Steve Buscemi
Steven Vincent Buscemi (/buːˈsɛmi/ boo-SEM-ee,[1][2][Note 1] Italian: [buʃˈʃɛːmi]; born December 13, 1957) is an American actor, director, writer, producer and former firefighter.[3] He has starred in a number of successful movies, including Parting Glances (1986), New York Stories (1989), Mystery Train (1989), Reservoir Dogs (1992), Desperado (1995), Con Air (1997), Armageddon (1998), The Grey Zone (2001), Ghost World (2001), Big Fish (2003), and The Death of Stalin (2017). Buscemi is also known for his supporting roles in the Coen brothers films Miller's Crossing (1990), Barton Fink (1991), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Fargo (1996), and The Big Lebowski (1998).
Steve Buscemi | |
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 Buscemi in 2018 | |
| Born | Steven Vincent Buscemi December 13, 1957 New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1985–present |
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| Children | 1 |
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Buscemi has worked prominently in animation, including voice-work for Randall Boggs in the Monsters, Inc. film franchise (2001–2013), Wesley in Home on the Range (2004), Horace Nebbercracker in Monster House (2006), Templeton in Charlotte's Web (2006), Scamper in Igor (2008), Bucky in G-Force (2009), Wayne the Werewolf in the Hotel Transylvania film franchise (2012–present) and Francis E. Francis in The Boss Baby (2017). From 2010 to 2014, Buscemi portrayed Enoch "Nucky" Thompson in the critically acclaimed television series Boardwalk Empire, which earned him two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe and two nominations for an Emmy Award. He made his directorial film debut with Trees Lounge (1996), in which he also starred. Other films he has directed include Animal Factory (2000), Lonesome Jim (2004), and Interview (2007). Buscemi played the role of Pete Wittel in the tragicomedy web series Horace and Pete (2016).
Early life
Buscemi was born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, to John Buscemi, a sanitation worker and Korean War veteran, and Dorothy (née Wilson) Buscemi, a hostess at Howard Johnson's. Buscemi's father was of Italian descent; his ancestors were from the town of Menfi in Sicily. Buscemi's mother is of Irish, English, and Dutch ancestry.[4][5] He has three brothers—Jon, Ken, and Michael. Michael is also an actor. Buscemi was raised Catholic.[5]
The family moved to Valley Stream in Nassau County and Buscemi graduated in 1975 from Valley Stream Central High School along with classmate and future actress Patricia Charbonneau. In high school Buscemi wrestled for the varsity squad and participated in the drama troupe. (Buscemi's 1996 film Trees Lounge, in which he starred and served as screenwriter and director, is set in and was largely shot in his childhood village of Valley Stream.[6]) Buscemi briefly attended Nassau Community College before moving to Manhattan to enroll in the Lee Strasberg Institute.
Buscemi passed his civil service test in 1976 and became a firefighter in New York City in 1980. He served in the FDNY's Engine Co. 55 in Manhattan's Little Italy for four years.[7] After 9/11, Buscemi returned to Engine 55 and for several days worked 12-hour shifts alongside other firefighters to sift through the rubble of the World Trade Center. In 2003, at a union rally, he gave a speech supporting higher wages for firefighters.[3] In 2014 he was appointed an Honorary Battalion Chief of the FDNY.[8]
Career
Acting
Beginnings and rising popularity: 1985–1995
Buscemi made his acting debut in the 1985 film The Way It Is, directed by Eric Mitchell and produced by No Wave Cinema. His other early performances include the films Parting Glances (1986) and Slaves of New York (1988), as well as an appearance in an episode of the television series Miami Vice in 1986.[9]. Buscemi received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male due to his role in Mystery Train, released in 1989.[10] In 1990, he played Mink in the Coen Brothers' Millers Crossing. Although he had to audition twice for this role,[11] it marked the first of five of the Coen Brothers' films in which Buscemi performed. Also that year, he starred as Test Tube, a henchman of Laurence Fishburne's character Jimmy Jump in Abel Ferrara's crime film King of New York,[12] as well as Edward in the anthology film Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, the protagonist of the "Lot 249" segment of the film.[13]
