EW tracks down America’s favorite extraterrestrials (and their friends) to find out what the cast has been up to since the show went off the air.

*3rd Rock from the Sun *cast: See the meteoric hit’s stars 25 years after its final episode

EW tracks down America’s favorite extraterrestrials (and their friends) to find out what the cast has been up to since the show went off the air.

By Declan Gallagher

May 30, 2026 2:00 p.m. ET

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A bunch of aliens deviously pretending to be humans (Jane Curtin innocent). Credit:

When *3rd Rock From the Sun* crash-landed onto NBC’s lineup in 1996, it didn’t take long for audiences to fall in love with the most delightfully confused aliens ever to masquerade as a suburban American family.

Led by John Lithgow’s gloriously vain High Commander Dick Solomon — operating on orders from the Big Giant Head (William Shatner) — the sitcom became a breakout hit that blended slapstick absurdity with unexpectedly sharp observations about human habits.

Over six seasons, the show racked up awards, critical praise, and a devoted fan base who couldn’t get enough of *3rd Rock*’s eccentric ensemble — both legendary actors and talented newcomers.

Now, decades after the Solomons wrapped up their mission and returned to their home planet, the cast members have taken wildly different career paths. Here’s **’s look at what the stars of this beloved sci-fi sitcom have been up to since.

John Lithgow (Dick Solomon)

John Lithgow as Dick Solomon; Lithgow at MOMA in 2022.

Everett; Jamie McCarthy/Getty

John Lithgow starred as the mission leader disguised within the body of Dick Solomon, a mild-mannered (if remarkably self-centered) professor of physics.

On a 2025 episode of *SmartLess*, Lithgow praised his time on *3rd Rock* as a career high point. “It was the six happiest years as an actor,” Lithgow said. “Just interacting with this great writing staff, the *3rd Rock* staff was so terrific and it was so inane.”

That’s saying something from an actor of Lithgow’s stature. After all, he’s been a legend for decades, dating back to his great villainous performance in Brian De Palma’s *Blow Out *(1981) and back-to-back Oscar nominations for *The World According to Garp *(1982) and *Terms of Endearment *(1983).

A universally respected veteran of film, theater, and television, Lithgow has played his fair share of memorable villains — the dance-hating preacher in *Footloose* (1984), Qualen in *Cliffhanger *(1993), and Lord Farquaad in *Shrek* (2001). And, lest we forget, his Emmy-winning performance as the Trinity Killer on *Dexter*.

But he’s also proven to be a lovable leading man, comic hero, and supporting player thanks to his turns in *Harry and the Hendersons *(1987) and *The Pelican Brief *(1993), among others.

His most memorable recent film roles include *Interstellar *(2014), *Killers of the Flower Moon *(2023), and *Conclave *(2024). For the next several years, he will be taking on the formidable role of Albus Dumbledore on HBO’s adaptation of the *Harry Potter *books.

Lithgow was married to teacher Jean Taynton from 1966 until 1980. They share a son, Ian, who appears on *3rd Rock* as Dick’s student Leon. Since 1981, Lithgow has been married to professor Mary Yeager. They have a son and a daughter.

French Stewart (Harry Solomon)

French Stewart as Harry Solomon; Stewart at the 'Bob Trevino Likes It' premiere in 2025.

Everett; Jamie McCarthy/Getty

French Stewart brought his comedic stylings to dim-witted Harry. As the sole alien who can receive transmissions from the Big Giant Head, Harry and his meandering thoughts are often interrupted by urgent messages.

The New Mexico native got his Hollywood start on the cast of *The New WKRP in Cincinnati *in 1992 before scoring a string of bit movie parts, plus episodes of *Seinfeld *and *The Larry Sanders Show*.

When *3rd Rock* came to a close, he booked a supporting role in *Clockstoppers* (2002), took over for Matthew Broderick in a 2003 sequel to *Inspector Gadget, *and worked with director Jennifer Lynch, daughter of David Lynch, *in Surveillance *(2008).

In more recent years, he appeared semi-regularly on the hit sitcom *Mom* and had a supporting role in the indie dramedy *Bob Trevino Likes It *(2024), opposite Barbie Ferreira and John Leguizamo.

Stewart and actress Vanessa Perkins have been married since 2011 and share one daughter.

Why ''3rd Rock'' will be missed

John Lithgow and Joseph Gordon-Levitt reunite to satirize Trump with poetry and short films

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Tommy Solomon)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tommy; Gordon-Levitt at Sundance in 2026.

Everett; Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Now one of the more recognizable actors of his generation, Joseph Gordon-Levitt transitioned from child stardom to grown-up stardom as teenage Tommy, the group’s oldest alien (trapped in its youngest body).

Gordon-Levitt was a familiar face at the time, having appeared in various TV roles as a child and leading the 1994 film *Angels in the Outfield*. He went on to score a key supporting part in the teen classic *10 Things I Hate About You* before earning true indie cred with Gregg Araki’s *Mysterious Skin* (2004), opposite Brady Corbet.

From there, he paired up with filmmaker Rian Johnson, taking the lead role in his debut, *Brick* (2005), before moving on to meaty roles in *The Lookout *(2007), *500 Days of Summer* (2009), *Inception* (2010), and *50/50 *(2011). He once again became Johnson’s leading man for *Looper *(2012), and added *The Dark Knight Rises *(2012) and *Lincoln *(2012) to his resume.

