Theroux in the West Village with a single- speed bicycle he bought in .

(MARRIED TO SOMEONE YOU MAY HAVE AFTER YEARS IN HOLLYWOOD IS SINGLE, BACK IN NEW YORK CITY, AND HEARD OF ), DOING WHATEVER THE HELL HE WANTS.

BY JESSE WILL PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEXEI HAY - - the HBO pit bull, Kuma. Theroux and his his and Theroux The Leftovers, The Season 1 director Ther (and “[Justin] has this gift using of his a new series , on helmed by His latest in role this enigmatic vein is in Says Patrick Somerville, who wrote The closest that Theroux has come to a gravitate toward the surreal the or absurd. I like projects that generate talk. lobby Stuff that’seasy not watching, necessarily.” , True Detective oux buddy) Caryoux buddy) Fukunaga. Joji Theroux Jamesplays Dr. K. Mantleray, an oddball whoadministers anexperimental drug aimed at ridding mental trauma to charac ters played by and . Mantleray loses control his of experiment: The patients skitter across their minds as Mantleray loses his. Maniac, comic gifts dramatic for purposes, and vice versa. a strange It’s mixture. he’s know, You known to be this incredibly attractive jack- of-all-tradesactor. that now But know I him, I see him as a sort weirdo of artist who loves these unusual projects.” career-defining lead is role that Kevin of Garveyin the Jr. series that ran three for seasons; critics hailed its final season, as TV’s of one in 2017, - - - a kind 55 0 as a philandering actor. Mulholland Drive, Mulholland Inland Empire Inland “I’m definitely“I’m stumbling upstairs,” says At night, bartended he a downtown at Von, Theroux had minor breakthroughs in late- of gothicof film noir—named by critics in a 2016 BBC poll as the best film the of 21st century—he thoroughly haunts the character Adam, of a creepy young Hollywood director losing con trol over both his career and his marriage. It gave Theroux a taste the for off-kilter narrative, stories that traffic in a psychological undercur rent. Lynchrecast Theroux in 2006’sequally weird Theroux about his career trajectory. I do “But darin—he made in a go it of Manhattan. bar that in the had mid-1990s CBGB and a methadone clinic as neighbors. life “My took massivea leap in Theroux quality,” says. “I was finally in a position power, power—not of really,there’s but someequity in bartending. arePeople nice to have you or you the right to stop serving them.” During audi the he day, tioned roles, for flying to out L.A. only when someone else would pay. ’90s flicks I Shot Andy Warhol and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, but a casting by would change the course of hiscareer. In 2001’s - - - - In his teens, Theroux found solace in Buoyed by finding a supportive crowd, chips at home. I had But a legitimately hard time in school.” skateboarding and the burgeoning punk D.C. scene, where hardcore bands were recast ing rock & roll with the DIY ethic. Theroux dabbledwith all, it catching shows from bands like Fugazi. entertained He becom ing an anarchist, flirted with the booze-free straight-edgelifestyle, gave himself few a tattoos.stuck. Someit of still He plays his Minor Threat records. was “It that great age where know you being you’re lied to—some lying,one’s somewhere—but can’t you make throughit the New Times York magazine to figure that I love about who how. out or teenagers—the suspicion that not someone’s fuckin’ telling the truth.” Theroux experimented with theater and art. Hiswas mom cool with it. “She was in dire straitstrying to find whateverwould make me Theroux says. clearly “I happy,” wasn’t going into politics. Or Goldman Sachs.” Theroux graduated from Bennington with a double inmajor theater and drama. After a few stints in —Theroux can still speak some Man

