If you spent any part of the late 1990s glued to a cathode-ray tube, you remember the Solomons. They weren't just another sitcom family; they were an "expeditionary force" from a barred spiral galaxy trying to figure out why humans wear bras and get road rage. Honestly, the actors on 3rd Rock from the Sun had one of the hardest jobs in comedy. They had to play high-functioning geniuses who simultaneously didn't know how to use a toaster.
It's been decades since the Big Giant Head called them back to the home planet. Yet, the show feels weirdly timeless. Maybe it’s because the cast was so overqualified. You had a Shakespearean heavyweight, an SNL pioneer, and a kid who would eventually become one of the most respected leading men in Hollywood.
The High Commander’s Eternal Reign
John Lithgow was already a big deal before he stepped into Dick Solomon’s oversized sweaters. He had two Oscar nominations and a pile of Tonys. Most actors with that resume would’ve turned their nose up at a network sitcom about aliens. But Lithgow? He went all in. He treated the role of a physics professor-turned-alien-leader with the same intensity most people reserve for Hamlet.
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Since the show ended, he’s basically become the king of the "prestige drama" pivot. If you haven't seen his turn as the Trinity Killer on Dexter, you're missing out on some of the most terrifying television ever made. He literally won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for it. Then he went and played Winston Churchill in The Crown, proving he could do "cranky British icon" just as well as "clueless alien."
Fast forward to right now, in 2026. Lithgow isn't slowing down. Just this year, he’s starring in Jimpa alongside Olivia Colman, a film that’s already getting massive buzz for its emotional depth. Oh, and if you’re a Harry Potter fan, the rumors are finally settled: he’s officially taking on the role of Albus Dumbledore for the HBO reboot series. It’s a perfect fit, really. The man has a natural gravity that makes you believe he knows all the secrets of the universe.
From Tommy Solomon to Hollywood A-List
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the ultimate success story of the group. Back then, he was just the kid with the long hair who played Tommy, the oldest member of the crew trapped in a teenager's body. It was a hilarious bit of casting—a weary old soul dealing with puberty.
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He didn't want to be a "child star" forever. You've got to respect the hustle; he actually left the show for a bit to study at Columbia University. When he came back to acting, he didn't go for the easy blockbusters. He did weird, gritty indie films like Mysterious Skin and Brick.
Eventually, Christopher Nolan came calling, and we got Inception and The Dark Knight Rises. Joe basically became the guy you hire when you need a lead who is both intellectual and physically capable. He also runs HitRecord, which is this cool collaborative media platform that’s won him a couple of Emmys for interactive programming. He’s always been more interested in the art than the celebrity side of things, which is probably why he’s stayed so grounded.
The Resilience of Kristen Johnston
Sally Solomon was the toughest member of the crew. Kristen Johnston played her with a manic, physical energy that won her two Emmys. She was a giant among men, literally and figuratively. But behind the scenes, things weren't as sunny as the show's title.
Johnston has been incredibly open about her struggles with addiction and health. In her memoir Guts, she didn't hold anything back. She dealt with a rare form of lupus called lupus myelitis that almost paralyzed her. There was a point where she couldn't even lift her head without a brace.
She's a survivor.
She found her way back to the spotlight in the sitcom Mom, where she reunited with her 3rd Rock co-star French Stewart. It was a beautiful "full circle" moment. Most recently, she’s been killing it in the Netflix sitcom Leanne, which dropped in mid-2025. Seeing her back at the top of her game is honestly one of the best things to happen to TV recently.
What Happened to the Rest of the Crew?
The supporting actors on 3rd Rock from the Sun were just as vital as the main four.
- Jane Curtin (Mary Albright): The "straight man" of the show. She was the anchor that kept the Solomons (mostly) grounded. Jane is a comedy legend—one of the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on SNL. She’s still working constantly, with recent appearances in The Conners and the film Queen Bees.
- French Stewart (Harry Solomon): Harry was the one with the transmitter in his head and that iconic squint. French has stayed busy with steady character work. He’s the kind of actor you see in everything from Becker to Leverage: Redemption. He’s carved out a great niche for himself as a reliable, hilarious guest star.
- Wayne Knight (Don Orville): Before he was the bumbling cop dating Sally, he was Newman on Seinfeld. He’s the undisputed king of the 90s sidekick. These days, he does a lot of high-profile voice work (he’s the Penguin in the Harley Quinn series) and recently showed up in 9-1-1: Lone Star.
- Simbi Khali (Nina Campbell): Nina was the long-suffering assistant who saw through all of Dick's nonsense. Simbi has done a lot of voice work for video games like Detroit: Become Human and has made sporadic appearances in shows like Better Things.
Why We Still Care About These Aliens
The show was a satire of human nature. It worked because the actors on 3rd Rock from the Sun didn't play the characters as "stupid." They played them as explorers. They were fascinated by the things we take for granted, like the concept of "boredom" or the etiquette of a funeral.
Looking back, the chemistry was lightning in a bottle. You can't manufacture that kind of ensemble energy. Even when the scripts were goofy, the performances were grounded in a weird kind of truth.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Revisit the Classics: If you haven't watched it in years, the series is currently available on various streaming platforms like Tubi and Peacock (availability can shift, so check your local listings).
- Read the Memoirs: If you want the real story of what was happening off-camera, grab a copy of Kristen Johnston’s Guts. It’s raw, funny, and incredibly moving.
- Track the New Projects: Keep an eye out for John Lithgow in Jimpa (February 2026 release) and prepare your watchlists for the upcoming Harry Potter series on HBO.