Turturro Trains With Sleight-of-Hand Master for New Pickpocket Role

John Turturro spent the months leading up to his new film practicing the mechanics of stealing wallets and backpacks to ensure his performance as a professional pickpocket appears authentic on screen.

The 69-year-old actor stars in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, a drama in which his character, Harry, supports his catatonic wife by working as a skilled thief. The plot shifts when Harry steals the backpack of a college student who is secretly the grandson of a crime boss.

To master the craft, Turturro worked directly with Apollo Robbins, a well-known sleight-of-hand artist. Turturro noted that Robbins provided specific exercises focused on misdirection, a core component of the job. He practiced these techniques constantly, performing them in the production office and on set to build muscle memory.

Turturro explained the physical nuances of the role, noting that horizontal pockets in tight jeans are difficult to pick. He found back pockets and unzipped zippers on purses or backpacks to be the easiest targets for his character.

The role fits a pattern in Turturro’s career of selecting complex, morally ambiguous characters. His filmography includes Do the Right Thing, The Big Lebowski, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, while recent television work includes Severance and The Plot Against America. Turturro described his approach to these parts as an effort to dig deep into the material, citing his enjoyment of the uncertainty and potential for failure that comes with learning something new.

Beyond acting, Turturro discussed the personal background that informs his understanding of volatile family dynamics. He spoke about serving as the legal guardian for his late brother, who had schizophrenia. Turturro described the difficulty of managing his brother’s care, including hiring aides and dealing with periods of unpredictability and abuse. He noted the lack of a reliable system for mentally ill individuals, which often led to his brother being hospitalized or living on the streets.

Turturro also reflected on growing up in Hollis, Queens, a predominantly Black neighborhood during his first six years. He said this early exposure to diverse communities and the specific social dynamics of that environment helped shape his perspective on multicultural relationships. He mentioned moving to Rosedale later, where he experienced prejudice for the first time, which further informed his understanding of social hierarchies and identity.

The actor credited his mother, a dressmaker, for fostering a household where he felt comfortable observing and participating in family life. He recalled helping with patterns and occasionally modeling wedding dresses for fittings. These experiences, along with the volatility of his parents' relationship, provided a real-life foundation for the intense characters he portrays.