Biography
Who is John Turturro?
Early life and education
John Turturro was born on February 28, 1957, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. His mother worked as an amateur jazz singer and in a naval yard during World War II, while his father worked as a carpenter and construction worker before joining the United States Navy. When John was six years old, his family moved to the Rosedale section of Queens, New York.
He pursued higher education at the State University of New York at New Paltz, graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater studies. He then attended the Yale School of Drama, where he completed a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1983.
Career highlights
John Turturro achieved his career breakthrough with a role in the film Five Corners in 1987. His performance caught the attention of director Spike Lee, leading to a long-standing collaboration across multiple projects including Do the Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, Jungle Fever, and Clockers.
He also established a frequent working relationship with the Coen brothers, appearing in Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, The Big Lebowski, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? For his lead performance in Barton Fink, he won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. In addition to his film work, he received a Primetime Emmy Award for his guest role in the television series Monk and appeared in the HBO miniseries The Night Of and Severance.
Directing and stage work
Alongside his acting career, John Turturro has directed several feature films, including Mac, Illuminata, Romance and Cigarettes, Fading Gigolo, and The Jesus Rolls. He also made his stage directorial debut on Broadway with the production Relatively Speaking, which featured three comedic one-act plays written by Elaine May, Woody Allen, and Ethan Coen.
He received a Career Achievement tribute and award at the Miami International Film Festival. He has also participated as a member of the jury for the New York International Children's Film Festival and holds dual American and Italian citizenship.
Personal life
John Turturro is married to actress Katherine Borowitz. They have two children together, including Arianna Turturro. His brother is actor Nicholas Turturro, and his cousins include actress Aida Turturro and director Richard Termini. He has resided in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, since 1988.
Birthday and age
John Turturro was born on February 28, 1957, which makes John 69 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. John shares the date with 66 other famous people.
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