What Does John Lithgow Do with All Those Emmys?

Primetime Emmy Tally

Five

How He Got the Gold

Rochester, New York, native John Lithgow received three Emmys as lead actor for the NBC comedy 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996, ‘97 and ‘99), plus two guest-actor awards, one for NBC’s Amazing Stories (1986) and another for his work as the sadistic Trinity Killer on Showtime’s Dexter (2010).

Now for the Noms

Three more for 3rd Rock (1998, 2000 and ‘01), plus nods for the telefilms My Brother’s Keeper (1995), Resting Place (1986) and The Day After (1984).

Playing Favorites

“I think the Dexter win might have been the most satisfying. It was preceded by three Emmys for 3rd Rock, and while I’m very proud of that show, I was pleased to know I could win for something else.”

A Role to Die For

“Fortunately for me, the writing staff [on Dexter] had done all the research and found models for the Trinity Killer in real life. I was horrified. My biggest challenge [was] getting used to people crossing the street when they saw me coming.”

Bountiful Life

“This will sound like false modesty, but I actually feel like I’ve won too many awards to put them on display.

I put them in storage a few years ago. Since then I’ve won another Tony, another Emmy and another Golden Globe.

They’re on a shelf in the guest bathroom.”

The Write Stuff

“The most challenging roles to play are the badly written ones. I only won awards for extremely well-written parts.”

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Published in Emmy magazine issue no. 08-14.