John Lithgow's son, Ian, has been featured in various films and TV shows over the years. The actor graduated from Harvard University in 1994.
John Lithgow is in the headlines after his victory at the Tony Awards 2026. The actor won in the category of Best Lead Actor for his performance in the play, Giant. John’s win has specifically grabbed a lot of attention as he is the oldest man ever to win a Tony Award. For the unversed, John is 80 years old. This is also his third victory at the event after he won the same award in 1973 and 2002.
John has built a fan base over the years with his roles in films and TV shows like Footloose, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 3rd Rock from the Sun, The Old Man, and more. Outside the entertainment industry, John has been a father of three children, including his two sons, Ian and Nathan. Ian is the most famous son of John, and Nathan has been out of the spotlight for all these years. Keep reading to know more about Ian!
Ian Lithgow has pursued a career similar to his father’s. However, Ian is seemingly selective in terms of his projects, which could be one of the reasons that he has not appeared in multiple movies and TV shows in a year. Notably, Ian’s acting career dates back to 1993, when he appeared in a film titled A Pound of Flesh. Ian later gained recognition for his role as 'Leon' in 3rd Rock from the Sun between 1996 and 2001.
Ian also has some short films to his credit, including Puppet, Love and Mertz, and Fellini’s Donut. In 2025, he portrayed 'Fred Straub' in two episodes of Godfather of Harlem Season 4. He is additionally known for his brief appearances on shows like Bull, The Blacklist, and Perry Mason.
Ian Lithgow spent his childhood in New York City while his father was busy with his acting work on stage. Notably, Ian went to Harvard University for his higher studies, and before that, he worked at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Ian was assigned multiple duties at the place, including helping with set construction, painting, and more. Ian Lithgow later developed an interest in theater when he was at Harvard University. He recalled the time in an interview and said:
“I took classes in theater, even though you can’t major in theater; did a lot of performing; read a ton of plays; somewhere found time to fulfil my English major.”
Following his graduation in 1994, Ian Lithgow joined multiple theaters like Ahmanson, Goodman, Pasadena Playhouse, and more. He was a resident of Philadelphia for a long time, following his marriage to Rachel Lithgow in 2001. The duo share two children and separated in 2018.
Two years after his marriage to Rachel, Ian Lithgow enrolled at Antioch University in 2003 and obtained an MA in clinical psychology. He later became a clinical psychotherapist in New York City. However, Ian’s career took a different turn after he came to Philadelphia, where he did not get a license to continue his work in psychotherapy. Ian returned to the acting field and worked on stage for some time. Ian once referred to his early days and the experience of living in Philadelphia by saying:
“I never expected to live in Philadelphia but actually have roots here because my mother grew up in Ardmore. I grew up around the performing arts and spent a lot of time around rehearsal halls and backstage in my formative years. My father was still living in New York, doing theater almost exclusively.”
What are your thoughts about Ian Lithgow’s journey as an actor and psychotherapist over the years? Let us know.
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