Steve Buscemi

Biography:

Steve Buscemi was born on December 13, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York, to Dorothy and John Buscemi. His father, a Korean War veteran, worked in sanitation, while his mother was a hostess. Steve’s heritage includes Sicilian roots from his father’s side and English and Dutch ancestry from his mother’s. He grew up with three brothers, including Michael, who is also an actor. Raised Catholic, the family moved to Valley Stream, Long Island when Steve was ten.

He graduated from Valley Stream Central High School in 1975, participating in wrestling and drama. Inspired early on, Buscemi took the NYC firefighter exam in 1977 and served with Engine Company 55 for four years. After 9/11, he volunteered again with the same firehouse. He briefly attended Nassau Community College before training at the Lee Strasberg Institute in Manhattan.

Before his film career took off, Buscemi performed at downtown New York venues like the Pyramid Club, often collaborating with Mark Boone Junior. Together, they staged dark comedy shows including In Your Mind at La MaMa Theatre. He appeared in avant-garde and indie projects, including The Way It Is (1985) and Parting Glances (1986), and had a small TV role in Miami Vice.

Buscemi’s early film work in the late ’80s included roles in Slaves of New York, Bloodhounds of Broadway, and Scorsese’s New York Stories. His performance in Jim Jarmusch’s Mystery Train (1989) earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination. In 1990, he began a long collaboration with the Coen Brothers in Miller’s Crossing, followed by roles in King of New York and Tales from the Darkside.

In the early ’90s, Buscemi earned acclaim as Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs (1992), a role originally meant for Tarantino himself. That same year, he also appeared in The Adventures of Pete & Pete. His first leading role was in In the Soup (1992), and he had a cameo in Pulp Fiction (1994) as a Buddy Holly-themed waiter.

He continued gaining momentum with roles in Airheads (1994), Desperado (1995), Fargo (1996), Con Air (1997), Armageddon (1998), and The Big Lebowski (1998). He also directed an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street and later appeared in and directed episodes of Oz.

In the 2000s, Buscemi starred in Ghost World (2001), voiced Randall in Monsters, Inc., and appeared in films such as Big Daddy, Spy Kids, and Charlotte’s Web. He made guest appearances and directed episodes of The Sopranos, playing Tony Blundetto, a role that earned him an Emmy nomination.

He frequently collaborated with Adam Sandler in films like Mr. Deeds, Grown Ups, and Hubie Halloween, while also taking on independent projects like Big Fish, The Messenger, and Youth in Revolt. His directorial projects included Lonesome Jim and Interview, and he voiced animated roles in Monster House, Igor, G-Force, and Hotel Transylvania.

Buscemi gained critical acclaim starring as Nucky Thompson in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014), earning a Golden Globe and multiple nominations. He also had recurring roles on 30 Rock and guest appearances on shows like Portlandia and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

His Emmy-winning web series Park Bench with Steve Buscemi (2014–2015) showcased his skills as a host and producer. In 2016, he starred in Horace and Pete, co-created by Louis C.K., playing Pete.

Buscemi went on to star in Norman (2016), Lean on Pete (2017), and received praise for portraying Nikita Khrushchev in The Death of Stalin (2017). He continued acting in films like The Week Of, The King of Staten Island, and The Dead Don’t Die, while also lending his voice to The Boss Baby, Hotel Transylvania sequels, and Transformers: The Last Knight.

In 2020, he was cast in a planned production of Three Sisters alongside Greta Gerwig and Oscar Isaac, but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.