John Turturro’s long career isn’t onlymarked with great movie roles. Turturro’s often been seen on TV, too, both in television movies and shows. Whether it’s a guest appearance or a major role, it’s always great seeing him on screens; hisunique charm, great acting skills, and a knack for picking peculiar, interesting charactersoften make him the best part of a project.
Turturro’s IMDb credits list he’s so far been in 119 projects, making his debut appearance inMartin Scorsese’sRaging Bull. Many people know him from his frequent collaborations with the Coen Brothers, likeThe Big Lebowski,Barton FinkandMiller’s Crossing, and collaborations withSpike Lee, like inDo the Right ThingandMo' Better Blues. If anyone is currently loving Turturro onSeverance, there are more TV roles and projects he’s been a part of that are worth taking the time to watch. These are the best John Turturro TV roles.
10’Sugartime' (1995)
Portrays Sam Giancana
In 1995, Turturro starred inanHBOoriginal moviecalledSugartime, about the real-life gangster Sam Giancana and his whirlwind affair with the singer Phyllis McGuire. Turturro is Giancana andMary-Louise Parkeris McGuire, and the two have palpable chemistry; though everyone in the cast is great,Turturro is the best part of the movie as the ruthless mob boss who falls in love.
He brings the balance to playing a man who’s as cold-blooded as he is passionate; Giancana apparently had connections to JFK and Frank Sinatra, andwas a notorious Chicago mobster from the 1940s and well into the 1960s. As Turturro always brings something unique to each role, he does the same here, portraying a man who believes he’s untouchable, but is trying to escape his own world to make his lover happy.Sugartimewas a great step forward for Turturro, despite being a TV movie only. He showed he could be a great leading actor, and even a great romantic interest.
9’Mr. & Mrs. Smith' (2024–)
Portrays Eric Shane
Amazon’s series,Mr. & Mrs. Smith, consists of nine explosive episodes, and in episode 2, John Turturro appears as a guest star, portraying the newest target of the Smiths. Though it’s one episode only, Turturro looks very cool; the Venn diagram overlaps of people who likeMr. & Mrs. Smithand John Turturro might not be big, but those people were more than likely ecstatic to see the actor do his thing in theDonald Glover-led action series. With the addition of some dry humor and arrogance,Turturro’s role as Eric Shane was a stellar addition to the show.
Eric Shane, inMr. & Mrs. Smithis a billionaire businessman who dabbles in real estate. He appears at a black-tie silent auction, which John (Glover) and Jane Smith (Maya Erskine) infiltrate in order to get Shane. Their task is to inject him with a truth serum and record everything he says, but their mission goes a bit awry and Shane tells his secrets in front of the whole crowd. A botched mission for the Smiths, but a highly successful appearance for Turturro in one of the best shows of 2024.This role earned him an Emmy nomination.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
8’Monday Night Mayhem' (2002)
Portrays Howard Cosell
Monday Night Mayhemis another TV movie based on real events and people, but this time, Turturro isn’t some dangerous gangster. He’sHoward Cosell, the famous and controversial host of the ABC showMonday Night Football; the story was based on the non-fiction same-name novel, and tells the story of howMonday Night Footballcame to prominence. Though the movie wasn’t received too well by the critics, Turturro still manages to nail Cosell’s mannerisms, bravado, and distinctive voice, and is the real star of the movie.
Turturro playing Cosell feels relevant because he is often seen as a genuine actor who chooses his roles wisely.
Howard Cosell was an unusual personality, and most people either loved or hated him. He would rarely choose kind words if he disliked someone,and was also adamant in expressing his thoughts and attitudes, often having to fight for respect from his colleagues and audience. Turturro playing Cosell feels relevant because he is often seen as a genuine actor who chooses his roles wisely. He and the iconic sports broadcaster may have things in common, which prompted Turturro to play him in one of his best TV roles.
