The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert John Lithgow (Extended)
Mar 14, 2026
John Lithgow, veteran actor and author known for stage, film, and TV, returns to discuss his Broadway role in Giant and his late-career vigor. He talks about storytelling as craft, the tools of acting like voice and empathy, working with directors, memorable awards moments, and reads a personal poem. Short, reflective, and full of theatrical anecdotes.
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Acting As Society's Storyteller
- John Lithgow says acting is fundamentally about telling stories that people crave every day.
- He frames actors as the societal conduit delivering narratives across TV, Broadway, opera, and symphony contexts.
All Tools Matter In Performance
- Lithgow attributes performance to a mix of body, voice, emotional depth, curiosity, and empathy.
- He emphasizes using all tools together rather than a single dominant talent when approaching a role.
How Others' Belief Expanded His Range
- Lithgow recalls being cast in roles he thought he couldn't play until others believed in him.
- He credits directors and collaborators for pushing him into ecstatic, career-defining performances.