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In 1991, he played a bellboy, Chet, in the Coen Brothers film Barton Fink.[14] His first lead role was as Adolpho Rollo in Alexandre Rockwell's In the Soup (1992).[15] He gained wider attention for his supporting part as pseudonymous criminal Mr. Pink in Quentin Tarantino's film Reservoir Dogs (1992),[16] a role that Tarantino has originally wrote for himself,[11] and one that earned Buscemi the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male in his second nomination.[17] Also in 1992, he had a guest role as Phil Hickle, Ellen's father and older Pete's guidance counselor, in The Adventures of Pete and Pete.[18] The following year, he starred as the eponymous character in the critically panned[19] horror comedy film Ed and His Dead Mother. He also appeared in a cameo appearance in Tarantino's next film, Pulp Fiction, where portrays a waiter dressed as Buddy Holly who serves Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega.[20] In 1995, Buscemi guest-starred as suspected murderer Gordon Pratt in "End Game", an episode of the television series Homicide: Life on the Street. Buscemi was rumored to be considered for the role of The Scarecrow in Joel Schumacher's proposed fifth installment of the first Batman franchise, Batman Unchained, before Warner Bros. cancelled the project.[21]
Supporting roles and television work: 1996–2009
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The next year, Buscemi again collaborated with the Coen Brothers, starring as kidnapper Carl Showalter in Fargo.[22] Subsequently, he gained a reputation as character actor,[23] with supporting roles as Garland Greene in Con Air (1997), Rockhound in Armageddon (1998) and Donny in The Big Lebowski (1999).[24] Going into the 2000s, Buscemi continued to co-star in supporting roles. He played Seymour in Ghost World (2001) and Romero in Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002), as well as its successor Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003). He also extensively performed voice-over work for animated films, playing Randall Boggs in Monsters, Inc. (2001), — a role he later reprised in its sequel Monsters University (2013) — Mr. Wesley in Home on the Range (2004), Nebbercracker in Monster House (2006) and Templeton the Rat in Charlotte's Web.[25][26][27]
In 2004, Buscemi joined the cast of the television series The Sopranos as Tony Soprano's cousin and childhood friend, Tony Blundetto, a role that earned him an Emmy Award nomination.[28] Buscemi had previously contributed to the show as director of the third-season episode "Pine Barrens", which was one of the most critically acclaimed episodes of the series, and the fourth-season episode "Everybody Hurts".[29] He appeared in episode three of season 6 as a doorman in the afterlife, which is portrayed as a country club in Tony Soprano's dream. He also directed the episodes "In Camelot", the seventh episode of season 5, and "Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request...", the fifth episode of season 6. As well, he appeared in the music video for Joe Strummer's cover version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song".[30]
Current works: 2009–present
Buscemi starred in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire starting in 2010, as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson (based on Enoch L. Johnson), a corrupt Atlantic City politician who rules the town during the Prohibition era. He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama for the role. In 2011 he hosted NBC's Saturday Night Live.[31][32]
He hosts, directs, and produces his own web series talk show, Park Bench, which debuted in May 2014.[33] In January 2016, Buscemi began co-starring alongside Louis C.K. in C.K.'s comedy-drama web series Horace and Pete.[34]
Directing
Buscemi has also worked as a director, making his directing debut in the 1990s. His directorial credits include:
- What Happened to Pete (1992) (short film)
- Trees Lounge (1996)
- Animal Factory (2000)
- Lonesome Jim (2005)
- Interview (2007)
In addition to feature films, he directed the television show Love (Netflix Web Series) and episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street; four episodes of The Sopranos, including one of the most critically acclaimed episodes: "Pine Barrens"; as well as two episodes of HBO's prison-drama series Oz, entitled "U.S. Male" and "Cuts Like a Knife". He has also directed two episodes of 30 Rock ("Retreat to Move Forward" and "Leap Day"), and six episodes of Showtime's Nurse Jackie. In the latter, his brother Michael played the character God in several episodes. While scouting a location for a film, Buscemi visited the Philadelphia Eastern State Penitentiary and found the building so interesting that he later provided the majority of the narration for the audio tour there.[35][36]
Image
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Buscemi was adamant about not altering his misaligned teeth, saying, "I've had dentists who have wanted to help me out, but I say, 'You know, I won't work again if you fix my teeth.'"[37][38] Buscemi is noted for wrinkles around his eyes, giving them an aged appearance. "Buscemi eyes" describes the result when his eyes are photo-edited onto others' faces. He has stated that although he did not find this amusing, his wife Jo Andres did.[39]
Buscemi guest-starred in season 6 episode 7 of 30 Rock as a private investigator. Playing against his image, during a flashback he appears to be disguised as a teenager as he says that he was "part of a special task force of very young-looking cops who infiltrated high schools".[40][41]
Personal life
