie | Laird Riordan |
| Frasier | 1995 | TV Series | Madman Martinez |
| My Brother's Keeper | 1995 | TV Movie | Tom Bradley / Bob Bradley |
| Tales from the Crypt | 1995 | TV Series | Dr. Oscar Charles |
| Silent Fall | 1994 | Dr. Rene Harlinger | |
| Princess Caraboo | 1994 | Professor Wilkinson | |
| A Good Man in Africa | 1994 | Arthur Fanshawe, British High Commissioner | |
| World War II: When Lions Roared | 1994 | TV Movie | Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
| The Pelican Brief | 1993 | Smith Keen | |
| The Country Mouse & the City Mouse: A Christmas Tale | 1993 | TV Movie | Alexander (voice) |
| Love, Cheat & Steal | 1993 | Paul Harrington | |
| The Wrong Man | 1993 | Phillip Mills | |
| Cliffhanger | 1993 | Qualen | |
| Sylvester and the Magic Pebble | 1993 | Short | Narrator (voice) |
| Raising Cain | 1992 | Carter Cain Dr. Nix ... | |
| Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories | 1992 | Video short | Narrator (voice) |
| At Play in the Fields of the Lord | 1991 | Leslie Huben | |
| Ricochet | 1991 | Earl Talbot Blake | |
| The Boys | 1991 | TV Movie | Artie Margulies |
| L.A. Story | 1991 | Harry Zell (scenes deleted) | |
| Memphis Belle | 1990 | Lt.Col. Bruce Derringer | |
| Ivory Hunters | 1990 | TV Movie | Robert Carter |
| Kid-Size Concert | 1990 | Video short | Host |
| Traveling Man | 1989 | TV Movie | Ben Cluett |
| Out Cold | 1989 | Dave | |
| Distant Thunder | 1988 | Mark Lambert | |
| Harry and the Hendersons | 1987 | George Henderson | |
| Baby Girl Scott | 1987 | TV Movie | Neil Scott |
| The Manhattan Project | 1986 | John Mathewson | |
| Amazing Stories | 1986 | TV Series | John Walters |
| Resting Place | 1986 | TV Movie | Maj. Kendall Laird |
| Santa Claus | 1985 | B.Z. | |
| Mesmerized | 1985 | Oliver Thompson | |
| The Amazing Bone | 1985 | Short | Narrator (voice) |
| 2010 | 1984 | Dr. Walter Curnow | |
| The Glitter Dome | 1984 | TV Movie | Sgt. Marty Wellborn |
| The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension | 1984 | Lord John Whorfin Dr. Emilio Lizardo | |
| Footloose | 1984 | Rev. Shaw Moore | |
| Faerie Tale Theatre | 1984 | TV Series | Goldilocks' Father |
| Terms of Endearment | 1983 | Sam Burns | |
| The Day After | 1983 | TV Movie | Joe Huxley |
| Twilight Zone: The Movie | 1983 | John Valentine (Segment #4) | |
| Not in Front of the Children | 1982 | TV Movie | Richard Carruthers |
| The World According to Garp | 1982 | Roberta Muldoon | |
| I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can | 1982 | Mr. Brunner | |
| Blow Out | 1981 | Burke | |
| Big Blonde | 1980 | TV Movie | Herbie Morse |
| Mom, the Wolfman and Me | 1980 | TV Movie | Wally |
| The Oldest Living Graduate | 1980 | TV Movie | Clarence |
| All That Jazz | 1979 | Lucas Sergeant | |
| Rich Kids | 1979 | Paul Philips | |
| The Big Fix | 1978 | Sam Sebastian | |
| Great Performances | 1977 | TV Series | Capt. Thorne |
| Obsession | 1976 | Robert Lasalle | |
| The Country Girl | 1974 | TV Movie | Paul Unger |
| Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues | 1972 | John |
Soundtrack
Soundtrack
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love Is Strange | 2014 | performer: "Baby You've Got What it Takes", "Hail, Hail, the Gangs All Here" | |
| How I Met Your Mother | 2013 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
| Dexter | 2009 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
| The 59th Annual Tony Awards | 2005 | TV Special performer: "Great Big Stuff" | |
| The 56th Annual Tony Awards | 2002 | TV Special performer: "Dirt" | |
| 3rd Rock from the Sun | 1996-2000 | TV Series performer - 10 episodes |
Producer
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Days Gone | 2010 | associate producer | |
| Don Quixote | 2000 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Kid-Size Concert | 1990 | Video short executive producer |
Writer
Writer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kid-Size Concert | 1990 | Video short |
Art Department
Art Department
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love Is Strange | 2014 | additional artwork |
Thanks
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench | 2009 | thanks | |
| Antigone/Rites of Passion | 1990 | the producer wishes to thank |
Self
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conan | 2011 | TV Series | Himself - 'Jersey Shore' Auditioner |
| HBO First Look | 2011 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Vine Talk | 2011 | TV Series | Himself |
| Nova | 2001-2010 | TV Series documentary | Himself - Narrator / Narrator |
| The 2010 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | 2010 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series |
| The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards | 2010 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series |
| The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 2010 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television |
| The Real Revolutionaries | 2009 | Documentary | William Shockley |
| The National Parks: America's Best Idea | 2009 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Reader |
| Bill Moyers' Journal | 2009 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The 62nd Annual Tony Awards | 2008 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Direction of a Musical |
| Classical Baby (I'm Grown Up Now): The Poetry Show | 2008 | TV Movie | Himself |
| ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway | 2007 | Documentary | Himself (uncredited) |
| E! Live from the Red Carpet | 2007 | TV Series | Himself |
| Late Night with Conan O'Brien | 1994-2006 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Square Off | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 2006 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter |
