every first responder who survived, every person who helped on the pile, should have been given free healthcare for life. America should be deeply ashamed that it ever allowed those people to struggle to pay for medical bills ever again. your country was wounded and these people stepped up to help mend it. it is ridiculous that it took a comedian and an actor to make some noise for people to take action.

“We were told by the government that the air quality was safe”. Sounds like some Chernobyl shit.

Wouldn’t you think you were hallucinating if Steve Buscemi helped you out of the rubble. What a great humble guy.

I was curious if he was married. Its heartbreaking finding out she passed away 2019 and they were married since the 80s. He seems like such a genuine man. Never let fame get to him.

I always liked him, but now he gained a whole new level of RESPECT.

I had no idea he was a firefighter and was also at ground zero on 9/11. I have a whole new level of respect for Steve.

Steve Buscemi and Gary Sinese: two actors who really go the extra mile for their fellow American

Steve Buscemi is a true celebrity. He never forgot where came from and he uses his money, privilege and power to positively impact people around him just to make the world a better place. Today's younger celebrities could really learn a thing or two from ones like him.

Thank you, sir. The fact that you kept this quiet and someone else shared your presence at the recovery effort speaks volumes of your wonderful character.

Once I realized how quiet Steve was about doing this and always being humble and helping all his fellow brothers silently I made it a point to share this fact about him. Everyone deserves the recognition and they are all heroes.

My Dad was elderly and retired from the FDNY when 9/11 happened. My Mom had to physically hold him back from jumping in the car and driving two states to be with his brothers. Firemen are very special people. The bond is always there.

Once a firefighter: ALWAYS a firefighter. He saw some real shit because he went back. You’re a legit guy Steve. I’d go interior with you any day.

I love that he feels he's a firefighter first, above whatever else he does. I like this guy even more now. Thank you Steve.

I think it’s disgusting that a country like America would make the first responders have to fight to get health care I’m glad there is people like Jon steward to advocate for these souls x

I will respect him forever because of this.

Like Chernobyl. First responders gave up their life immediately and years after ! Bless them ALL!

I've always enjoyed Steve Buscemis acting skills and movies he was in. Never knew he was a N.Y.C. Fireman and what he did after 9/11. here is a true hero also and deserves the respect from all of us. Great job Mr. Buscemi , better than any Oscar award for your actions.

It’s despicable that the heroes that risked their lives for us had to fight so hard to be taken care of

Mr Buscemi is different from your typical celebrity. Humble, doesn't need to put himself out there, just a special guy

My neighbor is a fire fighter, he has gone out of his way to help me during my illness & now after my wife passed away, so humble. Thanks Kurt.

Hell of an actor hell of a guy. Thank you Steve!!!

I remember even as a kid there was some press briefing with either FEMA or CDC who were saying that the air quality was fine and all the particulates in the air are just simple concrete dust and gypsum from the drywall, while a literal billowing cloud of black and grey smoke was still smoldering in Manhattan for weeks afterward. And then those first responders and cleanup crews were completely abandoned and left in the hands of private charities when the cost to pay for them for life is a drop in the bucket of BS the state pays for on impulse. Shameful.

I’d forgotten that he had done this,what a locket tribute.

A great actor AND human being. We love you Steve. You were able to do what we all wished we could to help.

What struck me the most, is when he said, "Everybody at the time around 9/11 said, 'We wouldn't forget,' and they felt forgotten." That just breaks my heart. These people deserve all the assistance and care they need. Furthermore, on a much larger scale, it is utterly shocking to me that as a nation, we HAVE completely forgotten. The proof of that shown even more so now during this pandemic. On 9/11, it didn't matter who you were, where you came from, or what your story was. People all came together on that day to help each other, and many people didn't make it out alive in their efforts to help and save others. And now, here we are years later facing what is essentially an invisible terrorist in the form of a virus that is not only threatening our country, but the whole world. And yet it's all become about politics and negativity, and we're even more divided now than we were on 9/11 and the recovery weeks following. Humanity is literally at stake, but all people care about is themselves and the fact that they want to travel or that they don't want to wear a mask to work or to the grocery store. We're all human, so we need to join together as one instead of being divided. We can do better. We were better on 9/11. We need to better now.

The fact he didn't tell anyone he was doing it just to be a normal guy he's amazing

What a great, stand-up sort of guy. Note how he's made secondary roles in films into iconic memorable roles. He's one of the best actors in film and has the resume to prove it. I had NO clue he was an actual NYFD firefighter. What a guy...well done!

Wow he pitched in at ground zero. Most respect sir.

He doesn’t tip, but he is still a hero

I didn’t know that Steve Buscemi was also a firefighter. I respected his acting and now, respect him even more now. ❤️

Their story of being forgotten is very embarrassing for our government. I’m so very glad many stepped up and put a spotlight on this situation of the responders.

Steve Buscemi doesn’t melt steel beams. But he does melt my heart.

Every year it hits me harder and harder. I was younger when 911 occurred, but now it’s been 22 years in a couple days, and it makes me want to sob. It was a horrendous attack, and we’re still recovering these days.

