Steve Buscemi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Buscemi
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Buscemi at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival
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Steven Vincent Buscemi
December 13, 1957 New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1983–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Jo Andres
(m. 1987; died 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
| Firefighter career | |
| Department | New York City Fire Department |
| Service years | 1980–1984 |
| Signature | |
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Steven Vincent Buscemi (born December 13, 1957) is an American actor, director, and producer. He is well-known for playing unique and memorable characters in many films and TV shows. He often plays "character roles," which means he specializes in playing unusual or interesting people rather than the main hero.
Buscemi became famous for his roles in independent films like Parting Glances (1986) and Mystery Train (1989). His big breakthrough was playing Mr. Pink in Quentin Tarantino's movie Reservoir Dogs (1992). He has worked in both smaller independent movies and big Hollywood films.
He has often worked with famous directors like the Coen brothers, appearing in their films such as Miller's Crossing (1990), Fargo (1996), and The Big Lebowski (1998). Buscemi has also appeared in many comedies with Adam Sandler, including Airheads (1994) and Billy Madison (1995). He is also known for his voice acting in animated movies like Monsters, Inc. (2001).
On television, Buscemi starred as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014). This role earned him several awards, including a Golden Globe. He has also appeared in popular shows like The Sopranos and 30 Rock. Besides acting, Steve Buscemi has directed several films and TV episodes.
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Early Life and Education
Steven Vincent Buscemi was born on December 13, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York City. His father, John Buscemi, was a sanitation worker and served in the Korean War. His mother, Dorothy, worked as a hostess. Buscemi's family has roots in Sicily, Italy, and his mother's family is from England and the Netherlands. He has three brothers: Jon, Ken, and Michael. His brother Michael is also an actor.
When Steve was 10 years old, his family moved from East New York to Valley Stream, New York. He went to Valley Stream Central High School and graduated in 1975. In high school, Buscemi was part of the wrestling team and enjoyed being in the drama club. Later, he briefly attended Nassau Community College. After that, he moved to Manhattan to study acting at the famous Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
Acting Career Highlights
Early Roles and Breakthrough
Buscemi started his acting career in the mid-1980s. His first film was The Way It Is in 1985. He also appeared in the TV series Miami Vice in 1986. In 1989, he was in several movies, including Mystery Train, which earned him an award nomination.
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In the early 1990s, Buscemi began working with the famous Coen brothers. He appeared in their gangster film Miller's Crossing (1990). This was the first of many movies he would make with them. He also had a role in King of New York and Tales from the Darkside: The Movie. His first main role was in the film In the Soup (1992).
He became widely known for his role as Mr. Pink in Quentin Tarantino's crime film Reservoir Dogs (1992). This role was originally written for Tarantino himself, but Buscemi's performance was so good that it earned him an award for Best Supporting Male. He also made a quick appearance in Tarantino's next film, Pulp Fiction, as a waiter.
Becoming a Character Actor
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Buscemi continued to gain recognition in the mid-1990s. He played a kidnapper named Carl Showalter in the Coen Brothers' film Fargo (1996). This movie was very popular and helped him become known as a great "character actor." This means he is skilled at playing unique and memorable supporting roles.
He then appeared in big action movies like Con Air (1997) and Armageddon (1998). He also played Donny in the Coen Brothers' popular comedy The Big Lebowski (1998). During this time, he also started directing, with his first TV directing job on Homicide: Life on the Street.
Voice Acting and TV Success
In the 2000s, Buscemi continued to take on many different roles. He played Seymour in the film Ghost World (2001), which critics loved. He also became a popular voice actor. He voiced Randall Boggs in the Disney Pixar animated movie Monsters, Inc. (2001) and its prequel Monsters University (2013). He also lent his voice to characters in Monster House (2006) and Charlotte's Web (2006).
In 2004, Buscemi joined the cast of the popular HBO crime series The Sopranos. He played Tony Blundetto, a cousin and friend of the main character. This role earned him an Emmy Award nomination. He also directed several episodes of The Sopranos. He continued to appear in comedies with Adam Sandler, such as Mr. Deeds (2002) and Grown Ups (2010).
Boardwalk Empire and Recent Work
From 2010 to 2014, Steve Buscemi starred in the HBO drama series Boardwalk Empire. He played Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a powerful politician in Atlantic City, New Jersey during the 1920s Prohibition era. His performance in this show was highly praised and won him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama.
He also hosted NBC's Saturday Night Live in 2011 and had a recurring role in the sitcom 30 Rock. Buscemi created, hosted, and produced his own web series called Park Bench with Steve Buscemi, which won an Emmy Award in 2016. In recent years, he has continued to act in films like The Death of Stalin (2017) and The Dead Don't Die (2019), as well as voice roles in the Hotel Transylvania movies.
Directing Career
Besides acting, Steve Buscemi has also had a successful career as a director. He started directing in the 1990s. His films as a director include:
- Trees Lounge (1996)
- Animal Factory (2000)
- Lonesome Jim (2005)
- Interview (2007)
- The Listener (2022)
He has also directed episodes for many TV shows, such as Homicide: Life on the Street, The Sopranos, Oz, 30 Rock, and Nurse Jackie. His brother Michael even appeared in some episodes of Nurse Jackie that Steve directed.
Personal Life
Steve Buscemi grew up saying his last name in an American way. He once joked that he had to visit Sicily, where his family came from, to learn the original Italian pronunciation.
He was married to Jo Andres from 1987 until her passing in 2019. They had one son named Lucian.
In 2021, Steve Buscemi was given the key to the city of Park Slope, Brooklyn, where he lives. In May 2024, he was involved in an incident in New York City and received medical attention for a minor injury. His publicist later confirmed he had recovered.
Firefighter Service
Before becoming a famous actor, Steve Buscemi was a firefighter for the New York City Fire Department. He worked at Engine Company No. 55 in Little Italy, Manhattan, from 1980 to 1984. During this time, he was also secretly taking acting classes and trying out stand-up comedy.
After the September 11 attacks in New York City in 2001, Buscemi returned to his old firehouse to volunteer. He worked 12-hour shifts for a week, helping to search through the rubble for missing firefighters. In 2014, Buscemi starred in and narrated an HBO documentary called A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY. In this film, he talked with other firefighters and shared their experiences, including those from September 11.
In 2021, Buscemi spoke about dealing with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) after volunteering at Ground Zero. He also helped produce a documentary called Dust: The Lingering Legacy of 9/11, which discusses the health effects that many people, especially firefighters, have experienced from the dust after the towers collapsed. In 2014, the New York City Fire Department named him an Honorary battalion chief for his service and his actions after 9/11.
Awards and Recognitions
Steve Buscemi has received many awards and nominations for his acting in films and television. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for his role in Ghost World (2001). He has also won two Independent Spirit Awards for his roles in Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Ghost World.
For his lead role as Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 2011. He also won four Screen Actors Guild Awards for his work on the show, including two for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series. Buscemi also won a Primetime Emmy Award for his web series Park Bench with Steve Buscemi in 2016.
Images for kids
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Steve Buscemi's signature
See Also
In Spanish: Steve Buscemi para niños
