Steve Buscemi Net Worth

Steve Buscemi's Quotes

• My favorite review described me as the cinematic equivalent of junk mail. I don't know what that means, but it sounds like a dig.
• In the beginning, it wasn't even a question of deciding I'm going to do independent film and not commercial films -- I wasn't being offered any commercial films, and there wasn't an independent scene. I did a lot of "so-called" independent films that were really low-budget films trying to be commercial. But you certainly make choices when you have a script written by Jim Jarmusch or the Coen brothers or Alexandre Rockwell; I think any actor would feel lucky to be able to work on projects like that.
• It's weird; I was not a really tough guy in high school, but I end up playing all of these psychopaths and criminals. I don't really care who they are, as long as they are complicated and going through something that I can understand and put across.
• As much as you tell yourself, 'We made the film and here it is and that is enough,' you would like to come away with something.
• I don't tend to think of these characters as losers [I play]. I like the struggles that people have, people who are feeling like they don't fit into society, because I still sort of feel that way.

Interesting Facts about Steve Buscemi

1. His surname is pronounced "Buss-ehm-ee". He is of Sicilian/Italian ancestry on his father's side, and has Irish, English, and Dutch ancestry on his mother's side.
2. Ranked #52 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
3. 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.
4. Brother of Michael Buscemi.
5. Was a New York City fireman from 1980 to 1984, with Manhattan Engine Company #55 in the Little Italy section of New York City.
6. One son, Lucian Buscemi, born in 1990.
7. Has been cast in six movies by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen ((Miller's Crossing (1990), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Barton Fink (1991), Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998), and Paris, je t'aime (2006)). This amounts to more appearances in Coen Brothers films than any other actor, exceeding by two films each Frances McDormand, John Turturro, and John Goodman. Buscemi's character died in three of those Coen Brothers films: Miller's Crossing (1990), Fargo (1996), and The Big Lebowski (1998). In each of those films, in that order, his remains become progressively smaller: in Miller's crossing we see his whole body, in Fargo we see one of his legs and in The Big Lebowski his remains are simply ashes.
8. On April 12, 2001, Buscemi was 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 refusing to disperse when ordered to by police, and charged with misdemeanor assault. Buscemi suffered a deep cut to the face, leaving a noticeable scar on his cheek. Heavy make-up is used to hide it in movies.
9. Showed up at his old firehouse the day after the World Trade Center tragedy in New York to volunteer. He worked twelve hour shifts for a week after the terrorist act, digging through rubble with his old comrades looking for missing firefighters, doing some anonymously. [September 2001]
10. 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.
11. 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 professional firefighter (he continues to be a volunteer firefighter). He bombed so bad as a comic, that one night another comic, Paul Reiser, took his place. Years later, Buscemi made a guest appearance on Reiser's sitcom, Mad About You (1992), poking fun at the incident.
12. 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.
13. Is one of the most prolific of today's actors, often starring in about 5 films a year.
14. 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).
15. 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."
16. Despite Internet rumors, Buscemi never auditioned for the part of George Costanza on the long running US TV show "Seinfeld". He admitted on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon (Season 2 ep. 181) he had no idea how the rumor started, nor how to get it removed since he didn't understand how the Internet works.
17. 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.
18. His character in Reservoir Dogs (1992) refuses to tip waitresses. He later made a cameo as a waiter in Pulp Fiction (1994).
19. 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 appearing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993), Buscemi challenged Andy Richter to a wrestling match when he found out Richter was on his high school wrestling team also. Much to Buscemi's embarrassment, Richter won, although Richter pointed out that being six inches taller and at least one hundred pounds heavier than Buscemi might have given him an edge.
20. #21 on Tropopkin's Top 25 Most Intriguing People [Issue #100]