The hit sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun had an iconic cast of comedic legends and future stars, but what have they been up to since the show went off the air? Debuting in 1996, 3rd Rock from the Sun follows a band of extraterrestrials who arrive on Earth in order to study the ways of human beings. The series cleverly turned the classic sitcom premise on its ear and was a remarkably fresh show that fit right at the turn of the new millennium. Besides the show's clever writing, it was the cast that made 3rd Rock from the Sun a classic.
Running for an impressive six seasons on the air, 3rd Rock from the Sun featured established stars like Jane Curtin and John Lithgow while also elevating the young careers of actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and French Stewart. Like most classic sitcoms, the cast not only delivered laughs in abundance, but a fair amount of heart as well, and the finale of 3rd Rock from the Sun was surprisingly emotional because of the bond audiences had formed with the lovable cast and characters. Even decades after its cancelation, the series has yet to be rivaled among its sitcom contemporaries.
John Lithgow (Dick Solomon)
Heading up the cast of 3rd Rock from the Sun, John Lithgow played Dick Solomon, the alien expedition leader who posed as a physics professor at the local college. Lithgow was a legitimate star of stage and screen by the time he was cast on 3rd Rock from the Sun, and he continued to work frequently in various movies and TV series throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Two of Lithgow's most dynamic post-3rd Rock TV roles came as Arthur Mitchell on Dexter and Winston Churchill on The Crown, winning an Emmy for each performance, and he plays Prosecutor Leaward in the 2023 Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon.
Kristen Johnson (Sally Solomon)
Acting as the security officer of the expedition, Kristen Johnson appeared as Sally Solomon in all six seasons of 3rd Rock from the Sun. Johnson found success on the big screen while still appearing in the cast of 3rd Rock from the Sun, and she played the humorous bit part of Ivana Humpalot in the 1999 movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. Television continued to be where Johnson found her most consistent work into the 2010s, and she landed the major role of Tammy in over 50 episodes of the comedy series Mom in 2018. In 2022, Johnson appeared as Evelyn Higgins in the cast of Our Flag Means Death.
French Stewart (Harry Solomon)
Goofy and always memorable, French Stewart played Harry Solomon, the member of the expedition with a receiver in his head that allowed him to communicate with their people. After making a few appearances in high-profile '90s movies, like 1994's Stargate, French Stewart's big break came as part of the cast of 3rd Rock from the Sun, and it remains his most famous part. Stewart continued to work consistently in the decades since the show's finale, and in 2018 he landed a major role as Chef Rudy alongside his former co-star Kristen Johnson on the series Mom.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Tommy Solomon)
Though he was the oldest member of the expedition, Tommy Solomon, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, was assigned the body of a teenage boy and was made to enroll at the local high school. Gordon-Levitt's days on 3rd Rock from the Sun allowed him to shed his label as a child star, and he immediately transitioned to more adult roles. Movies like 2009's 500 Days of Summer made Gordon-Levitt a legitimate star, and Hollywood movies like 2012's Looper proved he was a box office draw. In 2021, Gordon-Levitt starred in the comedy series Mr. Corman, and in 2022 he voiced Jiminy Cricket in Disney's live-action Pinocchio.
Jane Curtin (Mary Albright)
Sketch comedy legend Jane Curtin played Mary Albright, an anthropology professor who befriends the members of the alien expedition in order to study their strange behavior. Remembered as one of the best female Saturday Night Live cast members ever, Curtin continued her TV success after her time in the cast of 3rd Rock from the Sun. Curtin delivered a stunning performance as Marjorie in 2018's Can You Ever Forgive Me, and in 2022 she made a guest appearance in an episode of the popular sitcom The Conners as Louise's mother, Doris Goldufski.
Simbi Khali (Nina Campbell)
Appearing consistently throughout the show's six-season run, Simbi Khali played Nina Campbell, Dick's exasperated executive assistant who often had to put up with his strange demands. Khali's big break came as part of the cast of 3rd Rock from the Sun, and she only made sporadic film and TV appearances in the years following the show's end. In 2012, Khali made a one-off appearance as Mary in the TV series Weeds, and in 2017 she had a cameo role in the comedy series Better Things.
Elmarie Wendel (Mamie Dubcek)
Elmarie Wendel played Mamie Dubcek, the group's landlady, whose promiscuous and carefree lifestyle often influenced the way they behaved. After Wendel's 70-episode stint on 3rd Rock from the Sun, she continued to make guest appearances on TV shows including a long-running stint as Gina on the sitcom George Lopez. In 2012, Wendel provided the voice for the character of Aunt Grizelda in the Dr. Seuss movie The Lorax. In 2018, she passed away at the age of 89 after a six-decade career in show business.
Wayne Knight (Officer Don Orville)
Wayne Knight played the supporting character of Officer Don Orville, a well-meaning but incompetent police officer who befriends the expedition group. Most famous for his roles as Newman on Seinfeld and Dennis Nedry in 1993's Jurassic Park, Knight's prolific career in TV made him a guest spot regular on dozens of shows, including as Alan Starkman on Narcos. After he left the cast of 3rd Rock from the Sun, Knight began lending his voice to dozens of animated projects, including the Harley Quinn cartoon series, for which he's the voice of the Penguin.
William Shatner (The Big Giant Head)
Originally appearing only as a voice inside of Harry's head, The Big Giant Head eventually appeared in human form, portrayed by William Shatner, and was the Solomon family's despotic mission leader. Iconic for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, Shatner still continued to work consistently into the 2000s and 2010s. After 3rd Rock from the Sun, Shatner starred as Denny Crane in Boston Legal and as Ed in the ill-fated sitcom $#*! My Dad Says in 2010. In 2019, Shatner began hosting the paranormal documentary program The UnXplained on the History Channel.