Steve Buscemi mini-bio:
Steve Buscemi was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He became interested in acting during his last year of high school. After graduating, he moved to Manhattan to study acting with John Strasberg. He began writing and performing original theatre pieces with fellow actor/writer Mark Boone Junior. This led to his being cast in his first lead role in Parting Glances (1986). Since then, he has worked with many of the top filmmakers in Hollywood, including Quentin Tarantino, Jerry Bruckheimer, and The Coen Brothers. He is a highly respected actor.
Surname pronunced Buss-ehm-ee. Is of Italian and Irish-American ancestry.
Ranked #52 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Graduated in 1975 from Valley Stream Central High School, Valley Stream, NY. After graduation, he attended Nassau Community College and then moved to Manhattan to study acting at the famed Lee Strasberg Institute.
Brother of Michael Buscemi.
Was a New York City Fireman from 1980 to 1984, with Engine Company #55 in the Little Italy section of NY.
One son, Lucian Buscemi, born in 1991.
Has been cast in five movies by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. His character died in three of them: Miller's Crossing (1990), Fargo (1996), and The Big Lebowski (1998).
Frequently appears in unbilled roles in Adam Sandler movies.
Stabbed in the throat, head and arm during a barroom brawl at the Firebelly Lounge in Wilmington, North Carolina. The brawl also involved Vince Vaughn, who was arrested for brutalizing one of Buscemi's attackers. He suffered a deep cut to the face and now has a noticeable scar on his cheek. Heavy make-up is used to hide it in movies. [12 April 2001]
Showed up at his old firehouse the day after the World Trade Center tragedy in New York to volunteer. Worked twelve hour shifts for a week after the terrorist act, digging through rubble with his old comrades looking for missing firefighters... anonymously. [September 2001]
Bears such a strong resemblance to writer-director John Waters that as a joke, Waters sent out cards with a photo of Buscemi made up to look like Waters.
Modelled for H&M (2000).
He went through a variety of interesting jobs before hitting it big as a character actor. He worked as a bartender, drove an ice-cream truck, attempted stand-up comedy, and (that which he is most proud of) was a firefighter (he continues to be a volunteer fire-fighter). He bombed so bad as a comic one night another comic took his place, Paul Reiser. Years later Buscemi and Reiser did an episode of "Mad About You" (1992) poking fun at the incident.
Frequently is typecast as sleazy or crazed characters, with his roles as Tommy in Trees Lounge (1996) and Seymour in Ghost World (2001) being the closest he has come to being the romantic lead.
Is one of the most prolific of today's actors, often starring in about 5 films a year.
In addition to his acting work, he has gained praise as a director, most notably for Trees Lounge (1996), Animal Factory (2000) and several episodes of "The Sopranos" (1999).
The band "Blessid Union of Souls" makes a reference to him in their hit song, "Hey Leonardo". They refer to him as "That guy who played in Fargo (1996). I think his name is Steve."
Plays characters who are fast talkers.
Auditioned for the part of George Costanza on "Seinfeld" (1990).
His mother is Irish-American.
In 2003, as part of a year-long tourist promotion at the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he narrated the facility's audio tour.
His character in Reservoir Dogs (1992) refuses to tip waitresses. He later made a cameo as a waiter in Pulp Fiction (1994).
Was good enough to be a varsity wrestler (105 lb weight class) on the wrestling team in high school. He was also a soccer player, and was considered a "jock" rather than a scholar. Years later, while on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1993), Buscemi challenged Andy Richter to a wrestling match when he found out Richter was on a high school wrestling team also. Much to Buscemi's embarrassment, Richter won, although Richter noted that fact the he is six inches taller and at least 100 pounds heavier might have given him an edge.
#21 on Tropopkin's Top 25 Most Intriguing People [Issue #100]
Played a character in Desperado (1995) whose character's name was his own last name.
Is infamous for his high number of on screen deaths. Ironically, in the movie Reservoir Dogs (1992), he is the only character to survive.
Was suppose to attend the Kosmorama International Film Festival in Trondheim, Norway in 2007, but canceled two weeks before.
Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 2003.
