Oldest actor to win a Tony

With his latest win at the Tony Awards, for best leading actor in a drama for the play “Giant,” John Lithgow (80) became the oldest man ever to win a competitive Tony Award for acting.

The previous record was held by Roy Dotrice, who won the award for supporting actor in a drama at age 77 for the play “A Moon for the Misbegotten” in 2000. He is followed by two theater veterans: the late Dick Latessa, who won the award for supporting actor in the musical “Hairspray” at age 73 in 2003, and Andre De Shields, who tied the record in 2019 for “Hadestown.”

De Shields, who also turns 80 this year, was nominated again in the supporting actor in a musical category for his role as Old Deuteronomy in the revived production of “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” but lost to Ali Lois Burzui from the musical “The Lost Boys.”

In the play "Giant," a play about anti-Semitism by writer Roald Dahl, Lithgow set another record - the longest gap between two competitive Tony Awards for acting in history.

He won his first award in 1973 for his supporting role in the play “The Changing Room.” The 53-year gap surpassed Angela Lanberry's previous record of 43 years (1966-2009). Patti LuPone, at 42, and Frank Langella, at 41, were also close.

This was Lithgow's third Tony Award of his career, beating out competition from Nathan Lane for "Death of a Salesman," Mark Strong for "Oedipus," Daniel Radcliffe for "Every Brilliant Thing," and Will Harrison for "Punch."

With this win, Lithgow joined a very exclusive club of only four performers. With awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama (“The Changing Room”), Best Leading Actor in a Musical (“Sweet Smell of Success”) (2002), and Best Leading Actor in a Drama (“Giant”), he became one of only four actors to win Tony Awards in three different acting categories.

He is joined by Kevin Kline and Boyd Gaines, also winners in three categories, and Audrey MacDonald, the only performer to win in four different acting categories.

Upon accepting the award, Lithgow said:

“I am a truly lucky actor. This is my third Tony Award. I won my first 53 years ago, on my Broadway debut in the American premiere of an English play, which, by an incredible coincidence, just like ‘Giant,’ originated at London’s Royal Court Theatre. Two Tony Awards that are bookends of sorts, with 53 years between them. Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of fantastic theatre artists. I have had dozens and dozens of unforgettable moments on stage, but I have to tell you, this moment is one of the most beautiful of my life.”