This Day in Rochester History: Oct. 19: John Lithgow born in Rochester in 1945

Accomplished actor John Lithgow, who has earned five prime-time Emmys, two Golden Globes, two Tony Awards and has been nominated twice for the Academy Award, was born 68 years ago today in Rochester.

The son of Arthur Lithgow (1915-2004), who was born in the Dominican Republic, and Sarah Jane Price (1917-2012), who grew up at 326 Barrington St. in Rochester, John Lithgow was born into a theatrical family. According to Sarah Lithgow's 2012 obituary on the website of her college alma mater: "Sarah was married for 65 years to Arthur Lithgow '38, whom she met at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and with whom she lived a peripatetic and adventurous life in regional theatre, establishing Shakespeare Festivals, starting at Antioch and adding others throughout Ohio and beyond."

John Lithgow spent many years of his youth in Ohio and graduated from high school in Princeton N.J. He graduated from Harvard College.

Though Lithgow earned Oscar nominations for "The World According to Garp" in 1982 and "Terms of Endearment" in 1983, he is probably best known for his starring role in the NBC comedy "3rd Rock From the Sun" which ran from 1996 to 2001. Lithgow won three Emmys for his portrayal of the nutty extraterrestrial Dr. Dick Solomon on the show. In addition to his three Emmy wins for "3rd Rock," Lithgow earned three additional Emmy nominations with his character.

Lithgow has also won two Emmys for guest appearances on "Amazing Stories" and "Dexter."

Also a star of the stage, Lithgow won Tony Awards in 1973 and 2002. He has earned several other Tony nominations.

Lithgow remains in demand in Hollywood. IMDB.com, the movie website, lists four films that include Lithgow scheduled to be released in 2014 or 2015.