John Lithgow Slays In 'Trial & Error' - Or Does He?

There's no questioning John Lithgow's extensive experience playing both sides of the criminal line.

In addition to the Trinity Killer in the much-beloved series Dexter, Lithgow has also played the bad guy in movies like Ricochet, Cliffhanger and Silent Fall. Not to be forever known as a criminal, Lithgow has also played goofy in such series like 3rd Rock From The Sun and played somewhere in between the two as the reverend insistent on forbidding dancing in a small community in the original Footloose. He's also set to appear in the upcoming a cappella sequel, Pitch Perfect 3.

In Trial & Error, debuting March 14 on NBC, Lithgow might be a killer, but no one is quite sure. He certainly does things to ensure he looks guilty of his wife's murder, but no one is 100 percent certain that he's behaving out of guilt or some other unnamed quality.

"I'm someone who's known for being really funny, very scary and occasionally very touching," Lithgow said, "and the role requires all those three parts."

As Larry Henderson, Lithgow noted that his wife's murder and the cable guy failing to arrive are somehow matters of equal urgency to the character. He said that it was the duality of the character that continues to appeal to him across a range of roles.

"I really enjoy playing people who end up not being what you thought they were," he explained. "Everybody has some degree of good and bad in them, and I love exploring all that duality. I love crossing the line back and forth, playing the contradictions."

While reviews are currently mixed for Trial & Error, it's been widely said that Lithgow is the one who elevates the script beyond what it appears on paper. At 71 and six feet, four inches tall, Lithgow has defined his career by what is unexpected. He doesn't sit idle for terribly long; he's as known for playing in stage productions of M. Butterfly as he is in stage productions of The Sweet Smell Of Success. Even his "bad guys" aren't entirely evil; instead, they are driven by a sincere belief that what they are doing is right rather than some sort of mania-induced determination.

Lithgow said that he drew inspiration from legendary French performer Jacques Tati for his portrayal of Larry; he wanted Larry to seem always a little surprised, a little startled by the world around him, and generally behaved in what was a rational but still inappropriate way to whatever happened around him.

In addition to his work on Trial & Error, Lithgow is also a regular co-star on The Crown, portraying none other than Winston Churchill. While he has admitted in the past that he was nervous about playing the British leader, he has once again shown his versatility - the actor snagged a Screen Actors Guild Award for his work on the series. He also acknowledged that he is nearly a foot taller than Churchill's apparent 5'6" frame; The Crown accommodated for the difference by making the doorways on the Downing Street set 10 inches higher.

While it remains to be seen how well received Trial & Error will be as a series, audiences are sure to love Lithgow's return to comedy; Trial & Error is set up as a mockumentary of sorts, spoofing shows like Making A Murderer. The show will continue to air Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.