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says Ther

taught public school, and published Theroux’s character is complicated, of characterTheroux’s gets called relent a Asked what thinks he the of added pre mean,“I going we’re through this thing Despite growingTheroux in up D.C., “Ha! Clearly“Ha! decision-making my skills The actor describes his teenage years seriously compelling plotline. course. those of one guys “He’s who was obvi ouslythe on what of side RBG was trying to accomplish,also but has his own ingrained ideas equality,” of Theroux think says. don’t “I understands—athe least in the script—how clever was she being.” alsoless prick—but provides comic relief. On the Basis of Sex director Mimi Leder, who also directed Theroux Leftovers, in The oux was the only guy the for draws role. “He from the deep well his of own life, and what he cares about, and reads between the lines on the script,” just says funny.” he’s Leder. “And science the film has in light recent of battles overthe future the of Court—namely, Supreme BrettKavanaugh’s appointment—Theroux laughs. so strange, “It’s I wanted to be in Ruth Bader Ginsberg’shead during those weeks,” says.he would “I to love wander through what wasshe thinking.” where the country just feels like a wash it’s ing machine in a broken spin cycle, getting crazier and crazier.Parts are flying Ther off.” oux leans forward and covers his forehead in his hands. still “We had haven’t our Network moment. Of, like, I can’t take anymore!” it didn’t steep in politics at home. His parents, who divorced when was he young, worked outside government. of His mother, Phillis Grissom-Theroux, wrote the for Washington Post, several books. remember “I her always at the typewriter with a pack cigarettes,” of Theroux badasssays. “A woman. Still His father, is.” Eugene, was a corporate lawyer—despite studying to be an artist. I tell Theroux about Newa 1978 Times York profile of the Theroux clan, where Eugene says decided he to study artat Pratt as the resultconversation of with strangers in bar. a are genetic,” says Theroux. keeps “He a diary to this day—every day is an illustration, each page is a day in his life. pretty It’s incredible.” as largely depressive and anxious. Dyslexia hampered his ability to read. didn’t He make through it booka until the ninth grade. says, he popping another know,” don’t “I Nicorette. “Maybe I was eating fuckin’ paint I LIKE PROJECTS

- - - - - S to blockbuster writ 54 0 THAT’S NOT EASY WATCHING.” OR THEOR ABSURD. I GRAVITATE TOWARD THETOWARD SURREAL I GRAVITATE THAT GENERATE LOBBY TALK. STUFF “I’M DEFINITELY STUMBLING UPSTAIRS. UPSTAIRS. STUMBLING DEFINITELY “I’M ined by any gig. one shouts one No lines at One the of key tools in Theroux’s kit is an Despite the relentless coverage, and despite Theroux plays Wulf, Mel the animated, f BEFORE OUR RIDE, THEROUX ATTEMPT tele have expensive haircuts and glowing skin. Theroux has been wearing here before. He’s a chain-link-inspired necklace that matches the his of gold glasses, a vintage long-sleeve tee, and form-fitting, faded black denim jeans. He orders espresso a double almond-milk cortado and starts chain-chewing Cinnamon Surge– flavored Nicorette. looks He younger much than and his clearly age like 47, of a star, no but gawksone until rips he his out baritone laugh, which has a kind soft-sounding of windup, like the split second before a lawn pull- mower’s starter shudders to life. to explain the wildly varied nature his of sittingrésumé. We’re in the corner a West of Village bistro, the kind place of where the clien ing credits, Theroux manages to evade being de him the on street. escapes He in plain sight. articles that speculate Theroux as to why. and Aniston have been relatively silent about it. In the New Times, York Theroux called it “kind the of most gentle separation” and regretted saying even that. On this he day, refuses to talk about the relationship. the But cameras remain. rolesmajor in the some of best movies and TV series the of past few decades, from Mulhol land Drive Leftovers, to The tunity to see the pairing is in On the Basis of Sex (December that a biopic 25), follows the future Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg as and she (Felicity her husband Jones) (Armie takeHammer) U.S. Court a 1975 on Appeals of case that would create the precedent courts for to reconsider than more 100 gender-biased laws across the U.S. ball-busting legal director whothe for ACLU, swings his corduroy-jacket-clad elbows, joust ing and parrying with RBG until agrees he to her briefput letterhead. ACLU on The film is Oscar bait, yes. is it But also fascinating—no matter your party affiliation—to watch, if only thefor fact that a Hollywood it’s movie that turns the litigation an of arcane tax law into a expansive, expressive forehead, that, along with some gymnastic eyebrows, is to able transmit a wider register emotions of than most actors next are capable oppor Your of.