| The Tony Danza Show | 2005 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Corazón de... | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Apprentice: Martha Stewart | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
| Getaway | 2005 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 59th Annual Tony Awards | 2005 | TV Special | Himself - Performer & Nominee: Best Leading Actor in a Musical |
| The Kinsey Report: Sex on Film | 2005 | Video documentary | Himself |
| CBS News Sunday Morning | 2005 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The 58th Annual Tony Awards | 2004 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Direction of a Play |
| VH1 Goes Inside | 2004 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The 57th Annual Tony Awards | 2003 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Leading Actor in a Musical |
| The 56th Annual Tony Awards | 2002 | TV Special | Himself - Performer & Winner: Best Leading Actor in a Musical |
| The Rosie O'Donnell Show | 1996-2002 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Bravo Profiles | 2002 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Heroes of Comedy | 2002 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Creating a Fairy Tale World: The Making of 'Shrek' | 2001 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Making of 'Rugrats in Paris' | 2000 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Culture Shock | 2000 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself - Narrator |
| 95 Worlds and Counting | 2000 | TV Movie documentary | Narrator (voice) |
| The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1999 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series |
| Adventures in Time: The National Geographic Millennium Special | 1999 | TV Movie documentary | Narrator (voice) |
| The Making of 'A Civil Action' | 1999 | Video short | Himself |
| The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | 1993-1999 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1999 | TV Movie documentary | Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy / Musical |
| The 50th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1998 | TV Special | Himself - Host and Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series |
| Three Nights at the Keck | 1998 | TV Movie documentary | Host |
| Courage: Profiles in Creativity | 1998 | Documentary | Himself |
| The 52nd Annual Tony Awards | 1998 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Revival of a Play |
| 4th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | 1998 | TV Special | Himself |
| Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope | 1998 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Gold Rush | 1998 | TV Movie documentary | Narrator |
| The 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1998 | TV Special | Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy / Musical |
| The 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1997 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series |
| Late Show with David Letterman | 1997 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| 3rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | 1997 | TV Special | Himself |
| Dennis Miller Live | 1997 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 54th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1997 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Best Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy / Musical |
| Christmas in Washington | 1996 | TV Special | Himself |
| The West | 1996 | TV Series documentary | Frank Cushing / Jedediah M. Grant / Uriah Oblinger / ... |
| The 48th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1996 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series & Presenter: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special |
| Special Effects: Anything Can Happen | 1996 | Short documentary | Narrator (voice) |
| The 50th Annual Tony Awards | 1996 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Scenic Design |
| 2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | 1996 | TV Special | Himself |
| The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1995 | TV Special | Himself - Nominated: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special & Presenter: Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Special |
| Showbiz Today | 1995 | TV Series | Himself |
| American Cinema | 1995 | TV Series documentary | Himself - Host |
| The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1994 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Outstanding Drama Series and Tribute to Jessica Tandy |
| Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects | 1994 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| The 50th Annual Golden Globe Awards | 1993 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter |
| Cinema 3 | 1993 | TV Series | Himself |
| Stallone on the Edge: The Making of Cliffhanger | 1993 | TV Short documentary | Himself |
| Happy Birthday, Bugs!: 50 Looney Years | 1990 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Night of 100 Stars III | 1990 | TV Movie | Himself |
| The More You Know | 1989 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 43rd Annual Tony Awards | 1989 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Featured Actress in a Play |
| The Pat Sajak Show | 1989 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Saturday Night Live | 1985-1988 | TV Series | Himself - Host / Various / Dr. Federico / ... |
