Turturro trains for pickpocket role

Actor John Turturro spent recent weeks practicing how to lift wallets from pockets and backpacks to prepare for his role in the new film The Only Living Pickpocket in New York. The movie features Turturro as Harry, a skilled pickpocket who serves as the primary caretaker for his catatonic wife. The character’s life changes when he steals the backpack of a college student who is the grandson of a crime boss.

To master the physical aspects of the job, Turturro worked with Apollo Robbins, a well-known sleight-of-hand artist. Robbins coached the actor on techniques for misdirection and provided specific exercises to improve his dexterity. Turturro stated that he practiced picking pockets constantly within the production office and on the film set.

The actor noted that clothing plays a major role in the difficulty of the task. He explained that horizontal pockets in tight jeans are challenging to access, while back pockets offer an easier target. He added that a purse or backpack with an unzipped zipper on the wearer’s back is the most vulnerable option.

Turturro has portrayed complex and 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. In recent television work, he appeared in The Night Of, The Plot Against America, and Severance. He describes himself as a student of the craft who is drawn to roles that require him to learn new skills.

In interviews leading up to the film’s release, Turturro discussed the personal experiences that inform his acting choices. He spoke about serving as the legal guardian for his late brother, who had schizophrenia. He described the challenge of managing his brother’s care, including hiring aides and finding appropriate housing, while dealing with unpredictable behavior. Turturro noted that his brother eventually started on a monthly medication regimen, which helped stabilize his condition.

The actor also reflected on his childhood in Hollis, Queens, and later Rosedale. He grew up in a predominantly Black neighborhood for the first six years of his life, which he said influenced his musical tastes and sense of humor. When he moved to a more Italian, Irish, and Jewish neighborhood in Rosedale, he experienced prejudice as people often mistook him for Puerto Rican. Turturro credited these early experiences with helping him understand multicultural dynamics.

He discussed the impact of his family environment, noting that his father suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in a destroyer during World War II. Turturro described his home life as volatile and mentioned that he often acted as a protector for his mother. He observed that women in his extended family often served as the glue that held households together, a dynamic he found fascinating and one that informs his current work.

At age 69, Turturro views his age as an asset rather than a limitation. He stated that while he may not move as quickly as he once did, he possesses a fuller toolbox of life experience. He believes this allows for greater precision and stillness in his performances. He sees the character of Harry in the new film as someone who has lived a great deal of life, a quality he feels he shares.