10 Badass Movie Stars Who Proved To Be Real-Life Heroes
6. Steve Buscemi
Known for his roles in movies like Armageddon, Con Air, and The Reservoir Dogs, as well as his portrayal as sly gangster Nucky Thompson in the hit show Boardwalk Empire, Steve Buscemi is a hugely successful actor but actually worked as a New York City firefighter before appearing on our screens.
He served with the city's fire department for four years in the early 80s and returned to action when the Big Apple needed him most, in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. After the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were destroyed, Buscemi immediately went back to his old post and worked 12-hour shifts to sort through the rubble and attempt to rescue any survivors.
Despite his acting success, Buscemi never forgot his roots and often appeared at firefighter union rallies, saying it was a "privilege" to be able to help out in such a terrible time for the United States. Few photos or video footage exists of Buscemi from this period as he wasn't there for any kind of publicity; he just wanted to help out.