| The 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1988 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Outstanding Music Direction |
| The 42nd Annual Tony Awards | 1988 | TV Special | Himself - Performer & Nominee: Best Leading Actor in a Play |
| The Art of Disney Animation | 1988 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The 41st Annual Tony Awards | 1987 | TV Special | Himself - Presenter: Best Featured Actor in a Play |
| Late Night with David Letterman | 1986 | TV Series | Himself |
| The 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards | 1986 | TV Special | Himself - Winner: Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series & Nominee: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special |
| The 39th Annual Tony Awards | 1985 | TV Special | Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Play |
| 2010: The Odyssey Continues | 1984 | Documentary short | Himself (uncredited) |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1984 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The 56th Annual Academy Awards | 1984 | TV Special documentary | Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in Supporting Role |
| The 55th Annual Academy Awards | 1983 | TV Special | Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role |
| The 27th Annual Tony Awards | 1973 | TV Special | Himself |
| Broadway: The Next Generation | 2018 | Documentary filming | Himself |
| Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age | 2016 | Documentary post-production | Himself |
| Hickory Dickory Doc: John Lithgow on 'Raising Cain' | 2017 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | 2014-2016 | TV Series | Himself / Himself - Guest |
| CBS This Morning | 2016 | TV Series | Himself |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2008-2016 | TV Series | Himself |
| Live with Kelly and Michael | 2005-2016 | TV Series | Himself - Guest / Himself |
| Independent Lens | 2016 | TV Series documentary | Himself - Narrator |
| Not One to Hold a Grudge: An Interview with John Lithgow | 2016 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Shakespeare Live! From the RSC | 2016 | TV Movie | Himself - Performer |
| Lord John: An Interview with John Lithgow | 2015 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Inside 'Interstellar' | 2015 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Best of Enemies | 2015 | Documentary | Gore Vidal (voice) |
| 9 Kisses | 2014 | Short | Himself |
| The View | 2005-2014 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers | 2014 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Today | 2003-2014 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Broadway.com Show | 2014 | TV Series | Himself |
| Projections of America | 2014 | Documentary | Narrator (voice) |
| The Roosevelts: An Intimate History | 2014 | TV Series documentary | Himself / Miscelleaneous |
| Great Performances | 2014 | TV Series | Himself - Host |
| The Colbert Report | 2011-2014 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Game Day with Rex and Kevo | 2013 | TV Movie | Himself |
| The Chew | 2013 | TV Series | Himself |
| Fox and Friends | 2013 | TV Series | Himself |
| Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did for Love | 2013 | Documentary | Himself |
| Casting By | 2012 | Documentary | Himself |
| The American Academy of Arts and Sciences: The Heart of the Matter | 2012 | Short | Himself |
| The 66th Annual Tony Awards | 2012 | TV Movie documentary | Himself - Nominee: Best Leading Actor in a Play |
| Working in the Theatre | 1988-2012 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | 2010-2012 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The 78th Annual Drama League Awards | 2012 | TV Special | Himself |
| LA Philharmonic's LIVE with Gustavo Dudamel | 2012 | Himself | |
| Shrek: Once Upon a Time | 2011 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts | 2011 | TV Movie | Himself - Presenter |
| Tavis Smiley | 2006-2011 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| The Hour | 2011 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Marilyn Denis Show | 2011 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| Prohibition | 2011 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Reader / H.L. Mencken |
Archive Footage
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Sleep TV3 | 2015 | TV Series | Dr. Emilio Lizardo |
| TMZ on TV | 2014 | TV Series | George Henderson |
| Pioneers of Television | 2014 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Clarence - TV Film Oldest Living Graduate |
| Cinemassacre's Monster Madness | 2012 | TV Series documentary | John Valentine (Segment #4) |
| American Masters | 2012 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Our Footloose Remake | 2011 | Reverend Shaw Moore | |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2008 | TV Series | Himself |
| Saturday Night Live: The Best of Jon Lovitz | 2005 | TV Special | Baudelaire (uncredited) |
| La mandrágora | 2005 | TV Series | Lawrence Jameson |
| The Making of the Life and Death of Peter Sellers | 2004 | Video short | Blake Edwards (uncredited) |
| Buckaroo Banzai Declassified | 2002 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| 60 Minutes | 1999 | TV Series documentary | Himself - Actor (segment "Rumpole of the Bailey") |
| Saturday Night Live 25 | 1999 | TV Special documentary | Baudelaire (uncredited) |
| Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary | 1989 | TV Special | Baudelaire (uncredited) |
Won awards
Won awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Movies for Grownups Award | AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | Best Grownup Love Story | Love Is Strange (2014) | · Alfred Molina |
