15 Little-Known Facts About Steve Buscemi

Known for his iconic, meme-worthy expressions, relentless work ethic, and a knack for portraying endearing underdogs, Steve Buscemi stands out as one of the most versatile character actors in Hollywood. Transitioning effortlessly between blockbuster hits and low-budget indie films, he has starred in more than 100 movies over three decades. However, if you assume he resembles the quirky or sinister roles he often embodies—think again. Dive into these 15 fascinating tidbits about the acclaimed Golden Globe winner.

1. HIS BIRTHDAY FALLS ON FRIDAY THE 13TH.

Fittingly for an actor whose characters often meet untimely ends, Buscemi was born on the notoriously ominous date of Friday the 13th. Raised in Brooklyn and Valley Stream, New York, he faced his share of real-life adversity. As a child, he was struck by a bus and later hit by a car in separate incidents. Ironically, the compensation from the bus accident lawsuit funded his education at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York City.

2. HE SERVED AS A NEW YORK CITY FIREFIGHTER.

During his teenage years, Buscemi took on a variety of odd jobs, including driving an ice cream truck, working as a mover, and even selling newspapers on the Triborough Bridge. At 18, influenced by his father, a sanitation worker, he took the civil service exam and joined the New York City Fire Department. By 1980, he was a proud member of Engine Co. 55 in Little Italy. Balancing his duties as a firefighter during the day, Buscemi spent his nights performing at improv clubs and pursuing acting opportunities.

After four years with the FDNY, Buscemi secured a leading role in Bill Sherwood’s Parting Glances (1986), a film addressing the early AIDS crisis in New York. He took a three-month leave to film and ultimately chose not to return to firefighting, focusing instead on his acting career.

3. HE TEAMED UP WITH SONS OF ANARCHY’S MARK BOONE, JR. FOR A COMEDY DUO.

Buscemi briefly ventured into stand-up comedy, though it didn’t go well. In 1984, he crossed paths with Mark Boone, Jr., and the duo began performing together. Their act blended improvisation with scripted humor, often featuring comedic clashes between the slender Buscemi and the burly Boone. The New York Times described their performances as “absurdist theater.”

4. HE NEVER AUDITIONED FOR THE ROLE OF GEORGE COSTANZA.

Despite being a dedicated actor, Buscemi has faced his fair share of rejections. His audition for Alan Parker’s Fame lasted under 30 seconds. In the late 1980s, Martin Scorsese called him in four times to read for The Last Temptation of Christ, where Buscemi ended up reading every apostle’s role before being dismissed. Rumors also circulated that he auditioned for the role of George Costanza on Seinfeld, a claim even supported by Jason Alexander. However, Buscemi debunked this myth during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, humorously stating, “I never did [the audition], and I don’t know how to correct it because I don’t know how the Internet works.”

5. TREES LOUNGE REFLECTED HIS LIFE AT 19.

After making a name for himself with roles in films like Mystery Train, Reservoir Dogs, and Barton Fink, Buscemi stepped behind the camera to write and direct 1996’s Trees Lounge. The film centers on Tommy, a hapless drifter who spends most of his time at a local bar in his hometown. According to Buscemi, the story mirrored his own experiences as a 19-year-old on Long Island. “I was completely aimless, living with my parents,” he recalled in an interview. “I drove an ice-cream truck and worked at a gas station… Back then, the drinking age was 18, so I spent every night drinking with friends in bars.”

6. HE KNOWS HIS CHARACTERS OFTEN MEET UNTIMELY ENDS.

Buscemi’s characters have met their end in countless ways—shot, stabbed with an ice pick, hit by throwing knives, thrown off a balcony, and even fed into a wood chipper. The actor has a good sense of humor about his frequent on-screen deaths, often quipping in interviews that he’s surviving longer as time goes on. Ahead of the 2005 release of The Island, where his character is tossed off a balcony into a glass bar, Buscemi joked that he was pleased his role made it through nearly a third of the film. He also admitted to checking scripts early to find out when and how his character dies.

7. HIS FAVORITE DEATH ISN’T FROM FARGO.

While fans often cite Carl Showalter’s wood chipper death in Fargo as the pinnacle of Buscemi’s on-screen demises, the actor himself has a different favorite. He points to his character Donny Kerabatsos’s sudden heart attack in the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski. The unexpected nature of the death amuses Buscemi, who joked on The Daily Show, “They thought, ‘Well, Buscemi’s in it, so we’ve gotta kill him.’”

