Millions of movie fans all over the world know that longtime actor Steve Buscemi has done great work in movies such as Reservoir Dogs and shows such as HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, but few people have any idea as to what the 53-year-old Brooklyn native was doing in the aftermath of the tragic 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Before he ever saw the bright lights of Hollywood, Buscemi was carving out a career as a fireman in New York’s Little Italy in the 1980s. A hard-working and dedicated employee, Buscemi never gave up on his dreams of professional acting while putting in four years of service to Engine No. 55 in the New York Fire Department. Needless to say, Buscemi was rocked to his core by the events of 9-11, and he decided to join up with his former employer the very next day.
While eschewing photo opportunities or interviews, the former firefighter worked tirelessly in monster shifts for the next week. It turned out to be good for the city as well as the soul of the New York native, who admitted that he used the long hours and the noble work as a form of therapy for himself. “It would have been much harder for me to get through it if I hadn’t been able to do that,” he later said.
It is a bit surprising that most of the great actor’s characters have been smarmy and arrogant villains, given that Buscemi himself is caring man with a heart of gold.
I bet New York is glad they called that guy.