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John Lithgow
| Plays | Albus Dumbledore |
| Born | 19 October 1945, Rochester, New York |
| Age when filming began | 79 (July 2025) |
| Age at the premiere | 81 (25 December 2026) |
| From | United States |
| Casting announced | 14 April 2025 |
| IMDb | John Lithgow |
Photo: HBO
John Lithgow, one of the best-known American actors of his generation, plays Dumbledore. He confirmed the part himself in February 2025, before HBO announced it on 14 April 2025 with Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, Nick Frost, Paul Whitehouse and Luke Thallon.
If the series runs for seven seasons, he will play Dumbledore into his late eighties. He has said: “I’ll be about 87 years old at the wrap party” [Good Morning America]. In the books Dumbledore is far older: J.K. Rowling has said he was born in 1881.
How the books describe Albus Dumbledore, and every difference so far, is on the character page.
Other roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–2001 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Dick Solomon |
| 2001 | Shrek | Lord Farquaad (voice) |
| 2009 | Dexter | Arthur Mitchell |
| 2016–2019 | The Crown | Winston Churchill |
| 2024 | Giant (stage) | Roald Dahl |
In interviews
On the role: “it’s going to define me for the last chapter of my life” [Good Morning America].
Sources: Wikipedia.
More of the cast
Dominic McLaughlin · Arabella Stanton · Alastair Stout · Janet McTeer · Paapa Essiedu · Nick Frost · Lox Pratt · Daniel Rigby · Bel Powley · Amos Kitson · Rory Wilmot · Luke Thallon · Katherine Parkinson · Ruari Spooner · Gracie Cochrane · Anton Lesser · Warwick Davis · Sirine Saba · Louise Brealey · Orson Matthews · Paul Whitehouse · Johnny Flynn · Kit Harington · Rafe Spall. See also the ages of the cast and the full cast.