Buscemi grew up pronouncing his name as boo-SEM-ee, in an anglicized way. In Sicily, where his ancestors are from, it is pronounced as boo-SHEM-ee.[42] He once remarked, "I had to go to Sicily to find out I pronounce my name wrong."[1]
Buscemi was a New York City firefighter from 1980 to 1984, with Engine Company No. 55, in the Little Italy section of New York. The day after the 9/11 attacks in New York, he returned to his old firehouse to volunteer; he worked twelve-hour shifts for a week, and dug through rubble looking for missing firefighters. On May 25, 2003, Buscemi was arrested with nineteen other people while protesting the closing of a number of firehouses, including Engine 55.[43]
Buscemi married Jo Andres in 1987; they were married until her death in early January 2019.[44] They had one son.[45]
In April 2001, Buscemi was in Wilmington, North Carolina, shooting the film Domestic Disturbance. He was stabbed multiple times after intervening in a bar fight between Vince Vaughn, Scott Rosenberg, and two local men, and was released from hospital after treatment.[46]
A guest in episode 13 of the genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?, he was helped to trace his maternal ancestry to Julia Vanderhoof and Ralph B. Montgomery (1834–1878), individuals of Dutch and English descent. The program aired March 25, 2011.
In the middle of 2011, he joined rallies against the threat of the closing of eight Brooklyn firehouses during the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, saying "Closing [these firehouses] is no way to protect New York."[47]
In 2014, Buscemi starred in and narrated the HBO documentary A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY, in which he revisited his work with fellow firefighters. He shares their stories, including those from September 11.[48]
Filmography
Buscemi has a body of work in both film and television dating back to the 1980s.
Awards and nominations
Primetime Emmy Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Directing for a Drama Series | The Sopranos | Nominated |
| 2004 | Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | 30 Rock | Nominated |
| 2011 | Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Boardwalk Empire | Nominated |
| 2012 | Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Short-Format Nonfiction Program | Park Bench with Steve Buscemi | Nominated |
| Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Portlandia | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Short Form Variety Series | Park Bench with Steve Buscemi | Won |
Golden Globe Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Ghost World | Nominated |
| 2011 | Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama | Boardwalk Empire | Won |
| 2012 | Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama | Nominated | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | The Sopranos | Nominated |
| 2011 | Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series | Boardwalk Empire | Won |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | ||
| 2012 | Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series | Won | |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | ||
| 2013 | Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | ||
Independent Spirit Award
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Best Supporting Male | Mystery Train | Nominated |
| 1993 | Best Supporting Male | Reservoir Dogs | Won |
| 1997 | Best First Feature | Trees Lounge | Nominated |
| Best First Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| 2002 | Best Supporting Male | Ghost World | Won |
Other Awards
Notes
- As stated in interviews by Buscemi himself, some may insist that his pronunciation of his own name is "wrong" because it does not match the original Italian pronunciation as well. It is not uncommon for people to pronounce his name /buːˈʃeɪmi/ boo-SHAY-mee instead.
References
- "Regis kelly steve buscemi – Video Dailymotion". Dailymotion.com. June 3, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- "How to Pronounce 'Steve Buscemi' — Running Late with Scott Rogowsky". RunningLateShow. June 4, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- "Steve Buscemi – Former Firefighter". indieking.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2008.
- "Film Society of Lincoln Center". Filmlinc.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
- "Steve Buscemi profile". John Lahr. September 11, 2001. Archived from the original on October 29, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2009.
- Delatiner, Barbara. "Cinema Arts Film Festival Stresses the Independents", The New York Times, June 1, 1997. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
- "Ground Zero: Engine 10 and Ladder 10". Bushmaster Firearms International. Archived from the original on September 8, 2003. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
- "FDNY Twitter". Twitter. November 5, 2014.
- Wood, Jenner M. (October 22, 2013). "27 Actors Who Got Their Starts on Miami Vice". Mental Floss. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- "2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards" (PDF). Film Independent Spirit Awards. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 22, 2012.