| 2010 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, USA | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Dexter (2006) | |
| 2010 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Dexter (2006) | |
| 2010 | OFTA Television Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Dexter (2006) | |
| 2009 | Satellite Award | Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television | Dexter (2006) | |
| 2001 | Star on the Walk of Fame | Walk of Fame | Television | On 2 May 2001. At 6666 Hollywood Blvd. | |
| 1999 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1998 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1997 | Golden Satellite Award | Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1997 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1997 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, USA | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1997 | American Comedy Award | American Comedy Awards, USA | Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1997 | OFTA Television Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Actor in a Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1997 | OFTA Television Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1996 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1986 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series | Amazing Stories (1985) | |
| 1984 | Saturn Award | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Best Supporting Actor | Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) | |
| 1982 | LAFCA Award | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The World According to Garp (1982) | |
| 1982 | NYFCC Award | New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The World According to Garp (1982) |
Nominated awards
Nominated awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Independent Spirit Award | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Male Lead | Love Is Strange (2014) | |
| 2011 | Dagger | Crime Thriller Awards, UK | Best Supporting Actor | Dexter (2006) | |
| 2011 | OFTA Television Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | How I Met Your Mother (2005) | |
| 2010 | Scream Award | Scream Awards | Best Villain | Dexter (2006) | |
| 2010 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Dexter (2006) | · Preston Bailey · Julie Benz · Jennifer Carpenter · Brando Eaton · Courtney Ford · Michael C. Hall · Desmond Harrington · C.S. Lee · Rick Peters · James Remar · Christina Robinson · Lauren Luna Vélez · David Zayas |
| 2010 | TCA Award | Television Critics Association Awards | Individual Achievement in Drama | Dexter (2006) | |
| 2010 | Saturn Award | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Best Guest Starring Role on Television | Dexter (2006) | |
| 2010 | Golden Nymph | Monte-Carlo TV Festival | Outstanding Actor - Drama Series | Dexter (2006) | |
| 2007 | Grammy | Grammy Awards | Best Musical Album for Children | For the Album "The Sunny Side of the Street" | |
| 2005 | Gold Derby TV Award | Gold Derby Awards | TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actor | The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) | |
| 2005 | Grammy | Grammy Awards | Best Spoken Word Album | · Lily Tomlin · Tyne Daly |
|
| 2005 | Grammy | Grammy Awards | Best Spoken Word Album for Children | For the Album "Carnival of the Animals" | |
| 2003 | Grammy | Grammy Awards | Best Spoken Word Album For Children | For the Album "Ogden Nash's the Christmas that Almost wasn't" | |
| 2001 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries | Don Quixote (2000) | |
| 2001 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 2000 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1999 | Golden Satellite Award | Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1999 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | · Jane Curtin · Joseph Gordon-Levitt · Kristen Johnston · Simbi Khali · Wayne Knight · French Stewart · Elmarie Wendel |
| 1999 | Q Award | Viewers for Quality Television Awards | Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1999 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, USA | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1999 | OFTA Television Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1999 | People's Choice Award | People's Choice Awards, USA | Favorite Male TV Performer | ||
| 1998 | People's Choice Award | People's Choice Awards, USA | Favorite Male Television Performer | ||
| 1998 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | · Jane Curtin · Joseph Gordon-Levitt · Kristen Johnston · Simbi Khali · Wayne Knight · French Stewart · Elmarie Wendel |
| 1998 | Q Award | Viewers for Quality Television Awards | Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1998 | Golden Globe | Golden Globes, USA | Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1998 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1998 | OFTA Television Award | Online Film & Television Association | Best Actor in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1997 | People's Choice Award | People's Choice Awards, USA | Favorite Male Television Performer | ||
| 1997 | Actor | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | · Jane Curtin · Joseph Gordon-Levitt · Kristen Johnston · French Stewart |
| 1997 | TCA Award | Television Critics Association Awards | Individual Achievement in Comedy | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1997 | Q Award | Viewers for Quality Television Awards | Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1996 | People's Choice Award | People's Choice Awards, USA | Favorite Male TV Performer | ||
| 1996 | Q Award | Viewers for Quality Television Awards | Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series | 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | My Brother's Keeper (1995) | |