8. HIS ROLE IN CON AIR WAS CUSTOM-WRITTEN FOR HIM.

In the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced action-packed film Con Air, Buscemi portrayed Garland Greene, the most menacing convict of all. A serial killer whose crimes are described as making “the Manson family look like the Partridge family,” Greene is introduced strapped to a chair with a Hannibal Lecter-style mask. Screenwriter Scott Rosenberg, a close friend of Buscemi’s, crafted the role specifically for him and was thrilled when Buscemi agreed to take it on. Even today, fans often greet Buscemi by singing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”

9. HIS DESPERADO CHARACTER BEARS HIS NAME.

Despite meeting his end (thanks to Danny Trejo’s throwing knives), Buscemi steals the opening scene of Desperado, Robert Rodriguez’s visually striking revenge film, captivating bar patrons with tales of the titular gunslinger, portrayed by Antonio Banderas. Since his character’s name is never revealed, Rodriguez playfully credited him as "Buscemi" in the film’s credits.

10. HE REFUSES TO STRAIGHTEN HIS TEETH.

Buscemi’s distinctive, crooked smile has become a trademark, aiding him in playing misfits and underdogs throughout his career. Despite offers from dentists to fix his teeth, he consistently declines, recognizing how integral his unique look is to his persona. He even humorously addressed this in a guest appearance on The Simpsons, where his character quips, “You’re going to kill my livelihood if you do that!” after a dentist suggests straightening his teeth.

11. THERE’S DEBATE OVER HOW TO PRONOUNCE HIS LAST NAME.

While many pronounce his surname as “Boo-shemmy,” Buscemi himself uses “Boo-semmy,” following his father’s pronunciation. In interviews, he explains that he doesn’t mind other variations. However, during a trip to Sicily to visit relatives, he discovered that locals pronounced it “Boo-SHAY-me,” as he shared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

12. HE WAS STABBED DURING A BAR ALTERCATION.

On April 12, 2001, while filming Domestic Disturbance in Wilmington, North Carolina, Buscemi, along with co-star Vince Vaughn and screenwriter Scott Rosenberg, visited the Firebelly Lounge for late-night drinks. After Vaughn exchanged heated words with another patron—whose girlfriend had reportedly flirted with Vaughn—the two stepped outside, leading to a brief fight that was quickly broken up. Buscemi, who was among the onlookers, was approached by a man who, after a short argument, stabbed the actor with a pocketknife. Buscemi sustained injuries to his face, neck, and hands, requiring him to return to New York for recovery. His assailant, Timothy Fogerty, faced charges of assault with a deadly weapon. In a display of his character, Buscemi chose not to press further charges and instead urged Fogerty to seek help for substance abuse.

13. HE RETURNED TO HIS FIRE ENGINE AFTER 9/11.

Following the devastating attack on New York City’s Twin Towers on September 11, Buscemi, like countless others, felt compelled to assist. Despite having left firefighting nearly two decades earlier, he rejoined his former colleagues at Engine 55 and spent days searching through the wreckage for survivors. Buscemi kept his efforts private, refusing photos and avoiding publicity. It wasn’t until over a decade later that his actions came to light, thanks to a Facebook post from Engine 55. The post praised him, stating, “Brother Steve worked 12-hour shifts alongside other firefighters, digging through the rubble. This guy is a true hero!”

14. HE PROVIDES THE NARRATION FOR EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY’S AUDIO TOUR.

Visitors to the historic Philadelphia prison might recognize a familiar voice guiding them through the audio tour. Buscemi’s involvement with Eastern State Penitentiary began when he scouted the location for a film project in 2000. While the site didn’t suit his project, he was captivated by the prison’s rich history and stunning architecture. When officials approached him to help commemorate the prison’s tenth anniversary of offering tours, he gladly accepted. The penitentiary has also served as a backdrop for films like Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys and album covers for artists such as Tina Turner.

15. HE WAS SKEPTICAL WHEN TERENCE WINTER OFFERED HIM THE LEAD IN BOARDWALK EMPIRE.

Having spent years portraying minor villains and underdogs, Buscemi was used to being overlooked for leading roles. When Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter approached him to play the corrupt politician Enoch “Nucky” Thompson in the award-winning HBO series, Buscemi responded with his typical humility. “When Terry called and said he and Marty [Scorsese] wanted me for the role, I told him, ‘Terry, I know you’re considering other actors, and I’m just grateful my name is in the mix,’” Buscemi recalled. “He replied, ‘No, Steve, we want you.’ It took a while for that to sink in.” Eventually, it did, and Buscemi earned both a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for his performance over the show’s five seasons.