Aliens everywhere we look! Between Mars Attacks!, Men in Black, Independence Day, The X-Files, and It’s safe to say that E.T.s were a hot topic in Hollywood in the 1990s, thanks to films like Contact and 3rd Rock From the Sun, but perhaps nothing captured the phenomenon like 3rd Rock From the Sun.
The sitcom’s strangest premise in television history was featured in its January 1996 premiere. In order to conduct research on human society for their home planet, four extraterrestrial visitors—played by actors John Lithgow, Kristen Johnston, French Stewart, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt—pretended to be a human family living close to Cleveland, Ohio.
The team reported to an off-world boss known as the Big Giant Head, who was initially unseen but later materialised as William Shatner, under the alias of Solomon. They were also good friends with Dr. Mary Albright, a nearby anthropologist who was portrayed by Jane Curtin.
It’s strange, but in 1997, the programme won the most Emmys of any programme nominated in that year, taking home awards for Lithgow and Johnston in the categories of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, respectively, in five of the eight categories in which they competed.
In addition, the programme won two Screen Actors Guild awards and two Golden Globes for its debut season in 1996.
Although Lithgow’s performance as Dick Solomon received widespread praise from critics and recognition from the entertainment community, he had to be persuaded to join the cast. He had already declined a part on Cheers; Kelsey Grammer played Frasier Crane, who later received his own spinoff.
The Tony winner was unaware that husband-and-wife cocreators Bonnie and Terry Turner were attempting to persuade him to appear on 3rd Rock when they invited him out to breakfast one day.
I pondered, “How am I going to politely decline and leave this situation?
In an interview with the Television Academy in 2012, the actor recalled the incident. The two quickly convinced him to join 3rd Rock From the Sun, though: “Within five minutes, [they’d] persuaded me to be in 3rd Rock From the Sun.”
Many of the cast members have gone on to appear in other renowned series, such as Sex and the City and The Crown, since the show’s final episode aired in May 2001.
Find out what the Solomons and their friends have been up to since the end of the sitcom by scrolling down:
David DeLuise
David DeLuise, who portrayed Bug Pollone, another of Dick’s classmates, was the actor Dom DeLuise’s son. Since then, he has been in Vampires Suck, Gilmore Girls, and Wizards of Waverly Place, where he played Selena Gomez‘s father. Riley and Dylan, two offspring of the former ER star and ex-wife Brigitte DeLuise. Since 2019, he has been wed to German actress Julia Stoepel.
Elmarie Wendel
Mamie Dubcek, the Solomons’ eccentric landlady, was portrayed by the late Wendel. The singer and actress voiced a character in The Lorax and made appearances on episodes of NYPD Blue, General Hospital, and The Exes before passing away in 2018. J.C., her daughter Wendel is an actress as well.
French Stewart
Stewart portrayed Harry Solomon, who later served as the team’s transmitter, relaying communications from the Big Giant Head despite not initially being intended to be a part of the alien mission. Later, he made cameos on numerous shows, including Private Practice, Ally McBeal, Bones, Pushing Daisies, and many more. The Emmy nominee played a major part on Mom for the first two seasons before appearing in guest roles up until the show’s cancellation in 2021. Stewart wed Katherine LaNasa, an actress whom he met while working on the set of 3rd Rock, from 1998 to 2009. In 2011, he wed Vanessa Claire Perkins. Helene, their only child, is a sibling.
Ian Lithgow
As one of Dick’s students named Leon, the actor made an appearance with his father. He has appeared in Bull, Tesla, The Blacklist, and Perry Mason since the end of 3rd Rock. Additionally, he works as a psychologist in New York City.
Jan Hooks
Vicki Dubcek, daughter of Mamie, Harry’s girlfriend, and ultimately the Big Giant Head’s wife, were played by the former Saturday Night Live cast member. The comedian had appearances on Primetime Glick and 30 Rock before she passed away in 2014. She also provided voices for Futurama, The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show, and Futurama. Although she briefly dated her SNL co-star Kevin Nealon in the middle of the 1980s, the Georgia native was never wed.
Jane Curtin
The legendary Dr. Mary Albright, an anthropologist and intermittent girlfriend of Dick, was portrayed by the Saturday Night Live star. In addition to guest-starring in episodes of Broad City, The Good Wife, and The Good Fight, the Massachusetts native has since made appearances in I Don’t Know How She Does It, The Heat, The Spy Who Dumped Me, and Godmothered. Patrick Lynch, a producer, and she have been wed since 1975. Tess is their only child together.
John Lithgow
Lithgow portrayed the role of the expedition’s High Commander, also known as Dick Solomon. The stage and screen veteran has a vast resume of TV, movie and theatre credits, but some of the highlights include a 12-episode run on Dexter, guest appearances on 30 Rock and How I Met Your Mother and roles in Interstellar, Pet Seminary and Bombshell. In the first three seasons of The Crown, he also charmed viewers as Winston Churchill. Since 1981, the Harvard graduate has been wed to Mary Yeager. Daughter Phoebe and son Nathan are their joint children. In addition, Lithgow has a son named Ian from his first union with Jean Taynton. Along with his father, Ian, who is also an actor, starred in 48 episodes of the program.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Gordon-Levitt played Tommy Solomon, who appeared to be the youngest of the aliens despite the fact that his character was the oldest. With roles in films like Mysterious Skin, Brick, 500 Days of Summer, Inception, Looper, Lincoln, Snowden, and The Trial of the Chicago 7, the former child star has an impressive resume. Along with Julianne Moore and Scarlett Johansson, he co-wrote, directed, and starred in the 2013 film Don Jon. In 2014, the recipient of a SAG Award wed tech entrepreneur Tasha McCauley. They have a son and a daughter together.
Kristen Johnston
Sally Solomon, the expedition’s lieutenant and Dick’s second-in-command, was portrayed by Johnston. The Emmy winner has also appeared as a guest on The New Adventures of Old Christine, Ugly Betty, and Modern Family. She also co-starred in Mom with fellow 3rd Rock alum Stewart. In 2004, the Washington, D.C., native made arguably the greatest guest appearance in Sex and the City history as Lexi Featherston, the elderly socialite who fell out of a window after screaming, “New York is over! O-V-E-R!” Her debut memoir, Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster, was published in 2012.
Larisa Oleynik
The Secret World of Alex Mack alum played Alissa Strudwick, Tommy’s girlfriend, on the TV show 3rd Rock from seasons 4 to 6. She portrayed Gordon-Levitt’s girlfriend in the 1999 adolescent comedy 10 Things I Hate About You shortly after starting her stint on the sitcom. Since then, she has been in the TV shows Jessabelle, Pretty Little Liars, Psych, Extant, and Trinkets.
Simbi Khali
Nina Campbell, who was portrayed by Khali, worked as Mary and Dick’s professional assistant at their institution. After 3rd Rock, the actress made appearances in Weeds, Better Things, The Bernie Mac Show, and We Were Soldiers as well as in the films Mississippi Damned and We Were Soldiers. From 2000 to 2011, she was wed to actor Cress Williams. Daughter Amika and son Elijah are their joint children.
Wayne Knight
The messiest computer scientist in Jurassic Park portrayed Don Orville, a cop who dated Sally. Since then, the New York native has voiced characters in Hail, Caesar and the animated series Kung Fu Panda, Doc McStuffins, and Pound Puppies. Narcos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Hot in Cleveland, and Cheaper By the Dozen are among examples. From 1996 to 2003, the actor and makeup artist Paula Sutor were wed. Liam is their only son. He has been wed to film editor Clare de Chenu since 2006.
