5 Things To Know About Steve Buscemi

Steve Buscemi gained lots of fame (and awards) for his role as Nucky Thompson on HBO's Boardwalk Empire, but how much do you really know about the 50-something star? Click the pics to find out, and check out his new web series Park Bench. 

First fact, Buscemi doesn't just act, he also directs! He's directed for The Sopranos, Oz, 30 Rock and Nurse Jackie.

If you don't know Buscemi from his Boardwalk Empire part, then you probably recognize him from his cameos in Adam Sandler's comedies. The actor has appeared in at least seven of Sandler's films, including Airheads, Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and Grown Ups.

In the early eighties, Buscemi was a firefighter in New York City and on September 11, 2001, he helped out after the New York terrorist attacks. "He put in 60 hours on top of the pile, pulling out victims," retired NYFD battalion chief Richard Ardisson told People. "Not delivering coffee or giving moral support. He was exhausted and covered in soot."

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor said he refuses to get his teeth "fixed." "I've had dentists who have wanted to help me out, but I say, 'You know, I won't work again if you fix my teeth.'"

A breakout role for Buscemi was Mr. Pink in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, but he wasn't the first choice for the part. As the story goes, Tarantino had planned on playing Mr. Pink himself.