| 1994 | Razzie Award | Razzie Awards | Worst Supporting Actor | Cliffhanger (1993) | |
| 1993 | Saturn Award | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Best Actor | Raising Cain (1992) | |
| 1990 | CableACE | CableACE Awards | Actor in a Movie or Miniseries | Traveling Man (1989) | |
| 1986 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | Resting Place (1986) | |
| 1985 | Saturn Award | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Best Supporting Actor | The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) | |
| 1984 | Oscar | Academy Awards, USA | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Terms of Endearment (1983) | |
| 1984 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | The Day After (1983) | |
| 1983 | Oscar | Academy Awards, USA | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | The World According to Garp (1982) |
2nd place awards
2nd place awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | LAFCA Award | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Terms of Endearment (1983) | |
| 1983 | NSFC Award | National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA | Best Supporting Actor | The World According to Garp (1982) |
3rd place awards
3rd place awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie | Award shared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | NYFCC Award | New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Terms of Endearment (1983) |
| Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | $200,000 /episode (1999-2000 season) |
| 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) | $75,000 /episode (1996-1997 season) |
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | [on working with Saul Zaentz on At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)] Saul loves being answerable to nobody. That's the most extraordinary thing about him. The dailies didn't get sent anywhere for anybody else's approval and cost overruns weren't monitored by a bunch of executives thousand of miles away. He owns it all. He does it the way he wants it. It's incredible how that affects every aspect of production. I've never really worked with anyone like him. Being on the set, playing hearts with Saul, I realised the secret to his success: he can spot everyone's strengths and weaknesses right away. He was a killer. He'd shoot the moon three out of every four games. I don't know if it was the giant bugs or the humidity, but I couldn't sleep for weeks. We had terrible weather and horrible actor-director arguments, but Saul was unflappable. He went through all the same hardships we did, but he behaved as if there was no other place he'd rather be. |
| 2 | No bad guy thinks he's a bad guy. He thinks he's a good guy. |
| 3 | My sense of myself is that I'm a character actor, and character actors are ready, willing and able to do anything, to be totally different from themselves. That's my job, to be ready. I'm some kind of first responder. |
| 4 | One of the things you learn as an actor is that human beings are capable of almost anything. I'm sort of in the business of illustrating that fact. |
| 5 | We deal in very volatile chemicals. We're in the business of using real emotions to bring pretend emotions to life. We all have our secrets and we all have our deceptions. Acting, at its best, is all about deceiving people, and that makes it all the more interesting to us. |
| 6 | [from a 1984 interview] My career just happened to me. I didn't manage it. My plate is full all the time, but I never have the opportunity to choose from ten parts. I do turn down junk. I've played important parts in movies but I haven't yet played the person the story is about. The joy is in the work. You can get too hung up on where you are. I'm not preoccupied with the desire to be top banana, but I do want to play bigger parts. |
| 7 | I've had parallel careers in the theatre and in movies. In the theatre, I often play characters with a strong sense of innocence who aren't as intelligent as I am. The reason: my size. I seem sort of big and good-natured on stage. It would be too much for a big man to play a forbidding character on stage. So I play big people who are fairly gentle. It's a wonderful thing to build a career on. What I offer to movie-makers is that I can put a tremendous amount of theatrical background and technical equipment at their disposal. I can make believable the over-the-top characters. |
| 8 | In general, my basic rule of thumb is just act in things you would want to see yourself in. I have a taste for all kinds of movies. Usually, it's a question of whether it will be fun, whether I respect the people behind it, whether I would like to work with them. I'm sure I'm a serious-minded actor, but I still value the frivolity of acting. It's a real exuberant, entertaining thing to do. I never lose track of that. |
| 9 | [on the constant time-slot changes and ultimate cancellation of 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996)] If NBC had set out to ruin it, they couldn't have done a better job. They kept trying to use us as a weapon instead of a show to be taken care of. It would have been nice to have stayed a big hit, but I'd rather be a great show that nobody was watching than a lousy show that was a big hit, which is the case for most of the others. |
| # | Trademark |
|---|---|
| 1 | Receding hairline and bold blue eyes |
| 2 | Wild, over-the-top acting. |
| 3 | Often plays fathers and family men |
| 4 | Often plays villains or mentally unstable characters |
| 5 | Towering height and slender frame |
| 6 | Distinctive dramatic voice |
