In the late 2000s, John Lithgow was expecting high-caliber proposals from television writers. However, he was not prepared to hear about a complex antagonist whose story ventures into remarkably dark territory. The character in question was Arthur Mitchell from the hit television series ‘Dexter‘ (2006).
He listened to the narration of Arthur’s psychological horrors and the disturbing double life in mounting disbelief. Fascinated yet deeply unsettled by the twisted narrative, the actor bluntly rejected the role, shocking everyone in the room. Let’s explore why Lithgow turned down the role that would later become one of his greatest performances.
The Role John Lithgow Refused At First
Before John took on the sinister role in ‘Dexter,’ he had established himself as a versatile performer. It’s no wonder showrunner Clyde Phillips and executive producer John Goldwyn envisioned him for Arthur’s part. To keep the show’s storyline shrouded in secrecy until filming began, they arranged a private meeting with Lithgow.
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The duo revealed all the details of the story, including the mortifying description of Arthur. Hearing about the character’s disturbing crimes and an intricate double life, Lithgow became more intrigued and repeatedly asked the writers to go on.
However, Lithgow disliked certain aspects of the character and declined the offer immediately after the meeting. Though the script seemed tempting, the actor believed he could not convincingly portray such a disturbing character.
“They told me the entire detailed unfolding story,” Lithgow told GQ. “I kept saying, ‘Well, wait a minute, what happened to the baby?’ You know, things like that. They’d have to tell me, and I kept on saying, ‘More, more, more’, to the point where they had given me way, way much more information than they intended.”
“But they were trying to persuade me to take the part. Having heard all of that, I said no. ‘I won’t tell anybody any of this, but no. I’m not doing that,’” he added. Moreover, John was quite confident that Arthur Mitchell was too dark for audiences at that point.
Although the ‘Conclave’ star is known for taking on unusual and challenging roles, this character scared him because of the lack of interest among other actors and the uncertainty about how audiences would interpret it. He eventually changed his mind and accepted the role. The reason?
The Character’s Complexity Won Lithgow Over
While thinking about Arthur, Lithgow gradually realized that the character could be more intricate than he initially thought. What fascinated the actor was the possibility of playing someone struggling to control his actions rather than an outright villain.
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Besides being the sadistic Trinity Killer, Arthur was also revealed as a churchgoer, a volunteer home builder, and a family man. These multiple facets of his life set him apart from the villains of other shows. Lithgow thought it would give him the opportunity to create a unique image.
The actor began to see the character differently, realizing the similarities between Arthur and Dexter. As a result, Lithgow was convinced of the importance and complexity of the task assigned. In the end, he played a role that was unlike any of his previous acting gigs.
In addition to receiving recognition from fans, the actor won the Golden Globe and an Emmy for the role. Many people consider the fourth season of ‘Dexter’ to be the best for its creativity and the acting talent on display, and Lithgow’s standout performance surely remains the highlight.
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