- Tarantino, Quentin (1993). "Steve Buscemi by Quentin Tarantino". BOMB. 42 (Winter). Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- "King of New York (1990)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1994)". British Film Institute. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- "Barton Fink (1991)". Box Office Mojo. 1991. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
- Maslin, Janet (October 3, 1992). "In the Soup (1992) From Art-Loving Gangster To a Menacing Hemophiliac". The New York Times. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- "Reservoir Dogs (1992)". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- "'Homeboys', 'Idaho' Lead Spirit Nominees". Chicago Tribune. January 23, 1992. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- Kurp, Joshua. "The Ten Most Memorable Guest Stars of The Adventures of Pete and Pete". Splitsider. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- Thomas, Kevin (November 17, 1993). "Script and Cast Can't Save 'Mother'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- "The Secrets of 'Pulp Fiction': 20 Things You Didn't Know About the Movie on Its 20th Anniversary" Archived March 15, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. The Daily Beast. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
- Moviemansguide.com review of Batman Begins by Andy Hoglund
- "Fargo (1995)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
- Graham-Dixon, Charles (December 14, 2017). "Steve Buscemi: 10 essential films". British Film Institute. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- "Steve Buscemi Profile". AllMovie. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- Ebert, Roger. "Big Fish Movie Review & Film Summary (2003)". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- Eisenberg, Eric (August 20, 2011). "Monsters University Voice Cast And Plot Details Announced At D23". Cinema Blend. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- "Ghost World". Cineplex Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- "Steve Buscemi". Television Academy.
- Wolcott, James (September 30, 2010). "Barbarians at the Shore". Vanity Fair.
- D'Angelo, Joe. "Joe Strummer Leaves Final Mark On New York With New Video". MTV. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- Ocasio, Anthony. "012 Golden Globe Awards: Winners List". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- Staff, THR. "'Saturday Night Live' Hosted by Steve Buscemi: What the Critics Are Saying (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- Hurwitz, Daniel (May 15, 2014). "Web to Watch: Sit next to Steve Buscemi on 'Park Bench'". USAToday. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- Kreps, Daniel (January 15, 2016). "Louis C.K. Surprise-Releases New Series 'Horace and Pete' With Steve Buscemi". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- "Steve Buscemi talks about Eastern State". Easternstate.org. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013.
- "The Voices of Eastern State Audio Tour". Easternstate.org. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013.
- Lindsay Powers, "Why Emmy Nominee Steve Buscemi Refuses to 'Fix' His Teeth", The Hollywood Reporter, August 14, 2011.
- Arienne Thompson, "Buscemi Refuses to Have His Teeth Fixed", USA Today, August 16, 2011.
- Samantha Grossman (June 10, 2014). "Steve Buscemi Addresses Internet Memes On Late Night With Seth Meyers". TIME.com.
- Steve Buscemi – 30 Rock on YouTube
- "30 Rock - Season 6, Episode 7: The Tuxedo Begins - TV.com". TV.com. CBS Interactive.
- Cook, Kevin (August 10, 2011). "Playboy Interview: Steve Buscemi". Playboy: 41. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
I say Bu-semmy. I don't mind Bu-shemmy, though. That's the correct Sicilian pronunciation, from the old country.
- Bode, Nicole (May 26, 2003). "Closures Spur Fiery Protests 20 Arrested As Demonstrations Get Heated". New York Daily News. New York City: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved May 26, 2003.
- MaslowW, Alexia; Fernandez, Nick (January 12, 2019). "Steve Buscemi's Wife of Over 30 Years, Jo Andres, Dies at 65". People. United States: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
- D'Zurilla, Christie (December 14, 2010). "Michael C. Hall divorce has him alone among fellow Golden Globe nominees". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times Communications LLC. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
- Reuters (April 13, 2001). "Buscemi Stabbed, Vaughn Arrested in Bar Brawl". ABC News. New York City: ABC. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- O'Neill, Natalie and Briquelet, Kate, "Call Him 'Double-Duty' Buscemi", Courier Life, June 3–9, 2011, p.4.
- "A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY". HBO. New York City: Home Box Office, Inc. (WarnerMedia). Retrieved September 12, 2014.
- "FDNY – Honorary Battalion Chief Steve Buscemi". FDNY - Twitter.com.
- "FDNY Honor Legion – Honorary Battalion Chief Steve Buscemi". FDNY Honor Legion.
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