The actor made his directorial debut with *Don Jon* (2013), in which he starred alongside Scarlett Johansson. More recently, Gordon-Levitt booked roles in *The Trial of the Chicago 7* (2021) and *Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F* (2024).

Gordon-Levitt has been married to tech CEO Tasha McCauley since 2014. They have three children.

Kristen Johnston (Sally Solomon)

Kristen Johnston as Sally; Johnston at the 'Leanne' premiere in 2025.

Everett; Todd Williamson/Getty

Kristen Johnston gave a memorable comic performance as the gang’s former military security officer, a male alien hiding in Sally’s body.

Johnston had primarily played guest roles before getting the call for *3rd Rock *— and wound up winning two Emmys for her performance.

In the years since, she starred on four seasons of *The Exes *alongside *3rd Rock *costar Wayne Knight, as well as the final three seasons of *Mom*. Following a season 3 arc on *The Righteous Gemstones*, the D.C. native is back in a leading role on Chuck Lorre’s Netflix sitcom *Leanne*.

Johnston, who famously played Ivana Humpalot in *Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me *(1999), also appears in John Early’s buzzy indie comedy *Maddie’s Secret *(2026).

In her 2012 memoir, *Guts: The Endless Follies and Tiny Triumphs of a Giant Disaster*, the actress talks at length about her battle with addiction. She got sober in 2007, and has remained so for 19 years.

Jane Curtin (Mary Albright)

Jane Curtin as Mary Albright; Curtin at 'SNL50' in 2025.

Everett; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Original *Saturday Night Live* cast member Jane Curtin played Mary, a professor of anthropology who becomes romantically entangled with Dick Solomon.

The Massachusetts native told the *Los Angeles Times* in 1996 that she was eager to join *3rd Rock* before even reading a script due to her experience working with creators Bonnie and Terry Turner on *Coneheads*.

“Bonnie was my saving grace,” Curtin said. “She kept me company while I was sitting on the set in the director’s chair with a cone on my head. She would have serious conversations with me about kids and I had the cone on my head. I just loved them.”

Curtin spent five seasons making *SNL* into a cultural institution and has returned for its various anniversary specials. She has maintained a regular presence on the small screen in the decades since. For six years, she and Susan Saint James teamed up for the hit sitcom *Kate & Allie*, for which Curtin won a pair of Emmys.

Over the years, she’s also had big-screen success with the *SNL *spinoff *Coneheads *(1993) and the Oscar-nominated drama *Can You Ever Forgive Me? *(2018), alongside Melissa McCarthy. Her many guest appearances over the years include *Broad City*, *The Conners*, and *Bupkis*.

Curtin was married to Patrick Francis Lynch, a TV and radio producer, from 1975 until his death in 2025. They had one daughter.**

Wayne Knight (Don Orville)

Wayne Knight as Don Orville; Knight in L.A. in 2023.

Everett; Monica Schipper/Getty

Wayne Knight played good-natured cop Don, who falls head over heels for Sally without realizing her true nature.

“Originally, I came on just as kind of a one-off,” Knight told The A.V. Club. “But Kristen and I had this chemistry, and I wound up becoming her boyfriend on the show. It was so comedic seeing her and I as a passionate couple. I had the most fun on *3rd Rock*. It was a great show to work on.”

The character has appeared in some of the most popular and enduring shows and movies of the last 40 years. He is, of course, best known for *Seinfeld*, playing the titular character's dastardly nemesis, Newman. But we also know and love-hate him for his treasonous (and fatally misguided) role as Dennis Nedry in *Jurassic Park *(1993).

Beyond that, he’s appeared in *Dirty Dancing* (1987), *JFK *(1991), *Basic Instinct *(1992), *To Die For *(1995), and *Space Jam *(1996). In his post-*3rd Rock* years, he was one of the leads of the TV Land sitcom *The Exes *alongside former onscreen flame Kristen Johnston.

The native New Yorker’s most recent work includes episodes of *Them, 9-1-1: Lone Star*, and *St. Denis Medical*, as well as a supporting role in *Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 *(2025).

Knight and his wife, Clare de Chenu, have been married since 2006. They share one son.

Simbi Khali (Nina Campbell)

Simbi Khali as Nina Campbell; Khali at Sundance in 2023.

Alan Levenson/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty; Fred Hayes/Getty

Simbi Khali was a regular scene-stealer as Dick and Mary's no-nonsense secretary and all-around Girl Friday, Nina.

The actress was coming off a guest spot on *Martin *and a small role in Wes Craven’s *Vampire in Brooklyn *(1995), alongside Eddie Murphy. She also reunited with Martin Lawrence for his directorial debut, *A Thin Line Between Love and Hate *(1996).

The Mississippi native went on to appear in *We Were Soldiers* (2002) and episodes of *The Bernie Mac Show,* *Weeds*,* *and* Better Things*. Most recently, she had a supporting role in the acclaimed indie drama *Ricky *(2025).

Khali shares two children with her ex-husband, actor Cress Williams.

Where can I watch 3rd Rock From the Sun?

*3rd Rock From the Sun* is available to buy on Amazon Prime Video.

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Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Comedy”