It is an issue the actor continues to deal with
Steve Buscemi has revealed that he still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from his experiences volunteering as a firefighter during the 9/11 terror attacks.
The actor had previously worked as a firefighter before becoming an actor but once again joined the fight after the horrific events of September 11, 2001.
The 63-year-old spoke to Marc Maron about his experiences as the 20th anniversary of the attack approaches.
“I just didn’t have any information,” he said.
“I kept calling the firehouse the day before and of course there was no answer.
“Because I knew that they would be there. And then I eventually learned that five of them were missing.
“One of them was a good friend of mine I used to work with”
The Grown Up’s actor explains that he was driven to the Twin Towers site that day and though firefighters were a little suspicious at first, he continued to work with them all day. He then continued for the days to come and luckily hasn’t experienced any health issues like other first responders.
Buscemi continued: “I haven’t experienced any health issues, and I get myself checked out, but definitely…. Post-traumatic stress? Absolutely.
“I was only there for like five days, but when I stopped going and tried to just live my life again, it was really, really hard. I was depressed, I was anxious, I couldn’t make a simple decision.
“All those things. It’s still with me.”
Buscemi explained that on occasion, he is thrust back there, reliving it all again. In moments like that he realises “this is still a big part of me”.
But Buscemi has sought help through Friends of Firefighters, a group that provides mental health support for those within the profession.
Related links
- Steve Buscemi returned to his job as a firefighter in the aftermath of 9/11
- UK faces ‘immediate’ danger of 9/11 sized terror attack, security experts warn
- CIA chief has spoken out about the secret 9/11 report and Saudi Arabia
