Film:
* Actor:
* Downtown 81 (1981): Played himself, a struggling musician.
* Stranger Than Paradise (1984): Played Eddie, a supporting character.
* The Last Waltz (1978): Played saxophone in the performance by The Band.
* Fishing With John (1991): Played himself, host and fisherman.
* The Funeral (1996): Played Frank, a character with a mysterious past.
* Get Shorty (1995): Played a small but memorable role as a Hollywood producer.
* Buffalo '66 (1998): Played the role of a parole officer.
* The King of Comedy (1982): Played a small role as a talk show host.
* The Good Shepherd (2006): Played a small role as a government official.
* The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013): Played a small role as a photographer.
* The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019): Played a small role as a fisherman.
* Director:
* Fishing With John (1991): Directed and starred in this cult classic documentary about fishing.
* The Gift (2000): A comedy about a man who tries to help his friends escape from their problems.
* Music:
* Downtown 81 (1981): Provided the soundtrack for the film.
* Stranger Than Paradise (1984): Contributed to the film's soundtrack.
* Fishing With John (1991): Provided the soundtrack for the film.
Television:
* Actor:
* The Simpsons (1991): Played himself in the episode "Homer Defined."
* The Wire (2002-2008): Played a small role as a drug dealer in the second season.
* Louie (2010-2015): Played a recurring role as Louie's friend in several episodes.
* The Sopranos (2000-2007): Played a small role as a mobster in the episode "Stage 5."
* Nurse Jackie (2009-2015): Played a small role as a patient in the episode "Three Wise Men."
* Portlandia (2011-2018): Played a recurring role as a "badass" in several episodes.
Music:
* The Lounge Lizards (1978-Present): Leader, saxophonist, and songwriter for the influential avant-garde jazz band.
Note: This list is not exhaustive, but includes his most notable and recognizable roles. John Lurie has a long and diverse career in both film and music, and he continues to create interesting and original work.