1. John Lurie was born on December 14,1952 and is an American musician, painter, actor, director, and producer.
20 Facts About John Lurie
1. 2.
John Lurie co-founded the Lounge Lizards jazz ensemble; has acted in 19 films, including Stranger than Paradise and Down by Law; has composed and performed music for 20 television and film works; and he produced, directed, and starred in the Fishing with John television series.
3.
John Lurie's art has been shown in galleries and museums around the world.
4.
John Lurie's primitivist painting Bear Surprise became an internet meme in Russia in 2006.
5.
John Lurie was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and raised with his brother Evan and sister Liz in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Worcester, Massachusetts.
6.
John Lurie briefly played the harmonica in a band from Boston, but soon switched to the guitar and eventually the saxophone.
7.
John Lurie moved to New York City in 1974, then briefly visited London, where he performed his first saxophone solo at the Acme Gallery.
8.
In 1978 John formed the Lounge Lizards with his brother Evan Lurie on piano; they were the only constant members in the band through numerous lineup changes.
9.
In 1999 John Lurie released the album The Legendary Marvin Pontiac: Greatest Hits, a posthumous collection of the work of an African-Jewish musician named Marvin Pontiac, a fictional character John Lurie created.
10.
In 2017, John Lurie released his first music album in 17 years, Marvin Pontiac: The Asylum Tapes.
11.
John Lurie played alto and soprano saxes, Grant Calvin Weston played drums, and Billy Martin performed on congas, timbales, kalimba, and other small percussion.
12.
In 1993 John Lurie composed the theme to Late Night with Conan O'Brien with Howard Shore.
13.
John Lurie has written scores for over 20 movies, including Stranger than Paradise, Down by Law, Mystery Train, Clay Pigeons, Animal Factory, and Get Shorty, for which he received a Grammy Award nomination.
14.
John Lurie went on to act in other notable films including Paris, Texas, Wild at Heart and The Last Temptation of Christ.
15.
In January 2021 Lurie's series Painting with John aired on HBO.
16.
The third season of Painting with John Lurie, consisting of six episodes, first aired on June 2,2023.
17.
John Lurie's watercolor painting Bear Surprise was enormously popular on numerous Russian websites in an Internet meme known as Preved.
18.
John Lurie became ill with neurological symptoms in 1994, and has experienced debilitating ill health since 2000.
19.
John Lurie stated in a 2006 interview that he has "Advanced Lyme", referring to chronic Lyme disease.
20.
John Lurie's illness prevents him from acting or performing music, so he spends his time painting.