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John Lurie(I)

  • Music Department
  • Actor
  • Composer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
John Lurie in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
Part meditative tutorial, part fireside chat, musician John Lurie shares his philosophical thoughts while honing his watercolor techniques.
Play trailer2:01
Painting with John (2021–2023)
14 Videos
43 Photos
John Lurie is a musician, actor, and painter. In 1978, he formed The Lounge Lizards jazz ensemble with his brother Evan, and the band made music for 20 years. Lurie has also composed scores for films, and his soundtrack for Get Shorty (1995) was nominated for a Grammy award. He had starring roles in the 1980s Jim Jarmusch films Stranger Than Paradise (1984) and Down by Law (1986). In the early 1990s, Lurie wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the TV series Fishing with John (1991). Shortly afterward, he began suffering from Lyme disease. He has shifted his focus to painting, and his artwork has been shown in galleries and museums worldwide.
BornDecember 14, 1952
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 14, 1952
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Photos43

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    + 39
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    Known for

    Richard Edson, Eszter Balint, and John Lurie in Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
    Stranger Than Paradise
    7.4
    • Willie
    • 1984
    John Travolta, Danny DeVito, Gene Hackman, and Rene Russo in Get Shorty (1995)
    Get Shorty
    6.9
    • Composer
    • 1995
    Roberto Benigni, Tom Waits, and John Lurie in Down by Law (1986)
    Down by Law
    7.6
    • Jack
    • 1986
    Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern in Wild at Heart (1990)
    Wild at Heart
    7.2
    • Sparky
    • 1990

    Credits

    IMDbPro

    Music Department



    • The Backyardigans (2004)
      The Backyardigans
      7.2
      TV Series
      • musician
      • 2005–2012
    • Conan O'Brien in The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (2009)
      The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
      8.0
      TV Series
      • composer: main title theme
      • 2010
    • Conan O'Brien in Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993)
      Late Night with Conan O'Brien
      8.2
      TV Series
      • composer: theme music
      • composer: title theme
      • composer: main title theme
      • 1993–2009
    • Willem Dafoe and Edward Furlong in Animal Factory (2000)
      Animal Factory
      6.6
      • musician
      • 2000
    • A la carrera
      Short
      • music: song "Bella by Barlight"
      • 1991
    • Fishing with John (1991)
      Fishing with John
      8.0
      TV Series
      • musician: sax, vocals
      • musician: guitar, keyboards, vocals
      • musician: keyboards, vocals ...
      • 1991
    • Nicoletta Braschi, Yûki Kudô, and Masatoshi Nagase in Mystery Train (1989)
      Mystery Train
      7.5
      • musician: guitar and harmonica
      • 1989
    • Virginia Madsen in Slam Dance (1987)
      Slam Dance
      5.2
      • composer: additional music
      • 1987
    • Vortex (1982)
      Vortex
      5.4
      • musician
      • 1982
    • Willem Dafoe in The Loveless (1981)
      The Loveless
      6.0
      • composer: additional music
      • 1981
    • Permanent Vacation (1980)
      Permanent Vacation
      6.1
      • musician: saxes
      • 1980

    Actor



    • Painting with John (2021)
      Painting with John
      7.7
      TV Series
      • 2021–2023
    • Mobsters (2007)
      Mobsters
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Narrator
      • 2010–2012
    • Tortured by Joy (2004)
      Tortured by Joy
      7.4
      Short
      • Narrator
      • 2004
    • Are You Comfortable?
      TV Movie
      • Host
      • 2003
    • J.D. Williams in Oz (1997)
      Oz
      8.7
      TV Series
      • Greg Penders
      • 2001–2003
    • SpongeBob SquarePants: Sea Stories (2002)
      SpongeBob SquarePants: Sea Stories
      8.1
      Video
      • Fishermen
      • 2002
    • Sleepwalk (2000)
      Sleepwalk
      5.5
      • Frank
      • 2000
    • Asia Argento in New Rose Hotel (1998)
      New Rose Hotel
      5.2
      • Distinguished Man
      • 1998
    • Virginia Madsen, Sean Patrick Flanery, Ernie Hudson, Alanna Ubach, and Jon Polito in Just Your Luck (1996)
      Just Your Luck
      5.7
      Video
      • Coker
      • 1996
    • Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern in Wild at Heart (1990)
      Wild at Heart
      7.2
      • Sparky
      • 1990
    • The Little Devil (1988)
      The Little Devil
      6.9
      • Cusatelli
      • 1988
    • The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
      The Last Temptation of Christ
      7.5
      • James Apostle
      • 1988
    • Roberto Benigni, Tom Waits, and John Lurie in Down by Law (1986)
      Down by Law
      7.6
      • Jack
      • 1986
    • Madonna and Rosanna Arquette in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
      Desperately Seeking Susan
      6.2
      • Neighbor Saxophonist
      • 1985
    • Nastassja Kinski, Harry Dean Stanton, and Hunter Carson in Paris, Texas (1984)
      Paris, Texas
      8.1
      • 'Slater'
      • 1984

    Composer



    • Painting with John (2021)
      Painting with John
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Composer
      • 2021
    • Burned (2014)
      Burned
      8.9
      Short
      • Composer
      • 2014
    • Face Addict (2005)
      Face Addict
      7.4
      • Composer
      • 2005
    • Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special (2003)
      Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
      8.6
      TV Special
      • Composer
      • 2003
    • Willem Dafoe and Edward Furlong in Animal Factory (2000)
      Animal Factory
      6.6
      • Composer
      • 2000
    • Janeane Garofalo, Vince Vaughn, and Joaquin Phoenix in Clay Pigeons (1998)
      Clay Pigeons
      6.6
      • Composer
      • 1998
    • Lulu on the Bridge (1998)
      Lulu on the Bridge
      6.2
      • Composer
      • 1998
    • Alicia Silverstone and Benicio Del Toro in Excess Baggage (1997)
      Excess Baggage
      5.4
      • Composer
      • 1997
    • Manny & Lo (1996)
      Manny & Lo
      6.6
      • Composer
      • 1996
    • Möhrengemüse (1995)
      Möhrengemüse
      Short
      • Composer
      • 1995
    • John Travolta, Danny DeVito, Gene Hackman, and Rene Russo in Get Shorty (1995)
      Get Shorty
      6.9
      • Composer
      • 1995
    • Na krásnom modrom Dunaji
      6.5
      • Composer
      • 1994
    • Sara Driver and Sophie Simon in Keep It for Yourself (1991)
      Keep It for Yourself
      7.0
      Short
      • Composer
      • 1991
    • Fishing with John (1991)
      Fishing with John
      8.0
      TV Series
      • Composer
      • 1991
    • Petra von Kants bittra tårar (1990)
      Petra von Kants bittra tårar
      7.5
      Video
      • Composer
      • 1990

    Videos14

    SLEEPWALK
    Clip 1:41
    SLEEPWALK
    Season 3  Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Season 3 Official Trailer
    Season 3  Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Season 3 Official Trailer
    Season 2 Trailer
    Trailer 2:06
    Season 2 Trailer
    Trailer
    Trailer 2:05
    Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:28
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:43
    Official Trailer

    Personal details

    • Official site
      • Official John Lurie
    • Height
      • 6′ 2″ (1.88 m)
    • Born
      • December 14, 1952
      • Hennepin, Minnesota, USA
    • Publicity listings
      • 3 Articles

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Member/leader of the experimental music group The Lounge Lizards.

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