Before becoming full-time actors, many celebrities worked regular jobs, completed their education or pursued other careers. Some began acting while studying or working, while others eventually left their jobs to follow their passion for cinema. Steve Buscemi's journey, however, stands out for a different reason. The Fargo actor had once worked as a New York City firefighter, and years after leaving the job to pursue acting, he returned to the same firehouse following the September 11 attacks to help his former colleagues.The Hollywood actor's connection with the New York City Fire Department began long before he became a familiar face in Hollywood.Steve Buscemi's early life and firefighter careerSteven Vincent Buscemi was born on December 13, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York City. He grew up in a working-class family. His father worked as a sanitation worker and had served in the Korean War, while his mother was a hostess at Howard Johnson's.When he was 10 years old, his family moved from East New York to Valley Stream in Nassau County. He attended Valley Stream Central High School, where he was involved in both sports and the arts. He wrestled for the school's varsity team and also participated in the drama troupe.His interest in acting eventually led him towards the performing arts, but before making it his profession, Buscemi took a very different path.In 1976, when he was 18, Steve Buscemi took the New York City Firefighter civil service examination. He passed and joined Engine Company 55 in Manhattan. He worked as a firefighter for about four years (1980 - 1984), responding to fires and serving the city before eventually leaving the department to pursue acting.The decision changed the course of his life, but his connection to his former colleagues never disappeared.Steve Buscemi returned to Ground Zero after 9/11According to Independent report, on September 11, 2001, the terrorist attacks on the United States changed New York City forever. For Fargo actor, the tragedy also brought him back to a profession he had left years earlier.After learning about the attacks, Steve contacted his old firehouse. When he could not immediately get through, he went to the site of the World Trade Center and eventually found members of his former engine company.According to accounts of his experience, Buscemi asked if he could join them. Although his return initially surprised some of his former colleagues, he was allowed to work with them.The actor spent several days at Ground Zero, working long shifts alongside firefighters and helping search through the rubble for survivors. He returned to the role of a firefighter at a moment when the city was dealing with an unprecedented tragedy.Buscemi later described the experience as a privilege. He said, "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."He has also spoken about how deeply the attacks affected him. In a conversation on Marc Maron's WTF podcast, Buscemi recalled feeling depressed and anxious after learning about what had happened. He said he struggled to make even simple decisions and eventually decided to go to his former firehouse.Rather than seeking publicity for his actions, Buscemi has generally kept his work at Ground Zero private. His return was less about his celebrity status and more about helping people with whom he had once worked.Steve Buscemi eventually built a highly successful career in film and television. He began appearing in independent productions, including Parting Glances, Miller's Crossing and In the Soup, before gaining wider attention with Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs in 1992.He went on to become a familiar face in films such as Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Con Air, Armageddon and Ghost World. His distinctive screen presence allowed him to move between independent films, major Hollywood productions and television.His television career became equally renowned. Buscemi played Enoch "Nucky" Thompson in HBO's Boardwalk Empire, a role that earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. He has also appeared in shows including The Sopranos and 30 Rock and lent his voice to animated franchises such as Monsters, Inc. and Hotel Transylvania.Beyond acting, Buscemi has also worked as a director and producer. His connection to the FDNY has remained strong over the years. He has supported firefighter causes, appeared at union events and hosted the HBO documentary A Good Job: Stories of the FDNY.