John Turturro Trains as a Pickpocket for New Film

John Turturro now knows exactly which pockets are easiest to lift. He says tight jeans make horizontal pockets difficult, but back pockets are far more accessible. If a purse or backpack sits on someone’s back with an open zipper, the job becomes even simpler. This practical knowledge is not a hobby for the 69-year-old actor. It is the result of specific training for his upcoming film, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.

The movie centers on a character named Harry, a skilled pickpocket who serves as the primary caregiver for his wife. She is in a catatonic state. Harry’s routine changes when he steals the backpack of a college-age student. That student turns out to be the grandson of a crime boss. Turturro says he is drawn to such complex roles because he views himself as a student of the craft. He wants to explore the unknown and the possibility of failure.

To prepare for the physical demands of the part, Turturro worked with Apollo Robbins. Robbins is a well-known sleight-of-hand artist who coaches performers in the art of misdirection. Turturro credits Robbins with providing specific exercises and guidance. He practiced his skills constantly in the production office and on set. The goal was to make the movements look natural and effortless.

Turturro has played morally ambiguous characters throughout his career. His film credits include Five Corners, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and Do the Right Thing. More recently, he appeared in the television series The Night Of, The Plot Against America, and Severance. He says he enjoys diving deep into roles, comparing the process to mining for details in a sub-basement. He finds the potential for failure exciting.

The actor also discussed his personal history in a recent interview. He spoke about serving as the legal guardian for his late brother, who had schizophrenia. Turturro described the challenge of finding housing and hiring aides. He noted that his brother could be unpredictable and abusive at times. Turturro said he remained on high alert to protect his family. Eventually, his brother started taking a monthly medication.

Turturro recalled growing up in a volatile household. His father had post-traumatic stress disorder from World War II, specifically from serving on a destroyer that hit a mine during D-Day. Turturro said he witnessed violence and learned to calm tensions between his parents. He was the middle child but often acted as a protector for his mother. He described his childhood as a real-life acting class.

He also reflected on his early years in Hollis, Queens. He lived in a predominantly Black neighborhood for his first six years. He said his best friends were Black, which influenced his sense of humor and musical taste. When he moved to Rosedale, an area with more Italian, Irish, and Jewish residents, he felt prejudiced against for the first time. People assumed he was Puerto Rican. Turturro says these experiences helped him navigate a multicultural world.

Turturro says aging has given him a larger toolbox as an actor. He believes he can bring more precision and stillness to his roles now than he could in his youth. He sees his character in The Only Living Pickpocket as a person who has lived a lot of life. That character resonates with Turturro’s own perspective at 69.