Steve Buscemi shows his range

Steve Buscemi is one of my favourite actors. He managed to stay busy over the years and has appeared in well over 100 films and TV shows.

I first saw him in the Martin Scorsese-directed segment of New York Stories (1989), though I didn't take much notice at the time. He played a stand-up comic (sorry, "performance artist") who did his thing in a disused subway space, when he wasn't competing with Nick Nolte for the affections of Rosanna Arquette.

"The cops come by, they say: 'How come you killed this guy?' "

I did notice him in Miller's Crossing (1990), where he played Mink, a lowlife associate of gangsters, who comes to a sticky end. Here he is appealing to Gabriel Byrne to intervene on behalf of his friend John Turturro.
 

"... a square gee like the Motzah? He's a right guy, Tom! He's a straight shooter!"

In Barton Fink (1991), Buscemi has the memorable role of Chet, the receptionist/ bellboy/shoe shine guy at the Hotel Earle. Here he registers John Turturro for a stay of indefinite duration.

"Are you a tranz or a rez?"

In Rising Sun (1993), he played The Weasel, a busy-body journalist who made life difficult for Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes.

"Can I quote you on that, sir?"

In Pulp Fiction (1994), Steve Buscemi plays Buddy Holly, a waiter at Jackrabbit Slim's. John Travolta wasn't impressed with his skills as a waiter.

"How d'ya want it, burnt to a crisp, or bloody as hell?"

In The Big Lebowski (1998), Buscemi plays a dim-witted member of a bowling team that's scheduled to compete against John Turturro in the finals.

"What tied the room together, Dude?"

In Double Whammy (2001), he played the police detective partner to Denis Leary.

"Would you mind, Ray, because my knee is killing me."

In Romance and Cigarettes (2005), a film written and directed by John Turturro, Steve Buscemi gives James Gandolfini advice about life and love, while the two of them are perched high up on the Williamsburg Bridge.

"You gotta put the fire out, my friend.  Attend to it."

In Boardwalk Empire (2010), Steve Buscemi becomes a politician/gangster who discovers that runnin' things, it ain't all gravy.

"First rule of politics, kiddo: never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

A more surprising role came along recently on 30 Rock (2013). Steve had to go undercover to find the information Alec Baldwin was demanding. Watch his report...