John Lurie, American actor, saxophonist, painter, director, and producer
John Lurie (born December 14, 1952) is an American musician, painter, actor, director, and producer. He co-founded the Lounge Lizards jazz ensemble; acted in 19 films, including Stranger than Paradise and Down by Law; composed and performed music for 20 television and film works; and produced, directed, and starred in the Fishing with John television series. In 1996 his soundtrack for Get Shorty was nominated for a Grammy Award, and his album The Legendary Marvin Pontiac: Greatest Hits has been praised by critics and fellow musicians.Since 2000, he has suffered from symptoms attributed to chronic Lyme disease and has focused his attention on painting. His art has been shown in galleries and museums around the world. His primitivist painting Bear Surprise became an internet meme in Russia in 2006. His new television series, Painting with John, debuted on HBO in January 2021. Robert Lloyd of Los Angeles Times wrote, "Painting With John represents HBO at its most worthwhile: arty and unpredictable.". Lurie's 1980s NYC memoir, The History of Bones, was published by Penguin Random House in August 2021.