Buscemi’s Career & Achievements
Apart from being a great actor (66 nominations and 30 wins, including Golden Globes and Emmy Awards), Steve Buscemi has also made a name for himself behind the camera. In fact, it was his Tree Lounge debut feature that caught the eye of David Chase – The Sopranos creator. Turns out Chase liked the cast so much, he hired the same casting directors to work on The Sopranos.
Chase also wanted Buscemi to be a director in season 1, but due to scheduling problems, the actor had to refuse. However, Steve Buscemi managed to direct the classic season 3 “Pine Barrens” episode.
Why Buscemi Didn’t Think He’d Fit In The Sopranos?
It took Buscemi 3 years after directing a Soprano’s episode to finally join the acting cast as Tony Blundetto. Chase himself was hesitant about asking the actor to join the cast as he didn’t want to mess with Buscemi’s career.
Buscemi, on the other hand, didn’t think he’s the right fit for The Sopranos cast. He said he was used to playing bad guys but he’d never played a “wiseguy, a mob guy.” This wasn’t the actor’s only reason.
Despite his Italian-American heritage, Buscemi didn’t think his pale skin and light hair would work for the series. Come to think about it, The Sopranos definitely leaned on the dark-haired, dark-eyed type common among descendants of immigrants from Sicily, Naples, and other regions of Southern Italy.
Nevertheless, Buscemy obviously made a huge impact on The Sopranos season 5, and it’s a shame he only got one season on the show.