Line #28 Creator/SteveBuscemi


1	[[quoteright:290:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/steve45678_9637.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:290:Not Creator/JohnWaters.]]
3
4	->'''Townsperson:''' Oh, he was a little guy... kinda funny lookin'. \
5	'''Officer Olson:''' Uh-huh. In what way? \
6	'''Townsperson:''' Oh, just in a general kinda way.
7	-->-- ''Film/{{Fargo}}'' describes every character Steve Buscemi has ever played.
8
9	Steven Vincent Buscemi (born December 13, 1957 in Brooklyn, New York) is a character actor beloved by Creator/TheCoenBrothers, Creator/AdamSandler, Creator/QuentinTarantino, and anyone and anything related to the world of independent cinema.
10
11	In a career spanning over thirty years, Buscemi has carved himself a niche playing an assortment of freaks, losers, weirdos, creeps, and psychos. It is possible that his role as Carl Showalter in ''Film/{{Fargo}}'' may well have him forever pegged as that "kinda funny lookin'" guy.
12
13	In addition to his work as an actor, he's also directed a number of feature films and episodes of such television series as ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'', ''Series/{{OZ}}'', ''Series/NurseJackie'', and ''Series/TheSopranos'', notably the latter's celebrated "Pine Barrens" episode.
14
15	Buscemi later stepped out of his "creepy weirdo" oeuvre to play the lead character Enoch "Nucky" Thompson in HBO's [[TheRoaringTwenties Prohibition Era]] drama ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'', and in ''Film/TheDeathOfStalin'', he played [[ALighterShadeOfBlack the closest thing the movie had to a hero]], UsefulNotes/NikitaKhrushchev.
16
17	Prior to his acting career, Buscemi was a firefighter with the FDNY. On [[UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror September 11th, 2001]], he dropped everything he was doing and went to help out his old firehouse once news of the attack broke.
18
19	----
20	!!Notable roles:
21	[[foldercontrol]]
22
23	[[folder:Films]]
24	* ''Film/PartingGlances'' (1986): Nick
25	* ''Film/{{Vibes}}'' (1988): Fred
26	* ''Film/NewYorkStories'' (1989): Gregory Stark
27	* ''Film/MysteryTrain'' (1989): Charlie the Barber
28	* ''Film/KingOfNewYork'' (1990): Test Tube
29	* ''Film/MillersCrossing'' (1990): Mink
30	* ''Film/TalesFromTheDarksideTheMovie'' (1990): Bellingham
31	* ''Film/BartonFink'' (1991): Chet
32	* ''Film/BillyBathgate'' (1991): Irving
33	* ''Film/ReservoirDogs'' (1992): Mr. Pink
34	* ''Film/InTheSoup'' (1992): Aldolpho Rollo
35	* ''Film/TwentyBucks'' (1993): Frank
36	* ''Film/RisingSun'' (1993): Willy "The Weasel" Wilhelm
37	* ''Film/TheLastOutlaw'' (1993): Boris Philo
38	* ''Film/TheHudsuckerProxy'' (1994): Beatnik Barman
39	* ''Film/PulpFiction'' (1994): "Music/BuddyHolly" Waiter
40	* ''Film/{{Airheads}}'' (1994): Rex
41	* ''Film/LivingInOblivion'' (1995): Nick Reve
42	* ''Film/BillyMadison'' (1995): Danny [=McGrath=] (uncredited)
43	* ''Film/{{Desperado}}'' (1995): [[TheDanza Buscemi]]
44	* ''Film/ThingsToDoInDenverWhenYoureDead'' (1995): Mr. Shhh
45	* ''Film/{{Fargo}}'' (1996): Carl Showalter
46	* ''Film/EscapeFromLA'' (1996): "Map to the Stars" Eddie
47	* ''Film/TreesLounge'' (1996): Tommy Basilio (also writer/director)
48	* ''Film/KansasCity'' (1996) as Johnny Flynn
49	* ''Film/ConAir'' (1997): Garland "The Marietta Mangler" Greene
50	* ''Film/TheRealBlonde'' (1997): Nick
51	* ''Film/TheBigLebowski'' (1998): Theodore Donald "Donny" Kerabatsos
