John Lurie

Biography

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.