In the chaos and horror of September 11, 2001, Steve Buscemi didn’t see himself as a Hollywood actor. He saw himself as a firefighter.
Before his acting career took off, he was a member of Engine Co. 55 in New York City. On 9/11, he quietly returned to his old firehouse, put on his gear, and spent days working 12-hour shifts alongside his former colleagues, searching for survivors in the rubble of Ground Zero.
He refused media attention and kept his involvement private for years. It was a humble, powerful act of service—a man returning to his roots to help his city when it needed him most. True character is what you do when no one is watching.