Steve Buscemi: Dead or Alive Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fire fighter

From 1980 until 1984 he was a firefighter in NYC, leaving that behind for good at the age of 27. He then tried stand-up comedy which sparked an interest in dramatic theater. By the time he reached thirty his film career was on the move. Buscemi proudly put that fireman's gear back on in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 and worked with his "brothers" on Ground Zero.

He's a very charitable fellow, actually. He's a strong supporter of both PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] and The Elisabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, among others.

Answer: AIDS

At the time AIDS was not a topic the entertainment industry addressed much, it was still mostly a scary and mysterious area. "Parting Glances" was one of the first features to address it compassionately. It was very low-key, made on a low budget, but critics agreed that it was exceptionally well-crafted and superbly acted. One of the then unknowns in it was Kathy Kinney who later shot to fame as the clownish Mimi in "The Drew Carey Show" (1995) on television.

Answer: LA Law

"LA Law" (1991). He was on "Miami Vice" once (before '86) and also on "Homicide" (after 1986). In all of them the pattern was becoming set. Serial killers, tragic victims, sociopaths - yes, folks, Buscemi was on his way to the halls of the sympathetic (sometimes) anti-hero.

Answer: Raising Arizona

As it went, his smallish part in "Miller's Crossing" put him on the right road to future stardom, albeit a bit of a "his-face-is-familiar-but-who-is-that-guy?" label. In "Crossing" he worked with Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden and John Turturro. He was a bellboy in "Barton Fink" (1991) and a laid-back surfer in "The Big Lebowski" (1998). Of course one of his better known parts was that of one of the most visibly inept kidnappers ever dreamed up in "Fargo" (1996).

Answer: A sturdy and responsible rehab counselor

Never judge a book by its cover! Sure, he looks like a drug addict but in this film he did very well and was actually believable as a non-quirky and law abiding citizen! The movie was about a woman (Bullock) with a raging drinking problem which landed her in rehab, which she decided was much more palatable than the other option: prison.

Naturally, Sandra made the "happy ending/cute" decision.

Answer: Animal Factory

This little independent film was widely praised, albeit not seen by too, too many. It starred Edward Furlong and Willem Dafoe, the former a youthful prison inmate and the latter, someone who took him under his wing amidst the perilous population. If you ever get the chance to see it, keep your eyes peeled for the prison yard drag queen and see if you can figure out who that unrecognizable person was. OK, I'll tell you.

It was macho bad boy Mickey Rourke!

Answer: John Malkovich

Malkovich WAS in "Con Air" (1997) with Steve but he'd never won an Oscar (as of 2006). Buscemi was with Kidman in "Billy Bathgate" (1991), Robbins in "The Hudsucker Proxy" (1984) and with Oscar winner Walken in more than one film.

Answer: The Sopranos

His turn as a recently paroled Mafioso earned him a Screen Actors Guild nomination, too. Blundetto, yet another fidgety one, was really (emphasis on 'really') trying hard to go straight on "The Sopranos".

Answer: Ghost World

The 2001 film earned him a Golden Globe nomination, too, but he was overlooked at the Academy Awards completely. I suspect it doesn't bother Mr. Buscemi much. He clearly prefers the good character bits as opposed to the splashy fireworks-type roles.

Answer: the cinematic equivalent of junk mail.

Buscemi never takes himself TOO seriously. He's a grounded and honest sort, especially with himself. That's what his fans pay to see, that's what his fans have come to know and expect - especially this fan! I hope you enjoyed this little trip to the land of one of those just-under-the-'A'-list and a-hair-above-the-'D'-list cinematic greats.