What is Steve Buscemi's Net Worth and Salary?
Steve Buscemi is a renowned American actor, writer, director, producer, and former firefighter with a net worth of $35 million. He is famous for his supporting roles in the Coen brothers' films like "Miller's Crossing," "Barton Fink," "The Hudsucker Proxy," "Fargo," and "The Big Lebowski." He also had significant roles in Quentin Tarantino's films "Reservoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction."
Early Life
Steven Vincent Buscemi was born on December 13, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up with his three brothers—Jon, Ken, and Michael—in a family led by John and Dorothy Buscemi. The family moved to Nassau County, New York, where Steve attended Valley Stream Central High School, participating in the wrestling team and drama club. He graduated in 1975 and briefly attended Nassau Community College before moving to New York City to study at the Lee Strasberg Institute.
In 1976, Buscemi took a civil service test. By 1980, he had joined FDNY's Engine Co. 55 in Little Italy. He served as a New York City firefighter for four years. After the September 11 attacks, Buscemi returned to Engine Co. 55 to help sift through the World Trade Center rubble. In 2014, he was appointed an Honorary Battalion Chief of the FDNY.
Career
Buscemi often portrays neurotic and paranoid characters. His acting debut was in the 1985 film "The Way It Is." Early roles included 1986's "Parting Glances," 1988's "Slaves of New York," and 1990's "Tales from the Darkside." In 1990, Buscemi scored crime roles in "King of New York" as Test Tube and in the Coen Brothers' "Miller's Crossing" as Mink.
He played the bellboy Chet in the 1991 film "Barton Fink" and gained wider attention as Mr. Pink in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 film "Reservoir Dogs." Other notable roles include Carl Showalter in "Fargo," Garland Greene in "Con Air," Donny in "The Big Lebowski," Rockhound in "Armageddon," Seymour in "Ghost World," Randall Boggs in "Monsters, Inc." and "Monsters University," Templeton the Rat in "Charlotte's Web," and Wayne the Werewolf in the "Hotel Transylvania" movies.
In 2004, Buscemi joined the cast of "The Sopranos" and later starred in "Boardwalk Empire," for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. Additionally, he directed episodes of "Homicide: Life on the Street," "The Sopranos," "Oz," "30 Rock," and "Nurse Jackie." In 2020, Buscemi appeared in the Pete Davidson biopic "The King of Staten Island." Directed by Judd Apatow, the film stars Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Maude Apatow, and Bel Powley.
John Sciulli/Getty Images
Personal Life
Buscemi met artist and choreographer Jo Andres in 1983 and married her in 1987. The couple had one son, Lucien, born in 1990, who is an actor and musician. Jo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015 and passed away in January 2019.
In 1986, Buscemi took a permanent leave from the fire department after appearing in the film "Parting Glances." Known for his distinctive crooked smile, Buscemi has consistently declined dentists' offers to "fix" his teeth, as it has become a part of his acting persona.
After his character was killed off in "The Sopranos," Buscemi vowed to avoid roles where his character meets a violent end. His resolve was further strengthened after a close encounter in 2001 when he was stabbed while intervening in a bar fight in Wilmington, North Carolina. The altercation left him with injuries to his jaw, throat, and arm. The assailant, Timothy Fogerty, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and intent to kill.
Salary Highlights
Steve Buscemi earned $75,000 per episode for his role in "Boardwalk Empire."
Real Estate
In 2009, Steve Buscemi listed his three-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Los Angeles for $6.25 million. The house offers a pool, grassy lawn, and unobstructed views of Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. Buscemi also owns a brownstone in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
