John Lithgow, 80, Wins Oldest Male Acting Tony
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- John Lithgow won the Tony Award for best actor in a play for “Giant,” making him the oldest male acting winner at age 80.
- John Lithgow set a record for the longest interval between competitive acting Tony wins—53 years—surpassing Angela Lansbury’s 43‑year gap.
- John Lithgow joins a select group of four performers who have won Tonys in three different acting categories, alongside Kevin Kline, Boyd Gaines, and Audra McDonald.
- John Lithgow’s win came over nominees Nathan Lane (for “Death of a Salesman”), Mark Strong, Daniel Radcliffe, and Will Harrison, who all missed the award.
- André De Shields was nominated again for a featured actor in a musical role (Old Deuteronomy in “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”) but lost to Ali Louis Bourzgui.
Why it matters: Lithgow’s historic win gives him the distinction of being the oldest male Tony recipient and sets a 53‑year gap record, underscoring his enduring talent. The honor also sidelines younger contenders like Nathan Lane and Ali Louis Bourzgui, highlighting the competitive edge of veteran performers.
