 Jarmusch had met blues singer Screamin ' Jay Hawkins after featuring his music prominently in his breakthrough feature film debut Stranger Than Paradise ( 1984 ) . Although reticent about acting , Hawkins responded favorably to the director 's offer to appear . The part of Luisa was also written by the director with the star – actress Nicoletta Braschi – in mind ; the two had previously collaborated on Down by Law ( 1986 ) . Cinqué Lee is the younger brother of director Spike Lee , a longtime friend of Jarmusch from their days at New York University 's film school , while Youki Kudoh was cast after the director saw her performance in Sōgo Ishii 's The Crazy Family ( 1984 ) while promoting Down by Law in Japan . Repeat Jarmusch collaborators who worked on the film included John Lurie who provided the original music , cinematographer Robby Müller , and singer Tom Waits , who in a voice appearance reprised his role of radio DJ Lee Baby Sims from Down by Law . Other cameos include Jarmusch 's long @-@ time girlfriend Sara Driver as an airport clerk , Rufus Thomas as the man in the train station who greets the Japanese couple , Rockets Redglare as the clerk of the liquor store , Vondie Curtis @-@ Hall as Ed , Sy Richardson as the news vendor , and Richard Boes and Tom Noonan as diner patrons . 