52	* ''Film/TheWeddingSinger'' (1998): David "Dave" Veltri (uncredited)
53	* ''Film/{{Armageddon\|1998}}'' (1998): Rockhound
54	* ''Film/TheImpostors'' (1998): Happy Franks
55	* ''Film/BigDaddy'' (1999): Homeless Guy
56	* ''Film/TwentyEightDays'' (2000): Cornell Shaw
57	* ''Film/AnimalFactory'' (2000): AR Hosspack (also director)
58	* ''Anime/FinalFantasyTheSpiritsWithin'' (2001): Neil Fleming
59	* ''Film/GhostWorld'' (2001): Seymour
60	* ''Film/TheGreyZone'' (2001): "Hesch" Abramowics
61	* ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc1'' (2001): Randall Boggs (voice)
62	** ''WesternAnimation/MonstersUniversity'' (2013): Randy Boggs (voice)
63	* ''Film/DomesticDisturbance'' (2001): Ray Coleman
64	* ''Film/MrDeeds'' (2002): Crazy Eyes
65	* ''Film/SpyKids2IslandOfLostDreams'' (2002): Romero
66	** ''Film/SpyKids3DGameOver'' (2003): Romero
67	* ''Film/CoffeeAndCigarettes'' (2003): Danny
68	* ''Film/BigFish'' (2003): Norther Winslow
69	* ''WesternAnimation/HomeOnTheRange'' (2004): Wesley (voice)
70	* ''Film/{{The Island\|2005}}'' (2005): James [=McCord=]
71	* ''Film/ParisJeTAime'' (2006): Le touriste
72	* ''Film/CharlottesWeb'' (2006): Templeton (voice)
73	* ''WesternAnimation/MonsterHouse'' (2006): Horace Nebbercracker (voice & motion capture)
74	* ''Film/{{Interview}}'' (2006): Pierre Peders (also writer/director)
75	* ''Film/IThinkILoveMyWife'' (2007): George
76	* ''Film/INowPronounceYouChuckAndLarry'' (2007): Clint Fitzer
77	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Igor}}'' (2008): Scamper (voice)
78	* ''Film/{{The Messenger\|2009}}'' (2009): Dale Martin
79	* ''Film/GForce'' (2009): Bucky (voice)
80	* ''Film/YouthInRevolt'' (2009): George Twisp
81	* ''Film/GrownUps'' (2010): Wiley
82	** ''Film/GrownUps2'' (2013): Wiley
83	* ''Film/OnTheRoad'' (2012): Tall Thin Salesman
84	* ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'' (2012): [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Wayne]] (voice)
85	** ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania2'' (2015): Wayne (voice)
86	** ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania3SummerVacation'' (2018): Wayne (voice)
87	* ''Film/TheIncredibleBurtWonderstone'' (2013): Anton Marvelton
88	* ''Animation/{{Khumba}}'' (2013): Skalk (voice)
89	* ''Film/TheCobbler'' (2014): Jimmy
90	* ''Film/TheRidiculous6'' (2015): Doc Griffin
91	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBossBaby'' (2017): Francis E. Francis (voice)
92	* ''Film/TransformersTheLastKnight'' (2017): Daytrader (voice)
93	* ''Film/TheDeathOfStalin'' (2017): UsefulNotes/NikitaKhrushchev
94	* ''Film/LeanOnPete'' (2017): Del Montgomery
95	* ''Film/TheDeadDontDie'' (2019): Farmer Miller
96	* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndGuessWho'' (2020): [[AdamWesting Steve Buscemi]]/Paolo (voice)
97	* ''Film/TheKingOfStatenIsland'' (2020): Papa
98	* ''Film/HubieHalloween'' (2020): Walter Lambert
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Television]]
102	* ''Series/MiamiVice'' (1 episode, 1986): Rickles
103	* ''Series/TheEqualizer'' (1 episode, 1987): Archie
104	* ''Series/{{Crossbow}}'' (1 episode, 1988): Captain of the Guard
105	* ''Series/LonesomeDove'' (1989): Luke
106	* ''Series/{{Monsters}}'' (1 episode, 1990): John Dennis
107	* ''Series/LALaw'' (1 episode, 1991): David Lee
108	* ''Series/MadAboutYou'' (1 episode, 1992): Howie
