John Turturro’s 3 Best Roles Before He Became Irving in Severance

Since Ben Stiller's masterpiece premiered on AppleTV+, we've had a chance to dive deep into the amazing sci-fi drama that Severance has created for us. The show's main characters are simply brilliant, and what makes the series stand out is that there are seemingly no side characters, as everyone has their own powerful story.

At the center of the story, however, is the MDR group and its four team members: Mark, Helly, Dylan and Irving. The latter met a rather disturbing fate in episode 4 of season 2, and now we have little to no idea how his character will survive all this. Episode 5 of Severance gave us a glimpse into the life of outie Irving, but we still miss him so much.

Well, we have the perfect idea. What if we use this time to dive deeper into the actor himself, instead of just sitting there and being sad that Irving is no longer in MDR? John Turturro is an amazing actor, and before he became the beloved Irving, he appeared in quite a few impressive works.

Here are the 3 best of our choice.

1. Do the Right Thing (1989)

Turturro's breakthrough came with this iconic film. His portrayal of Pino, a hot-tempered yet emotionally complex character of a conflicted Italian-American man caught between loyalty to his father and his growing awareness of racial injustice, earned him critical acclaim. The role demonstrated Turturro's ability to bring depth and nuance to even the most challenging characters.

“Absolutely! He was great at this. Funny to think about how James Gandolfini was first cast for that role but after he passed away in 2013, it went to Robert Dinero but then he stepped down, and then it went to John Turturro,” Redditor Public_Pumpkin_2514 said.

2. Barton Fink (1991)

Another iconic performance came in Barton Fink, a Coen Brothers film that has since become a cult classic. Turturro portrays the title character named Barton, a struggling screenwriter in 1940s Hollywood who also has his own existential dilemmas. The film earned Turturro the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival, and his portrayal of the neurotic and paranoid Barton is still considered one of his most acclaimed performances.

3. The Big Lebowski (1998)

Turturro also appeared in another Coen Brothers film, playing the eccentric and flamboyant "Jesus," a bowling enthusiast with a criminal past. His brief but unforgettable turn as the cocky bowler quickly became a fan favorite, with Turturro's comedic timing and unique characterization leaving a lasting impact on the cult film.