Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a dark day in US history with an impact felt around the world.
As reported by the Washington Post, the attacks claimed 2,977 lives and injured a staggering 25,000 people on that fateful day. And as we learned earlier this week, the death toll from the attacks is continuing to rise, as people continue to battle with illnesses directly linked to that fateful day.
As the nation comes together for ceremonies and remembrances to honor those heroes who put their lives on the line to protect the US 22 years ago, one name that is being shared online is that of actor Steve Buscemi.
The star, now 65, had trained as a firefighter before he rose to Hollywood fame. During his time in the service, Buscemi was a firefighter with Engine Company 55 from 1980 to 1984, per Insider.
At the time of the attacks, Buscemi was a household name, known for his roles in movies like Reservoir Dogs, Con Air, and Armageddon. But following the attacks, the actor donned his uniform once again to work 12-hour shifts alongside New York's Bravest in the grueling search for survivors.
In a poignant 2021 interview on Marc Maron's WTF podcast, Buscemi revealed that he traveled to the wreckage of the World Trade Center in an effort to assist with the search and rescue operation. "I just didn’t have any information," he said. "I kept calling the firehouse the day before and of course there was no answer. Because I knew that they would be [at the site]. And then I eventually learned that five of them were missing.
"One of them was a good friend of mine I used to work with."
He added: "I was driven to the site that day, walked around for hours, and then found my company, found Engine 55 working there. I asked if I could join them. I could tell they were a little suspicious at first, but I worked with them that day."
Buscemi's actions were not for show; he declined interviews and dodged the limelight. The Brotherhood of Fire Facebook page highlighted his bravery in 2013, stating: "Very few photographs and no interviews exist because he declined them. He wasn't there for the publicity."
Despite facing potential health risks and experiencing post-traumatic stress, as he admitted in the interview, Buscemi felt "grateful" for the experience. "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," he revealed.
Nevertheless, his dedication to the people of New York took its toll, as he explained: "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. I was depressed, I was anxious, I couldn’t make a simple decision. All those things.
"It’s still with me. There are times when I talk about 9/11 and I’m right back there. I start to get choked up and I realize, ah, this is still a big part of me."
Per the Independent, Buscemi said of his efforts at the time: "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."
Buscemi has maintained his commitment to the firefighter community. He has spoken at union rallies and produced the HBO documentary, A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY. Currently, he serves on the Board of Advisors for Friends of Firefighters, contributing to causes that help New York-based firefighters and their families.
On the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, our thoughts are with the heroes and families of those who fought to protect the US people during and after the September 11 attacks.