109	* ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'' (1 episode, 1993): Ike
110	* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfPeteAndPete'' (3 episodes, 1992–94): Phil Hickle
111	* ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' (1 episode, 1995): Gordon Pratt
112	* ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'' (1 episode, 1998): Mr. Marchetti
113	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' (2 episodes, 2003–07): Dwight/Steve Buscemi (voice)
114	* ''Series/TheSopranos'' (14 episodes, 2004-06): Tony "Tony B" Blundetto/ Man
115	* ''Series/ThirtyRock'' (6 episodes, 2007–13): Lenny Wosniak
116	* ''Series/{{ER}}'' (1 episode, 2008): Art Masterson
117	* ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' (2010–14): Enoch "Nucky" Thompson
118	* ''Series/{{Portlandia}}'' (5 episodes, 2011–17): Book Store Customer/Marty/Milton/Filat
119	* ''Series/TheJimGaffiganShow'' (1 episode, 2015): Steve Buscemi
120	* ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'' (1 episode, 2016): Tom Innocenti (voice)
121	* ''Series/HoraceAndPete'' (2016): Pete
122	* ''Series/UnbreakableKimmySchmidt'' (2 episodes, 2016–19): Steve Buscemi
123	* ''Series/PhilipKDicksElectricDreams'' (1 episode, 2017): Ed Morris
124	* ''Series/BroadCity'' (1 episode, 2017): Mugger
125	* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' (2 episodes, 2017-23): Dorsal Dan (voice)
126	* ''WesternAnimation/NeoYokio'' (2 episodes, 2017): The Remembrancer (voice)
127	* ''WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor'' (1 episode, 2018): Saloso (voice)
128	* The ''Series/MiracleWorkers'' anthology series (2019–2023)
129	** ''[[Series/MiracleWorkersSeasonOne Miracle Workers]]'': God
130	** ''Series/MiracleWorkersDarkAges'': Eddie Shitshoveler
131	** ''Series/MiracleWorkersOregonTrail'': Benny the Teen
132	** ''Series/MiracleWorkersEndTimes'': Morris Rubinstein
133	* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' (1 episode, 2021): Eddie (voice)
134	* ''WesternAnimation/StoryBotsAnswerTime'' (1 episode, 2023): Mr. Castaway
135	* ''Series/{{Wednesday}}'' (TBA)
136	[[/folder]]
137
138	[[folder:Video games]]
139	* ''VideoGame/MonstersIncScreamTeam'' (2001): Randall Boggs (voice)
140	[[/folder]]
141
142	----
143	!!Associated Tropes:
144	* AxCrazy: Comes with playing criminals with [[HairTriggerTemper hair-trigger tempers]].
145	* ButtMonkey: Particularly in his early career, Buscemi's characters were rarely taken seriously by others, usually being the objects of abuse. This usually went against their [[DudeWheresMyRespect desire for respect]], often culminating in them getting way in over their heads and [[TooDumbToLive then killed]]. Later, this would often be [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] wherein his characters would turn out to be [[NotSoHarmlessVillain genuinely dangerous or even successful]], particularly in ''Film/{{Fargo}}'' and ''Film/TheDeathOfStalin''.
146	* ChronicallyKilledActor: He's well aware of it, too. Especially in Creator/TheCoenBrothers movies, and the brothers note that his remains get smaller and smaller through each film.
147	* ComicBookFantasyCasting: The comic book ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'' redesigned Bruce Banner after Buscemi's likeness.
148	* CruelAndUnusualDeath: In addition to dying a lot, most of his deaths are gratuitously graphic and violent, most notably being fed through a wood-chipper in ''Film/{{Fargo}}''.
