John Lithgow secures historic win at the Tony Awards: “I’m such a lucky actor”
John Lithgow has secured a historic win at the Tony Awards, 53 years after his first honour at the ceremony.
The veteran actor accepted the award for ‘Lead Actor in a Play’ at the awards, which was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York on June 12th, in recognition of his role in the play Giant, charting the controversies of author Roald Dahl.
However, the win was significant in more ways than one, as not only did it make Lithgow the oldest actor to ever win the award at 80 years old, but it also marked the longest stint for an actor between occasions of being honoured at the Tonys.
“I’m such a lucky actor,” Lithgow began, according to Deadline, referencing his two previous wins over half a century ago in the ‘Lead Actor in a Musical’ category for The Changing Room and Sweet Smell of Success.
“Two Tony bookends, with 53 years between them,” the actor continued, adding, “In those years, I have worked with hundreds of fantastic theatre artists. I’ve had dozens and dozens of ecstatic theatre moments onstage. But I’ve got to tell you, this moment has got to be one of the best.”
Lithgow also voiced a thought that many would often be too scared to say among the grace and glamour of such award ceremonies, as he said: “Oh my God, this is wonderful. The other gentlemen in my category, you all deserve this. I got it.”
The star of stage and screen clearly felt he deserved the award “because I play the lead role in an extraordinary play, Giant. A stunning play made by people full of love and kindness. But it’s a play about cruelty in a cruel age.”
Lithgow was referencing the play in terms of its dissection of Dahl’s controversies in the 1980s, when he was strongly criticised over antisemitic comments, which heavily tarnished his legacy as an author.
However, Dahl is not the only controversial character Lithgow will be stepping into the shoes of this year, as he is set to assume the role of Dumbledore in the new HBO television series remake of Harry Potter.
The actor has attracted criticism for taking the part, as a result of JK Rowling’s exclusionary views on transgender people. Despite this, Lithgow insisted at an event in February that he had not met the author, and that her views were “ironic and inexplicable”.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.