Sopranos star heroically returned to his firefighter job to help 9/11 survivors

11 September 2023 , 16:02

788     0

Steve Buscemi was one of the volunteers helping after 9/11

There are countless amounts of people who bravely volunteered to help in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, among them was Hollywood icon Steve Buscemi.

The actor, who starred in films such as Pulp Fiction and Big Fish, worked as part of the team of rescuers searching for survivors in the rubble of the Twin Towers. He worked 12-hour shifts over the course of several days alongside other firefighters. Steve, now 65, was already a big name in the film industry when the devastating terror attacks took place. However, before he became an actor, Steve had taken the Fire Department of the City of New York civil service test when he was 18 and worked as a firefighter in the 1980s.

Steve Buscemi volunteered to help out after 9/11

After the New York attacks, which claimed 2,977 lives, Steve returned to his old job to help out his former colleagues. Details of his selfless act were initially kept secret, but the Fire Brotherhood shared a Facebook post in 2013 to reveal his bravery. Sharing a picture of Steve volunteering during 9/11, they said: "Do you recognise this man? Do you know his name? Lots of people know he's an actor, and that his name is Steve Buscemi. What very few people realise is that he was once one of New York's Bravest.

"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."

He said it was a 'privilege' to help out (Getty Images)

The post continued: "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. Very few photographs and no interviews exist because he declined them. He wasn't there for the publicity."

Al-Qaeda's new leader among FBI's 'most wanted' for up to $10million bounty

In a rare interview about his efforts, Steve said at the time of the brutal attacks: "It was a privilege to be able to do it. It was great to connect with the firehouse I used to work with and with some of the guys I worked alongside. And it was enormously helpful for me because while I was working, I didn’t really think about it as much, feel it as much."

Steve, who is well-known for his role as Tony Blundetto in The Sopranos, rarely speaks about the rescue efforts. However, he did open up about his experience in an interview with Marc Maron's WTF podcast.

Steve has starred in the likes of The Sopranos and was well-known when he helped in the 9/11 rescue efforts (Hbo/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

"I was depressed, I was anxious, I couldn’t make a simple decision," he said of the moment he learnt of what had happened. Steve said he headed straight to his former firehouse and asked if he could join them.

He added: "I could tell they were a little suspicious at first, but I worked with them that day. I was only there for like five days, but when I stopped going and tried to just live my life again, it was really, really hard."

He admitted he still feels triggered by the experience, especially on anniversaries of 9/11. "There are times when I talk about 9/11 and I’m right back there. I start to get choked up and I realise, 'Ah, this is still a big part of me'."

A total of 343 firefighters and paramedics died during the attacks. A further 341 firefighters, paramedics and civilian support staff have died in the years since from 9/11 related illnesses.

Scarlett O'Toole