John Turturro is an American actor and a director as well as a writer, who earned much prominence for the portrayal of Pino in the 1989 film entitled, Do the Right Thing. Turturro was born on February 28, 1957 in Brooklyn, New York, to Katherine and Nicholas Turturro, a jazz singer and a construction worker. He was baptized with the real name of John Michael Turturro and was raised as a Roman Catholic. At the young age of six, Turturro together with his family relocated to Rosedale section of Queens, New York. He then attended the State University of New York at New Paltz, where he took drama. He also entered the Yale School of Drama, where he also completed his Master of Fine Arts. In year 1980, Turturro made his first appearance in big screen, as an extra in Martin Scorsese’s directorial film called, Raging Bull, which starred Robert De Niro and Cathy Moriarty. It was said that Turturro made the title role in John Patrick Shanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, which took place at the Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in year 1983. On the following year, he made it again in an Off-Broadway, which brought him an Obie Award.
On the other hand, in year 1987, Turturro starred in the film called, Five Corners, where he portrayed the role of Heinz, together with the stars of Jodie Foster and Tim Robbins and well as Todd Graff. His portrayal on the said film caught the attention of the film director Spike Lee, who eventually includes him in the comedy drama film entitled, Do the Right Thing, where he portrayed the role of Pino. After his portrayal on the said film, Turturro continuously appeared on various films, including the 1990 drama film entitled, Mo’ better Blues, where he portrayed the role of Moe Flatbush. He also appeared in the 1991 film called, Jungle Fever, where he portrayed the role of Paulie Carbone, together with Wesley Snipes and Annabella Sciorra. He was also included in the casts of the 1996 film of Girl 6, which starred Theresa Randle and Jennifer Lewis as well as Isaiah Washington. Because of his acting talent, Turturro appeared in the comedy-drama film of She Hate Me, where he portrayed the role of Don Angelo Bonasera.
In year 1999, Turturro lent his voice for the role of Demon in another crime drama film of Spike Lee entitled, Summer of Sam, which initially based on Son of Sam series of murders. On the same year, he appeared as Aldo Silvana in the film of Cradle Will Rock. in early 2000, Turturro had a great start when he appeared in the comedy film entitled, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, where he portrayed the role of Pete Hogwallop, together with George Clooney and Tim Blake Nelson. Turturro has also collaborated with Adam Sandler in most of his films, which also includes the comedy film of Mr. Deeds and in You Don’t Mee with the Zohan, where he portrayed the roles of Emilio Lopez and Fatoush ‘Phantom’ Hakbarah, respectively. He was also included in the casts of the 2003 film of Anger Management, which also starred Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson. He then starred together with Johnny Depp in the 2004 thriller film called, Scret Window.
On the other hand, Turturro earned an Emmy Award and various nominations like in Screen Actors Guild and Cannes Film Festival as well as nomination for Golden Globe Awards for his portrayal in the comedy drama series of Monk. In year 2006, he portrayed the role of William Pound in the film called, A Fe Days in September, which also starred Julitte Binoche and Sara Forestier. Moreover, Turturro appeared in the blockbuster film of Transformers, where he portrayed the role of Seymour Simmons, which he reprised in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Transformers Dark of the Moon. He also starred together with John Travolta and Denzel Washington in the thriller film of The Taking of Pelham 123. In 2010, he appeared as The Rat King in the fantasy film of The Nutcracker. Turturro recently lent his voice for the role of Francesco Bernoulli in the animated film of Cars 2.
John Turturro Photo Gallery
