GoKawiilJohn Turturro Trains With Pickpocket Apollo Robbins for New Noah Segan Film
Actor John Turturro met with consultant Apollo Robbins, a professional pickpocket known as 'the gentleman thief,' to prepare for his role as an old-school thief in Noah Segan's new film 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.' Robbins coached Turturro on sleight-of-hand techniques and pickpocket terminology, and the two rehearsed steals together, with Turturro insisting on performing the grabs himself rather than using a hand double.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The collaboration highlights a growing trend of filmmakers hiring real-world experts to lend authenticity to niche criminal skills on screen, suggesting a push toward physical realism over purely scripted dialogue. Robbins' past work, including a widely reported 2012 demonstration involving Secret Service agents, lends him credibility as a consultant whose techniques could shape how audiences perceive the craft of pickpocketing in film.
- John Turturro is starring in 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,' directed by Noah Segan.
- Apollo Robbins, a professional sleight-of-hand performer, served as the film's pickpocketing consultant.
- Turturro chose to perform the pickpocketing scenes himself rather than use a stunt or hand double.
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See Travelon Anti-Theft Crossbody Bag on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: newyorker.com — Michael Schulman, 2026-10-30
Published there as: “A Pickpocket's Guide to New York”
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