149	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Particularly in his more comedic roles, like ''Film/SpyKids''.
150	* DeadpanSnarker: His dialogue in most of his roles is drenched with sarcasm and withering disdain for everyone he's forced to interact with.
151	* EvilIsPetty: His characters aren't just evil, they're just incredibly immature and petty over the smallest things, especially Carl.
152	* HairTriggerTemper: Buscemi is very good at portraying the pent-up agitation of characters like Mr. Pink and Carl Showalter.
153	* HiddenDepths: He worked as a firefighter before becoming an actor, and famously aided in relief efforts following the 9/11 attacks. Even that tidbit wasn't made public until years after the fact because he didn't want to make a spectacle of it.
154	* JerkassWoobie: Invoked; many of his characters would be sympathetic if they weren't so unpleasant or ruthless.
155	* KavorkaMan: In addition to being "kinda funny looking", his characters are generally snide, condescending, short-tempered weasels who aren't anywhere near as smart or tough as they think they are and are just unpleasant to be around, yet it's never stopped them from success with beautiful women.
156	* LeslieNielsenSyndrome: {{Downplayed}} in that he still does plenty of recognizable drama roles. However, it wasn't until ''Film/{{Airheads}}'' and his resulting collaborations with Creator/AdamSandler and Creator/HappyMadisonProductions that he became just as well known as a comedy actor. During his speech at Sandler's Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Comedy ceremony, Buscemi jokingly berated Sandler for ruining his rep as a serious actor.
157	* LunaticLoophole: ''Film/Armageddon1998'' and ''Film/ConAir''. [[AvertedTrope Averted]] with ''Film/ReservoirDogs'', where his character survives but is the OnlySaneMan out of the entire cast.
158	* MoneyDearBoy: Most notably with ''Film/Armageddon1998'', which he openly admitted making solely to afford a larger house, but he's not shy about taking roles for the paycheck - though he's frequently one of the best things about those movies nonetheless.
159	* MotorMouth: A recurring trait of his in most roles. {{Lampshaded}} with Donny in ''Film/TheBigLebowski'', who is frequently told to "shut the fuck up" by Walter.
160	* NightmareFuelStationAttendant: In ''Film/BartonFink'', ''Film/ThingsToDoInDenverWhenYoureDead'', and ''Film/ConAir''.
161	* PlayingAgainstType: As the adorably affable and harmless Donny in ''Film/TheBigLebowski''.
162	** While he's played plenty of villainous criminals, they're typically weasley, low-end hoodlums. Nucky Thompson, however, is a charismatic and cunning crime boss.
163	** In fact, his mostly comedic roles feature him as a NiceGuy, which is a more accurate description of Buscemi in RealLife.
164	** Pretty much everyone in ''Film/AnimalFactory'' is some kind of criminal - which is fitting seeing as it's set in a prison, making it a surprise that Buscemi plays a law-abiding prison official trying to keep the place in order. Admittedly, he's still an out-of-touch {{Jerkass}}, but he's nowhere near as bad as the prisoners in his custody.
165	* ProductionPosse: With Creator/QuentinTarantino, Creator/TheCoenBrothers, Creator/JimJarmusch, and Creator/AdamSandler.
166	* SmallNameBigEgo: Many of his characters, but ''Film/{{Fargo}}'''s Carl Showalter stands out. Also best shown in an episode of ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' where his character is a pretentious longshoreman with delusions of genius who talks down to the detectives whom he views as inferior. They bring in his copy of a Greek manuscript which he cannot read but which Pembleton, who's been playing thick in accordance with Buscemi's racism, can. Averted in his later career: He gets to play characters in ''Film/Armageddon1998'', ''Film/SpyKids'', ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'', and others who really are as smart as they think they are.
167	* SmugSnake: His go to casting is as condescending jerks who think they're a lot more impressive and intelligent than they actually are and have no issue letting everyone around them know it.
168	* {{Typecast}}: Usually as wise-asses, psychos, criminals, or some variation of "the creepy guy."

Context Creator / SteveBuscemi