Steve Buscemi, born 1957, is 56 today. Does more need to be said about him? He’s an inimitable presence in films and television, a sure sign that whatever you’re watching is going to have something worth remembering. He’s written, directed, or starred in more classic movies than any actor could hope for. He’s currently doing awesomely as Nucky Thompson on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, but since 1986, awesome has been the name of the game for him.
Where to begin with such an amazing career? A former firefighter from New York, his first film role was in Parting Glances as Nick, a gay man dying of AIDS. He starred in several other New York-based films before coming to the attention of the Coen brothers, with parts in Miller’s Crossing and Barton Fink. His infamous breakthrough came in 1992’s Reservoir Dogs, where he played Mr. Pink and gave us the world’s smallest violin, a justification for not tipping and a dialogue about the differences between Mr. Brown and Mr. Pink. HE briefly popped up in Pulp Fiction as Buddy Holly, and played Rex in Airheads that same year, where he mused about that kid on Hard Copy who got tazed by the cops and was left clean shaven, if you catch my drift. He palled up with another person who would give him roles for years to come, Adam Sandler, in 1995, where he played a weirdo classmate of the title character who smears lipstick all over his face and shoots Bradley Whitford.
Other roles of note continued into the 2000’s. He played the director of a rehab clinic who helps Sandra Bullock get on the wagon in 28 Days. He was Horace Nebbercracker, the creepy old man next door whose house knows more than it lets on in the criminally underrated family movie Monster House. He had a small part as an angry father devastated by the loss of his son in Iraq in The Messenger. He was the best part of at least two mediocre films where he died early on: as the best friend of the murderous Vince Vaughn character in Domestic Disturbance, and as a technician who reveals the truth to two clones living in an artificial paradise in The Island. Speaking of Michael Bay movies, he was Rockhound, the horny geologist who was one of the best parts of Armageddon. And all this in addition to what might be his two best roles: Seymour, the sad sack in Ghost World, and Carl Showalter, the kidnapper in Fargo who winds up in a woodchipper.
In 2013, he had roles in The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Monsters University, Grown Ups 2 and Khumba. Boardwalk Empire is the only project listed on the horizon, but it’s unlikely to be his last.
Also born today:
Tony Curran (45)
Jamie Foxx (46)
Wendie Malick (63)
Richard D. Zanuck (1934-2012)
Christopher Plummer (84)
