Steve Buscemi biography

Synopsis

Profile

Actor, director, screenwriter. Born on December 13, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York. Buscemi began acting in the mid-1980s and has established himself as one of the leading character actors working today. Before his career took off, he worked as a firefighter at Engine Company 55 in New York's Little Italy neighborhood from 1980 to 1984.

His portrayal of the criminal Mr. Pink in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992) raised his profile in Hollywood considerably soon it seemed that Buscemi was everywhere. With his thin, reedlike frame, pale skin, and slightly bulging eyes, he often played a sleazy or crazed character. Buscemi became a favorite choice for many directors. He worked with the Coen brothers on five films: Miller's Crossing (1990), Barton Fink (1991), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998). And with Robert Rodriguez, Buscemi appeared two of his Spy Kids movies.

It hasn't been all bad guy parts or completely off-the-wall characters for Buscemi. In 2001, he was the unlikely romantic lead in the dramatic comedy Ghost World, adapted from the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes. That same year, he appeared in The Grey Zone, as one of the Jewish prisoners who work in the gas chambers at the concentration camp Auschwitz during World War II. The film earned strong reviews for its bleak portrayal of what people would do in impossible situations.

Buscemi has also worked behind the camera. In 1996, his first directorial effort, Trees Lounge, was released to positive reviews. He also wrote the screenplay for the film as well. Later he was asked to direct an episode of the award-winning drama The Sopranos by series creator David Chase. The result was the Emmy Award-nominated episode entitled Pine Barrens in the third season. This led to directing a few more episodes of the show. Buscemi even joined the cast in the fifth season as Tony Blundetto, a cousin of Tony Soprano, the central figure in the show.

Besides directing The Sopranos, Buscemi has recently lent his voice to two children's films: Monster House and Charlotte's Web, both released in 2006. He has several other projects in the works, including the drama Interview with Sienna Miller, which is scheduled for release in 2007.

Buscemi lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, artist Jo Andres, and their son Lucian.

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