John Turturro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Turturro
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Turturro in 2024
|
|
| Born |
John Michael Turturro
February 28, 1957 New York City, U.S.
|
| Citizenship |
|
| Education |
|
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Katherine Borowitz
(m. 1985) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives |
|
John Michael Turturro (born February 28, 1957) is an American actor, director, and writer. He is famous for playing a wide variety of characters, especially in independent films. He has often worked with famous directors like the Coen brothers and Spike Lee. For his work, he has won a Primetime Emmy Award and has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards.
Turturro became well-known after his role in the movie Five Corners (1987). He appeared in many of Spike Lee's films, including Do the Right Thing (1989) and Jungle Fever (1991). He also starred in several Coen brothers' movies, such as Miller's Crossing (1990) and Barton Fink (1991). For Barton Fink, he won the Best Actor award at the famous Cannes Film Festival.
Many people also know him as the agent Seymour Simmons in the Transformers movie series and as the villain Carmine Falcone in The Batman (2022). On television, he won an Emmy Award for playing Ambrose Monk in the series Monk. He also starred in the popular Apple TV+ show Severance.
Besides acting, Turturro has directed five movies, including Mac (1992) and The Jesus Rolls (2020).
Contents
Early Life and School
John Turturro was born in Brooklyn, a part of New York City, New York, on February 28, 1957. He was the middle of three sons. His mother, Katherine, was an amateur jazz singer, and his father, Nicholas, was a carpenter who had moved to the U.S. from Giovinazzo, Italy, as a child.
When John was six, his family moved to the Rosedale neighborhood in Queens, New York. He grew up in a Catholic family. After high school, he went to the State University of New York at New Paltz, where he studied theater. He then earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the prestigious Yale School of Drama in 1983.
Acting Career
Turturro's very first movie role was a small, non-speaking part in the famous film Raging Bull (1980). His career began to take off in theater. In 1983, he starred in a play called Danny and the Deep Blue Sea and won an Obie Award for his performance.
Director Spike Lee was very impressed with Turturro's acting in the movie Five Corners (1987). This led to a long partnership between them. Turturro appeared in nine of Lee's films, including Do the Right Thing (1989), Mo' Better Blues (1990), and Jungle Fever (1991).
Working with the Coen Brothers
Turturro is also known for his work with directors Joel and Ethan Coen, known as the Coen Brothers. He played memorable characters in their movies:
- Miller's Crossing (1990)
- Barton Fink (1991), where he played the main character
- The Big Lebowski (1998), as the bowler Jesus Quintana
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Blockbusters and Comedies
Turturro has shown his talent in big blockbuster movies and comedies. He acted alongside Adam Sandler in Mr. Deeds (2002) and You Don't Mess With The Zohan (2008).
One of his most famous roles is Agent Seymour Simmons in the Transformers film series. He appeared in four of the movies. In 2022, he played the Gotham City crime boss Carmine Falcone in The Batman.
Television and Directing
On television, Turturro won an Emmy Award for playing the brother of the main character in the show Monk. He also received award nominations for his roles in the miniseries The Night Of (2016) and The Plot Against America (2020). Since 2022, he has starred in the science fiction series Severance.
Turturro is also a talented director. He has directed several films, including Mac (1992), which was inspired by his father's life as a carpenter, and Romance and Cigarettes (2005).
Personal Life
Turturro has been married to actress Katherine Borowitz since 1985. They have two children. His younger brother, Nicholas Turturro, and his cousin, Aida Turturro, are also actors.
Turturro has lived in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, since 1988. In 2011, he became a citizen of Italy, so he now holds dual citizenship with both the United States and Italy. He also helps judge films for the New York International Children's Film Festival, which shows movies for kids and teens.
Selected Film and TV Roles
Here are some of John Turturro's most well-known roles:
Key Films
- Do the Right Thing (1989) as Pino
- Miller's Crossing (1990) as Bernie Bernbaum
- Barton Fink (1991) as Barton Fink
- Quiz Show (1994) as Herb Stempel
- The Big Lebowski (1998) as Jesus Quintana
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) as Pete
- Mr. Deeds (2002) as Emilio Lopez
- Transformers (2007) as Agent Seymour Simmons
- Cars 2 (2011) as the voice of Francesco Bernoulli
- Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) as Seti I
- The Batman (2022) as Carmine Falcone
- Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) as the voice of Dottore
Television Shows
- Monk (2004–2008) as Ambrose Monk
- The Bronx Is Burning (2007) as Billy Martin
- The Night Of (2016) as John Stone
- The Plot Against America (2020) as Rabbi Lionel Bengelsdorf
- Severance (2022–present) as Irving Bailiff
See also
In Spanish: John Turturro para niños