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his backpack, stabilizes himself himself stabilizes backpack, his im? See him?” But with But the intrusion, Theroux aborts the callI move,” out, “Your and Theroux floats JustinFor Theroux, this is just another Justin Theroux pointing. isn’t But his gold- ner of Carmine nerof and Bleecker blusterya on late fall day in lower Manhattan, near the steps Our of Lady Pompeii of church. Until thismoment, the actorand screenwriter had been unravelingthe story the how of Theroux clan, a family with a long lineage artists of and writers (his uncle is author ) came His great-grandparents, to New York. immigrants from got married Italy, in this church. and He his father found the marriage certificate several years back in the church basement.edifying, It’s says, he to live now just a few blocks away. story and we start pedaling with traffic up Sixth The stocky Avenue. pap, hammering in gear,low a overtakes us,pulls over to the sidewalk the on left, and in what must be a practiced, fluid, and habitual motion, yanks a camera out of against a filigreed light pole, and readies to shoot through a telephoto lens. theof out bike lane, drifts and weavesacross the six lanes Sixth of then Avenue, ducks street, a side Waverly, onto against traffic. The acoustics shift. quieter. His It’s crank shaft slows. AndWednesday. ever since dated, he then wed, then split with America’s Sweetheart, , the number of ruary There are 2018. hundreds tabloid of rimmed Oliver Peoples aviators are aimed at a man a bike on with a backpack across the street. Theroux is gripping the handlebars of a chrome-goldsingle-speed bike at the cor hison every move has multiplied. Theroux leftL.A. and the million pair’s $21 Bel Air andthe padin announced couple late 2017, their separation via a joint statement in Feb “PAPARAZZI. CORNER ON THE RIGHT. See h Clockwise, from left: Weirding out in was funny. That’s what led to our relation- Netflix’s Maniac; with ex Jennifer ship and collaboration.” Aniston in 2015; starring opposite A few years later, that would lead to Theroux in On the Basis of Sex; co-writing one of the wrong-est, right-est mov- his breakout role in The Leftovers. ies in recent decades: 2008’s , a sendup of Hollywood narcissism in which Robert Downey Jr. plays a five-time Academy Award winner in blackface, delivering the infa- mous line “You never go full retard.” So could Tropic Thunder get made today, given the climate? He says that question is starting to come up more often. “The target was Hollywood and douchey actors,” he says. “That’s what we were sticking our forks at. I’d like to think that it could get made again—but I do worry, and want to protect satire. Because banning language is the first sign that you’re in a scary country to live in.” I ask Theroux if he’s ever felt like he’s flown too close to the things he’s parodied. “Of course! I had that feeling all the time when we were making Tropic Thunder. We were in the middle of , loading in all these enormous trailers through the mud, ripping down the rain forest to do it. We were eating brie, or whatever, in the middle of the jungle. The whole thing was ridiculous.” CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MICHELE K. SHORT/NETFLIX; KEVIN MAZUR/VF15/WIREIMAGE; JONATHAN WENK/FOCUS FEATURES; VAN REDIN/HBO MEDIA RELATIONS. OPPOSITE PAGE: PAGE: OPPOSITE RELATIONS. MEDIA REDIN/HBO VAN FEATURES; WENK/FOCUS JONATHAN MAZUR/VF15/WIREIMAGE; KEVIN K. SHORT/NETFLIX; LEFT: MICHELE TOP FROM CLOCKWISE THEROUX WEARS JACKET BY VISVIMM; SHIRT HIS OWN; JEANS BY RAG & BONE; BOOTS BY COMMON PROJECTS; WATCH BY ROLEX. FOLLOWING SPREAD: THEROUX WEARS WEARS THEROUX SPREAD: FOLLOWING ROLEX. BY WATCH PROJECTS; COMMON BY BOOTS & BONE; RAG BY JEANS OWN; HIS SHIRT VISVIMM; BY JACKET WEARS THEROUX

best-ever dramas. The show adapts a novel in which 140 million people—2 percent of the world’s population—simulta- neously vanish off the face of the earth, at random, without explanation. Theroux is an unstable cop trying to retain some semblance of normalcy as collective grief makes society go bonkers. Executive produced by Damon Lindelhof, the co-creator of Lost, the show gathered steam over its lifetime in spite of the obtuseness. As with Mulholland Drive and Maniac, reality, in The Leftovers, is a slippery thing. Theroux digs that. “I was attracted to the not-understanding of it all,” Theroux says. “Stories by nature are supposed to be these sort of wrapped-and- bowed things that have a kind of a conclusion. mess with meandering. He’s a point-to-point But The Leftovers kind of lived in the discom- guy, who usually steers his bike directly where fort of not knowing what’s going to happen he needs to go. M5. BY JEANS COLE. KELLY BY T-SHIRT & BONE. RAG BY COAT tonight or tomorrow. Which is what life is—we Conversation turns to the flip side of Ther- AFTER BEING THWARTED BY THE just don’t know. Are we going to jump on our oux’s résumé: the funny stuff. was unwanted paps, we rerouted toward the bikes after we leave this restaurant and get among the first in Hollywood to notice Ther- East Village. Earlier I had joked about Ther- smashed by a truck? We don’t know. People oux’s comedic gift, casting him as “Evil DJ” in oux’s propensity for wearing tight vintage are hung up on getting answers. But life is , in 2001. Stiller also played a role T-shirts—they often appear in paparazzi about not having them.” in launching Theroux’s screenwriting career, shots—that for most of us would be considered after the actor showed Stiller a script he had one to three sizes too small. For Theroux, who been toying with. forges his physique with high-intensity boxing “It was some terrible thing I had written.” and weight-heavy workouts, and rips off the LUNCH WRAPS, AND WE GO INTO THE Theroux says. “Some kind of beginning to sleeves to feature his deltoids, the fit works. cold to find the answer to another mystery, a movie. I didn’t know how to write a But still, I wonder—what’s too tight? What’s one endemic to biking in New York: finding script. I will still just write the one scene the correct opacity, the right level of beat-to- out if our bikes still have front wheels. They that makes me laugh, to show where a hell sheen that a vintage T-shirt should have? do. We begin meandering around the West movie will live—in this zone, in this tone. Theroux is game for a window into his particu-

