Long before garnering critically acclaimed roles in Reservoir Dogs, Fargo, and Boardwalk Empire, Steve Buscemi spent many days and nights risking his life as an FDNY firefighter. During the early ’80s, he was a hardworking member of Engine Co. 55, a fire station based in the Little Italy neighborhood of downtown Manhattan.
Though he eventually went on to pursue a career in acting, Buscemi never abandoned his devotion to his city. In fact, as the Brotherhood of Fire pointed out in a 2013 post, the Brooklyn-born star returned to serve alongside his brothers shortly after the tragic events of 9/11.
“Brother Steve worked 12-hour shifts alongside other firefighters digging and sifting through the rubble from the World Trade Center looking for survivors,” the Facebook post reads. “Very few photographs and no interviews exist because he declined them. He wasn’t there for the publicity.”
Below, part of the Brotherhood of Fire’s posting (and the rest is available right here):
In 1976 Steve Buscemi took the FDNY civil service test when he was just 18 years old. In 1980 Steve Buscemi became a New York City Firefighter.
For four years, Buscemi served on one of FDNY’s busiest, Engine Co. 55 in Manhattan’s Little Italy. He later left the fire service to become a successful actor, writer and director.
After 9/11/2001… Brother Buscemi returned to FDNY Engine 55.
On September 12, 2001 and for several days following Brother Steve worked 12-hour shifts alongside other firefighters digging and sifting through the rubble from the World Trade Center looking for survivors.
If you’ll recall, Buscemi also highlighted Engine Co. 55 in the 2014 HBO documentary A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY.
(Via GOOD Magazine)
