GIANT

Emmy Winner, 80, Makes History With Latest Award

The Hollywood icon just crushed a 26-year-old theater record.

A legendary performer has officially stomped his way into the Broadway history books. At 80 years old, John Lithgow secured a monumental victory at the Tony Awards, becoming the oldest man ever to take home a competitive acting Tony. The historic milestone officially shattered the previous record held by Roy Dotrice, who won at age 77 in 2000. Lithgow clinched his third career Tony for his leading role in Giant, a searing drama centered on children’s author Roald Dahl’s virulent antisemitism. The triumph also established a staggering 53-year-gap between his first Tony win in 1973 and his latest, marking the longest stretch between competitive acting wins in the history of the awards. The win officially inducts Lithgow into an elite circle of just four performers who have managed to win across three distinct acting categories. “I’m such a lucky actor,” Lithgow told the crowd while accepting the trophy. “Two Tony bookends with 53 years between them... this moment has got to be one of the best.”