Nicholas Turturro

The whole Turturro clan and their extended family seem to have gotten into the show biz act at one time or another. The youngest of three boys, including famous older brother (by five years) 'John Turturro' (qv), 'Nicholas Turturro' (qv) was born on January 29, 1962, in Queens, New York, and grew up in its Rosedale section. He is the son of Italian-American parents, Katherine (Incerella), a jazz singer, and 'Nicholas Turturro' (qv), a construction worker and carpenter, who was born in Giovinazzo.After attending various Catholic schools, he graduated and majored in theater at Adelphi University for two years, but left to marry Jami Biunno and help raise their child, Erica. The couple later divorced. While working as a doorman at the St. Moritz Hotel in New York City, Nick managed to find a job as both an extra and voice-over artist in 'Spike Lee' (qv)'s _Do the Right Thing (1989)_ (qv) after brother John introduced Nick to Spike. Spike took an immediate interest in the rough-edged Nick and wrote a featured role for him in his next film _Mo' Better Blues (1990)_ (qv) in which John and Nick played repugnant Jewish brothers and co-owners of a club. Both the brothers went on to appear together again in Lee's _Jungle Fever (1991)_ (qv) and Nick also appeared in Lee's _Malcolm X (1992)_ (qv).Nick branched out on his own after this and earned parts in the movies _Federal Hill (1994)_ (qv) and _Excess Baggage (1997)_ (qv), and garnered serious TV attention as rookie detective "James Martinez" on _NYPD Blue (1993)_ (qv) earning a couple of Emmy nominations in the process. His character was originally created as a foil to 'David Caruso' (qv) star character, but he lost momentum after Caruso's early departure from the show. Still, he managed to hang around for seven seasons.Very dark in tone and complexion, the compact-framed Nick certainly has had a wealth of experience in mob drama, playing a young 'Al Capone' (qv) in one guest appearance, and assorted mobster types in other TV-movies. Plenty of guest-starring roles have also come his way with episodes of _Law & Order (1990)_ (qv), _L.A. Law (1986)_ (qv) and _The Twilight Zone (1985)_ (qv) and a recurring role on _Third Watch (1999)_ (qv). He has lightened up on a rare occasion in such comedies as _The Drew Carey Show (1995)_ (qv) and in a couple of failed pilots.Into the millennium, Nicholas continues to work steadily including the comedies _The Shipment (2001)_ (qv) and _The Biz (2002)_ (qv); played the title role of Angelo Buono in the crime drama _The Hillside Strangler (2004)_ (qv) and then turned around to play a good guy officer in _First Sunday (2008)_ (qv); appeared in the sports comedy remake of _The Longest Yard (2005)_ (qv) starring 'Adam Sandler' (qv); starred as the title TV producer nobody recalls in _Remembering Phil (2008)_ (qv); co-starred in the gangster movie _Street Boss (2009)_ (qv); as well as the low level comedy _The Deported (2009)_ (qv); supported comic actor 'Kevin James' (qv) in both _Zookeeper (2011)_ (qv) and _Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)_ (qv); appeared as part of the kidnapped ensemble in the crime comedy _The Wretched (2016)_ (qv); had parts in a couple of biographical dramas including _A Chance in the World (2017)_ (qv) and the Oscar-winning _BlacKkKlansman (2018)_ (qv); as well as the action thrillers _Las Vegas Vietnam: The Movie (2019)_ (qv) and _Shooting Heroin (2020)_ (qv).On stage, Nick has appeared in "Wild Goose", "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" (with John) "Lusting After Popino's Wife" and "Siddown: Conversations With the Mob". Nick's never strayed too far from the family fold. He's appeared in a number of John's projects over the years that have also occasionally featured cousin 'Aida Turturro' (qv) (from _The Sopranos (1999)_ (qv) fame). His mother has also appeared in a few films, as has John's wife and sons. Nick remarried a number of years ago.::Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]