I love that even with all of his success in acting Steve never forgot his firefighter family and came back to help them in the clean up / recovery after 911. It's even more touching that he has taken up their plight to fight for their post 911 heath care. Firefighters are truly brothers/sisters for life. Even after you leave the job you don't leave them nor do they leave you .

Real life hero, and the best kind, not interested in publicity for himself.

Steve is such a lovely person.

I’ve always rated Steve as one of the finest actors,never grabbing the limelight and watching him talk about what he did back then is truly humbling.👏👏👏🙏🙏🇬🇧

A true patriot!

I’ve always admired Steve in his roles. To hear he was a firefighter earns him a whole new level of respect and to learn he went to help his brothers in Company 55 at Ground Zero… words just fail me. What an amazing example of a human being. Why can’t we all think of others first instead of thinking of ourselves first? Thank you for your service Steve and thanks to all of your brother firefighters.

Hearing about how many firefighters have lost their lives due to cancer brought tears to my eyes! An absolute disgrace that the government isn't doing anywhere near enough to help these brave people 😭 thank you for sharing this story steve!

The tall skinny black building at :40 near the bottom of the screen was my uncle’s office. He got let out early on the way to work. He was covered in ash when the first tower came down, but he made it out. He got in an unlocked car to try to breathe and then I think he made it inside another building.

And this is why Steve Buscemi is awesome.

Steve is the ultimate picture of the brotherhood. He had his own thing going, he was a famous actor. Yet his heart, and the brotherhood, took him back when it mattered the most. I don't think he could live with himself if he had simply watched. At that point he saw one option, and one option only, to go and help. Just like the saying, once a Marine, always a Marine, it goes to say, once a firefighter, always a firefighter.

What a class act. A lot of rich celebs, movie studios won’t even say a word but here is a guy who went in and did something, even though the government betrayed them

Thank you. I can’t understand why we don’t do more for this occasion. It was not just an attack against America: it was an attack against all who believed in freedom. You all were among the first who were there to help, and I thank you for that.

I didn’t know any of this, what a wonderful man to just get in there and help without using it as a chance to paint himself as a hero in order to promote his career. A true humanitarian and obviously a lovely man. Respect to you sir.

What a man. I've always loved Buscemi.

This guy keeps on giving so humble so down to earth

Absolute travesty how first responders were treated for so many years. They should always be treated with the highest regard.

What an amazing man. He didnt have to do that. He had left and was making it as an actor. But still on that day he came back to help, i guess its one of those things that once youre something like a fire fighter, you'll always be one. Hes a hero, better than superman, batman or the flash, a real life super hero. Much love.

Thank you Steve! You are a hero sir 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Steve is so right. Breaks my heart in two that the 1st responders were not taken care of the way they were promised. They put their lives on the line to help. In any way they could. Then for the government to turn their backs on these people infuriates me. Thank God for all the good people out there leading the good fight to help all of our first responders. Thanks to Jon Stewart and Steve. ❤️💔🙏

My dad is a firefighter here in Texas! I respect everything about every single firefighter or other first responders! That day was so so hard on everyone not just Americans…. Humans as a whole… that day will never be forgotten

The humanity in this makes me speachless and leaves me in awe about so much kindness. This is humbling to watch.

Steve Buscemi when he was young looks like half the people I knew then, but no one I know now. He's cultivated a look I guess. Also, good for him. Seriously, he's a hero even if he won't say so.

Thank you Steve for being a voice to the hundreds lost on 9/11, and the thousands who have been lost since. Your relating of that time gives the rest of us, a true feeling of the brotherhood of fire fighters, and the HELL they went through. P.S. I briefly saw Steve years ago in LA, after watching "Con Air" at the Century City movie theatres. I had just left the mall, to watch the closing ceremony of the "AIDS Bike Ride" nearby, and a few minutes later Steve appeared on his bike to watch too! It was very surreal, that 20 minutes before I was watching the end of the movie, and there he was standing in front of me!! Still remember years later.

Why is America's government so ducked up! I'm sitting here in Australia wondering how could these amazing people be treated like this. It's not fair, and yet there are those who are fighting to keep it like this! God bless ever man and women who was there that day, we will never forget you.

He also played a firefighter in the movie "the king of state island" which was written by Pete Davidson, who lost his father on 9/11 and also talks about his loss in the movie (although he makes no mention of 9/11). Now I see how this interpretation could have made much more impact to him. a great man.

I love the fact that he is different from hollywood and actually was there to help with the clean up effort when 9/11 happened. Just like Adam Driver and Keanu Reeves, hes part of the small bunch that doesnt let their fame cloud their personality. God bless everything he had to see and go through during those days.

I’m not crying, you’re crying 😢

How horrible it must have been finding “bits” of people everywhere. It would haunt my dreams forever.

Wow I had no idea Steve was a fire fighter before. This is incredibly sad yet inspiring

This guy is a class act! Very genuine.

this what life its about. make a difference in other people's lives

Steve Buscemi is one of the sweetest man of all time such a great beautiful person

God Bless you Steve Buscemi. Lost my childhood friend Kevin O'Rourke FDNY Rescue 2 killed that day.

