The 79th Tony Awards celebrated the best of American theatre on Sunday night, with veteran actors John Lithgow, Lesley Manville, and Laurie Metcalf emerging among the ceremony’s biggest winners.
Eighty-year-old John Lithgow made history by becoming the oldest male actor ever to win a Tony Award. He received the honor for his portrayal of renowned children’s author Roald Dahl in the stage production Giant. The award marked a remarkable milestone in Lithgow’s career, coming 53 years after he won his first Tony for the 1972 Broadway production of Changing Rooms.
Accepting the award, Lithgow reflected on his long theatrical journey, describing the achievement as one of the finest moments of his career. The veteran actor praised the hundreds of theatre artists he had worked with over the decades and expressed gratitude for the recognition.
British actress Lesley Manville also celebrated a major career milestone, winning her first-ever Tony Award for her role as Jocasta in the Greek tragedy Oedipus. Making her Broadway debut, Manville said she was overwhelmed by the recognition and paid tribute to her fellow nominees. She also humorously called for more plays featuring strong female ensembles, noting the commercial and artistic value of women-led productions.
The victories for Lithgow and Manville mirrored their previous success in the United Kingdom, where both productions had earned acclaim before transferring to Broadway.
One of the evening’s biggest triumphs belonged to Arthur Miller’s classic Death of a Salesman, which won six awards, making it the most successful production of the night. Among its honors was the award for Best Revival of a Play.
Actress Laurie Metcalf secured the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in Death of a Salesman. During her acceptance speech, Metcalf paid tribute to her former college theatre classmates, including acclaimed actors Gary Sinise, John Malkovich, Jeff Perry, Terry Kinney, Moira Harris, and Al Wilder, crediting them for shaping her artistic career.
The production’s success also marked the first Tony Award associated with producer Scott Rudin since his withdrawal from Broadway in 2021 following allegations of workplace bullying and abusive behavior. Rudin was absent from the ceremony, while actor Nathan Lane accepted the award on behalf of the production and praised Arthur Miller’s enduring masterpiece.
In the musical categories, Schmigadoon! claimed the coveted Best Musical award. Producer Christine Schwarzman joked during her acceptance speech that the show’s success on stage was only possible because the television adaptation was cancelled before a third season could be produced.
Meanwhile, Ragtime won Best Revival of a Musical and earned additional acting awards, including Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Joshua Henry and Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Caissie Levy.
The punk-rock adaptation The Lost Boys, based on the cult 1987 vampire film, also enjoyed a successful evening. Shoshana Bean won Best Featured Actress in a Musical, while Ali Louis Bourzgui received the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
Another standout production was Cats: The Jellicle Ball, which collected three Tony Awards. The feminist drama Liberation secured the award for Best Play, adding to its growing list of accolades after recently winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
This year’s ceremony was hosted by singer Pink, who opened the show with a lively performance of Lady Marmalade, incorporating references to several nominees into the song’s lyrics. Describing herself as “Broadway’s biggest fan,” Pink praised theatre professionals as some of the hardest-working people in the entertainment industry.
The 2026 Tony Awards highlighted Broadway’s continued creative vitality, honoring both legendary performers and innovative new productions while celebrating the enduring appeal of live theatre.
Key Winners at the 2026 Tony Awards
Best Musical: Schmigadoon!
Best Play: Liberation
Best Revival of a Play: Death of a Salesman
Best Revival of a Musical: Ragtime
Best Leading Actor in a Play: John Lithgow (Giant)
Best Leading Actress in a Play: Lesley Manville (Oedipus)
Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Laurie Metcalf (Death of a Salesman)
Best Leading Actor in a Musical: Joshua Henry (Ragtime)
Best Leading Actress in a Musical: Caissie Levy
