John Lithgow arrives at the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Earlier this week, Lithgow was announced to take on the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” television series.

"It's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid. But I'm very excited," the veteran actor said of the iconic role.

"It's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid." John Lithgow is heading to Hogwarts. The 3rd Rock From the Sun star confirmed recent rumors that he'll be playing Professor Albus Dumbledore on HBO's forthcoming Harry Potter TV series in an interview with Screenrant published Tuesday.

John Lithgow attends The Old Man" Season 1 NYC Tastemaker Event at ... [+] MOMA on June 14, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/) The first confirmed actor in the upcoming Harry Potter live-action TV series is John Lithgow who will be playing Hogwarts headmaster and wizard legend,

HBO’s Harry Potter series casts John Lithgow as Dumbledore, and the actor responds to concerns that he’s an American undertaking the role.

When asked about the offer to play Dumbledore, Lithgow described the decision as "not easy," recognizing it could define the final phase of his illustrious career.

HBO’s upcoming “Harry Potter” series has found its Professor Albus Dumbledore in actor John Lithgow — known for his previous roles in “Conclave,” “The Crown” and “Footloose.” Lithgow confirmed to Screenrant that he had committed to the role as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The Harry Potter TV show has its first bit of confirmed casting news after John Lithgow broke his silence on taking on the role of Albus Dumbledore. There were some rumors the part was initially going to Mark Rylance, but Lithgow has been the main name in contention for the past two weeks.

One thing about John Lithgow that is undeniable is that he is very much not English. Nevertheless, he's been picked to play the very, very English icon Dumbledore in HBO's upcoming "Harry Potter" series.