Village— an anomaly for Theroux, who doesn’t He complimented my dialogue, thought it lar obsession, so we hit a store on Third Avenue

056 called Metropolis Vintage. Theroux takes his bike inside and leans it against a rack. He then begins dropping some graduate-level knowl- edge on the vintage T-shirt market, circa 2018. “Here’s one,” he says, pointing to an “Air Bart” Michael Jordan shirt hanging from a pipe near the ceiling. “A Bart Simpson knockoff. That’s already part of a Bart Simpson subset. And there are subsets of the subset. I have one with Bart Simpson in dreadlocks wearing Gucci, there’s Bart Simpson wearing a Chanel tracksuit. I can go into K-holes with this stuff.” We flick through a rack of currently-in-vogue 1990s rap tees, but most of them are oversize. “A great wide-neck vintage shirt looks great on some 24-year-old model, but it’s not going to look great on me” Theroux says. “I don’t like an oversize shirt. I like to keep it high and tight. Nothing drapy. But I can appreciate it, for sure.” Up in the corner, Theroux sees a black T-shirt he’s into from hip hop group Onyx, which says “Back da Fuck Up.” But he deems it not worth the going price of $65. “I’m wonder- ing if we should be investing in Drake shirts today, as an investment for 2030,” he says. We roll our bikes out of the store and ride a few blocks north to a store called Stock Vin- tage, where everything is at least a half-cen- tury old, and the racks are hung with original World War II flight jackets, and tank boots, and 1930s Spalding sweatshirts. But Theroux is more interested in the shop’s dog, a pit bull named Hazel. Theroux is a devo- tee of the breed and is on his fourth one, a Hur- ricane Harvey rescue named Kuma. Across Theroux’s back is sprawled the tattoo of a rat, in remembrance of an old dog that would kill them in Washington Square Park. We depart from the shop on bikes onto a shadowy 13th Street. As we pedal with traffic, I ask Theroux if he missed New York during his years in Bel Air. “Oh yeah,” he says. “For sure. I’ve been spending time on the West Coast now for 20 years—it’s part of the job. But New York has always had this gravitational pull. When you see the Manhattan skyline coming into JFK...I mean, I love L.A...but I don’t get that warm and fuzzy feeling when I’m coming up La Cienega.” We turn south on Fifth Avenue, and I ask if he sees 2018 as a transitional year. “I don’t really think of it in terms of that,” he tells me. “I think of it in terms of...an unspooling.” And is there a road map for what’s next? “I don’t know,” he says. “The next stretch will be just as weird as the last. I have no idea. I wish I was one of those people who could cre- “I WISH I WAS ONE OF THESE ate a four-year plan for themselves, or a five- year plan. But I’m just not. I feel like when you PEOPLE WHO COULD CREATE A FOUR- start making plans, you’re just screwed. Plans just don’t work out.” YEAR PLAN FOR THEMSELVES. BUT I’M We came to the arch of Washington Square Park, back to a spot where Theroux tells me JUST NOT. I FEEL LIKE WHEN his great-grandfather Dittami, fresh off the boat, had slept in the park upon his arrival in YOU START MAKING PLANS, YOU’RE America. On the edge of the square, he finds another paparazzi, waiting. We part ways, JUST SCREWED.” and Theroux ducks around the corner onto a sidewalk covered in scaffolding, disappearing in plain sight. MJ

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