7’Monk' (2004–2008)
Portrays Ambrose Monk
The long-running seriesMonk, starringTony Shalhoub, was a critically acclaimed andaward-winning police procedural/comedy drama about a detective with an obsessive-compulsive disorder, Adrian Monk. It lasted between 2002 and 2009, and hadsome brilliant guest starsduring its long run. One of the stars was John Turturro, whostepped into the role of Ambrose Monk, detective Monk’s older brother. Their dynamic is brilliant in the show, with Shalhoub and Turturro performing as if they’re riffing off of each other in some kind of improvisational skit.
Ambrose Monk is a step above Adrian Monk, and not just because he’s his older brother. Ambrose, unlike Adrian, can’t leave the house - he’s agoraphobic - and thus can’t form genuine relationships.Ambrose is also vulnerable and obviously longing for some human connection, and Turturro nails the neurotic, tender character of Ambrose Monk brilliantly and with a lot of heart. This is another Emmy-nominated performance from Turturro, for which he also won, even ifhe appears in three episodes only.
6’The Name of the Rose' (2019)
Portrays William of Baskerville
The Name of the Roseis a famousUmberto Econovel abouta murder mysteryin a Northern Italian monastery; William of Baskerville, a friar and former investigator, and his assistant, Adso of Melk, arrive at the monastery, whenthe abbey monks ask him to solve the suspicious death of one of their colleagues, Adelmo of Otranto.The Name of the Roseis Eco’s debut novel, and is often mandatory reading in worldwide school curriculums; it’s also one of the most frequently adapted novels into various other art forms.
The Name of the Rosewas a major effort for Turturro and the showrunners, with him bringing one of his most likable and brilliant roles.
John Turturro plays William of Baskerville in a miniseries he also executive produced. He’s joined byRupert Everett, who plays Bernard Gui, and the rest of the cast consists of various European actors.The show was filmed in Italy, in Abruzzo, and the parts of the Occitan dialogue were translated by experts from the University of Salerno.The Name of the Rosewas a major effort for Turturro and the showrunners, with him bringing one of his most likable and brilliant roles. His William of Baskerville is logical, intelligent, and guided by reason, though world-weary and often skeptical. There was aSean Conneryadaptation in the 1980s, but this miniseries tackles the novel in a more subdued and, well, better way.
5’Green Eggs and Ham' (2019)
Portrays Goat (Voice Role)
Green Eggs and Hamis an animated series commissioned by and made forNetflix; it aired in 2019 and was a verysuccessfulDr. Seussbookadaptation. It’s also pretty star-studded:Adam Devineis Sam-I-Am,Michael Douglasis Guy-Am-I, andDiane Keatonis Guy’s wife. Besides Turturro guest starring as bounty hunter Goat, there areJeffrey WrightandEddie Izzard.Critics and audiences loved this adaptation, and surely for a lot more than just its brilliant voice cast; however,it was a bit underrated.
Green Eggs and Hamfollows Sam-I-Am and Guy-Am-I running away from the authorities for different reasons. Sam-I-Am steals a rare chickeraffe (a chicken-giraffe hybrid) from the zoo, and Guy-Am-I invents a self-flyer. Whenthe two accidentally switch suitcases containing their rare valuables, they become suspects and have to run from the bad guys. Goat, voiced by Turturro, is an intense but playful bounty hunter, speaking with a rough Spanish accent. Shifting between frustration and comedy is kind of classic Turturro, and he delivers a signature performance to the animated series.
Green Eggs and Ham
4’The Bronx Is Burning' (2007)
Portrays Billy Martin
The Bronx Is Burningis another miniseries based on real life, and this time, John Turturro portrays the legendary Yankees' manager Billy Martin. Martin was known for having an explosive temper, sheer determination, and an underdog mentality, andTurturro encapsulates him perfectly in his dramatic interpretation. The show was adapted fromJonathan Mahler’s non-fiction book,Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning, and shows the popularity of the New York Yankees in 1977.
His portrayal of Martin is vulnerable yet volatile…..