A TRUE professional

Steve, you're a great man. Thank you for all you've done.

Never forget how big Steve Buscemi's heart and balls are. Never forget that day or the men and women who lost their lives. Thank you to all first responders.

Stand up guy. Everyone you meet says Steve Buscemi is the real deal. Never forgot where he came from. Sincere thank you to you Steve for all you’ve done for us.

Thank you, Mr. Buscemi for helping on the pile after 9.11 and for spreading the word that our First Responders need our continued support as they fight to keep their benefits that they so deserve. Thank God for these heroes.

It is so sad and shameful that it takes public appeals by prominent performers to gain the attention of politicians who have often never held a job which has a statistically good chance of shortening an employee’s life. Firefighters, breathing smoke, inhaling burning fumes, working around toxic foam, being around asbestos in collapsed structures,going into fires to rescue people, pets and, sometimes, property, likely will die sooner than many…

This is powerful.

Thank you Steve and all for your service.

I never realized what a wonderful humble man was until I watched this interview. He certainly put the 911 in its proper perspective with the humanity displayed by NYC on this unforgettable day. He really did a stellar job in his acting career, but he broke the mold on just being his humble kind hearted self.

One of the few actors that have my respect. He sounds like a genuine guy to hang out with.

Legend!

My introduction to Steve Buschemi was seeing him in Armageddon where he plays a selfish asshole who joins the astronaut mission for selfish reasons. His character didn't seem to believe in anything other than getting his. At the end of the movie, all the astronauts are called heroes and I thought to myself, even him? And had to reason, yes, even him. He still did the job putting his own life on the line regardless of his motives. I never imagined this actor in real life would turn out to be a real hero when the time came, with much more noble intentions. Everything his character in Armageddon (and lets face it, most of his movies) was not.

My Pops-- my former FIL that I adored- my kid's grandpa, was an FBI responder out of Mobile, AL who worked mostly at the SI site, as clean-up/Evidence Response. A little over about 2 years ago, he got diagnosed with a rare form of cancer-- very rare, save for within 9/11 responders. He beat the odds and lasted over a year, though we lost him a year ago in the spring. I'm so angry. That fucking day keeps taking. And people have had to argue and berate Congress to beg for help. Props to Jon Stewart, btw. And I didn't know about Mr. Buscemi was working with the firefighter's group-- but I'm not surprised. It's wonderful the work they and others are doing. I'm so thankful for all of the heroes who stood up that day. And those who stand up every day-- even now, knowing that this happened once, and still do the job and try to help people.

I did not know you were/are firefighter. Respect ✊

Thank you for all you have done and are doing to help the 9/11 first responders.

By the time of 9-11 Steve was an established actor. He did not need to go back to his old unit to help with the recue and recovery effort but he did. Good Man

Steve isn’t a narcissistic Hollywood douche- he is a genuine and humble person who has an immense amount of courage and integrity. The world would be a better place if more people were like Steve.

A soft spoken humble man , thanks for you service working in the zone helping your former firefighters .

20 years ago they said "never forget" but look how people behaved in 2020. They forgot, and the media fanned those flames. That's putting the fire out in one city but encouraging the blaze across others.

I admit stories like this help to improve my low opinion of actors and the profession in general.

Never knew this about Steve, so I thank you for your service Steve and all those first responders that lost there lives and those who were down there helping with the aftermath for those months. We will Never Forget, it's a time stamp in all of our lives, we all remember where we were that day. ♥️

Steve has this presence and expressiveness to his face that still shines thru as much as twenty years ago and before that

20 years and this humble man stayed quiet. Whatever might have brought you here (Facebook, Tctok, Google search, etc) this is something that should be shared far and wide. Spread awareness and make it known that people are still suffering the effects of this major rescue attempt.

I appreciate what he says about knowing that firefighting was important work even if it wasn't his dream. I feel like there are so many jobs like that - it may not light you up creatively, but you know you're helping the common good.

Thank you, Mr. Buscemi. I've been a big fan since I first saw you in "Parting Glances".....an excellent movie. I lost eleven friends on flight 11. The world lost much more. I didn't know that you had been a firefighter in NYC. I have an amazing respect for you. I appreciate you sharing.

What a legend!! You’re a real one Steve!!!

I didn't know he was NYFD. Just a talented actor. Learn something new every day.

He's a truly remarkable actor, I mostly have witnessed his acting in a few films, the sopranos, and of course boardwalk empire. He has such a commanding emotional presence that you can tell he is a passionate person. Lots of respect to the master of trappin and slangin kilos

Man, what a genuine, selfless, and cool guy. Doing the right things for the right reasons.

What's awesome is that he didn't make it very publicly known that he did that, he didn't have to tell the whole world first, he just went and did it

Love him as an actor. Seems like such a sweet person. This is beautiful 💜

Thank you Steve for your service. You are a true hero!

Wow amazing. Steve is a great humble guy. Twenty two years later, I’m learning he was apart of the rescue and cleanup.

Thank you for everything you did and what you’re still doing for first responders.❤️