John Turturro Says Lifting Wallets Was Part of Training for New Film

NPR reported that actor John Turturro says he likes trying new things, and that one of them was learning to pick pockets. According to the report, written by Terry Gross, lifting wallets was part of Turturro's training for the film The Only Living Pickpocket, which NPR's summary associates with New York. The full account is available in NPR's report on John Turturro's pickpocket training.

NPR's summary describes Turturro's character as a "small-time thief" who is also the primary caretaker for his ailing wife. The summary presents this pairing of a criminal occupation with a domestic responsibility without further explanation of how the two fit together in the story.

The report was published November 2, 2026. NPR's summary does not include further detail about the length of the training, the production of the film, or the specific techniques Turturro learned beyond the act of lifting wallets.

The headline frames the account around Turturro's interest in new experiences, and the summary frames the pickpocketing as a preparatory step for the film. Turturro's remarks on trying new things are described in the headline and summary only, and the material available for this story does not supply direct quotations from him beyond the wording of those two items.

Where the film's plot is concerned, NPR's summary identifies only the central character's occupation and family circumstances. It does not name other characters, describe the film's storyline, or give a release date for The Only Living Pickpocket.

Sources: NPR: John Turturro says he likes trying new things (even pickpocketing).