A story of inspiration and perseverance, The New York Yankees were a beacon of hope during an anxious mess of a summer, when Son of Sam was on his killing spree. Billy Martin and Yankees' president George Steinbrenner (Oliver Platt) onboard Reggie Jackson (Daniel Sunjata) on the team, and Martin and Jackson enter a conflict. Turturro and Sunjata have some great scenes together, but Turturro and Platt are brilliant together. Hisportrayal of Martin is vulnerable yet volatile, always fighting the press, the players, or his own demons.The Bronx Is Burningis an ESPN original series, and it was well-received by audiences.
3’The Plot Against America' (2020)
Portrays Rabbi Lionel Bengelsdorf
David SimonandEd Burnsare well-known for creatingThe Wire, but some of their latest TV shows aren’t reaching the same heights as the 2002 police procedurals. That’s quite a shame, since shows likeWe Own This Cityare great and equally deserving of attention. Simon and Burns adaptedPhilip Roth’s alternate history novelThe Plot Against Americainto a same-name miniseries for HBO.The show depicts a different kind of American history, a timeline in whichCharles Lindbergh defeats FDRin the presidential race. Simon initially thought the novel wasn’t historically relevant, but after the 2016 elections, realized Roth’s novel was somewhat prophetic.
The Plot Against Americafocuses more on Lindbergh’s sympathizers than Lindbergh himself. John Turturro portraysLionel Bengelsdorf, a Rabbi and an avid Lindbergh supporter, who creates a cult following around his rhetoric. While Bengelsdorf believes he’s doing the right thing, a lot of his actions are despicable. Turturro portrays him as a charming man with restrained energy and strong convictions, often masterfully taking center stage with his performance.The Plot Against Americamight feela little more relevant now, and it’s not a bad tonal shift for Simon and Burns.
The Plot Against America
2’The Night Of' (2016)
Portrays John Stone
One of John Turturro’s best roles in both film and on TV is his portrayal of John Stone inThe Night Of. This HBOminiseries swept viewers off their feetwith its murder mystery,even sweeping the Emmys with 14 nominations and five wins.The Night Ofwas based on the British showCriminal Justicewritten byPeter Moffat. It follows the Pakistani-American college student Naz Khan (Riz Ahmed), who gets accused of killing a girl he slept with one night. Turturro plays Naz’s defense attorney, John Stone, who takes on the case pro bono.
When the girl Naz was sleeping with one night is found dead the next day, Naz can’t remember if he or someone else killed her. Stone wishes to defend Naz, but Naz’s parents place their trust in a lawyer who’s out for publicity.Turturro’s John Stone is very intelligent, observant, and patient,but slightly off-putting in appearance. He has severe eczema that causes him to itch, wearing sandals for every occasion; he also wears oversized clothes and has a frumpy posture, showing how Turturro embodies Stone in every detail. Balancing humor, cynicism, and heart, Stone defends Naz and digs to the bottom of the mystery; viewers can’t help but cheer for him inthis heavily underrated show.
The Night Of
1’Severance' (2022–)
Portrays Irving Bailiff
Severanceis still currently airing, with its second season slowly unraveling Lumon’s secrets and wrapping up; this cerebral sci-fi series is one of the best shows in the genre at the moment, boasting a majorly talented and likable cast.The story follows employees of a corporation called Lumon, founded by a mysterious man named Kier Eagan. Employees is theMacrodata Refinementsector are Mark (Adam Scott), Dylan (Zack Cherry), Helly (Britt Lower), and Irving (Turturro). While Scott is the lead and the story primarily revolves around him (which we can see inseason 2, episode 7better),the most likableSeverancecharacteris, without a doubt, Turturro’s Irving.
Shown as the man who embodies one of the four tempers of Lumon, dread, Irving is a rule-following stickler,someone who believes in the integrity and wisdom of his employers. However, Irving is also sensitive, driven by a desire for more, and he soon meets and falls in love with a coworker named Burt (Christopher Walken), who helps him realize there’s more to him than just a worker. Turturro makes Irving appear tender and vulnerable, but quietly optimistic about life. His ability to show an emotion with just a facial expression makes Irving one of the most compelling characters inSeverance.
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