Steve Buscemi Recalls Failed Audition for Barry Levinson's ‘Tin Men': 'There Was This Silence'
The host asked Buscemi if there were any roles he auditioned for that stung when he didn't secure them.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Anthony Mackie Jokes He's the "White Dude Legend" After Multiple Co-Stars Earned Emmy and Oscar Nominations
Paramount Faces a Talent Rebellion, and Their Target Is Trump's D**k
Colbert Teases Trump After Name Reportedly Listed in Epstein Files: "Mystery Man Known Only as Micropenis DJT"
'I was always hot and cold. I never knew, like, if I should wing it 'cause sometimes I'd be good if I went in the room and I didn't really prepare,' he said about his experience with auditions. 'And then the next time I'd do it, I would fail.'
Buscemi then recalled his audition process for Levinson and said he knew he couldn't wing it. 'I studied the sides, the script and went in there and did my reading, did my audition and he looked at me and he went, 'That was really good, that's really good, Steve. All right, let's do it again,'' he said. 'He gave me a very specific note and I don't remember what that was.'
The Wednesday actor explained that Levinson wanted him 'to add a different color to it or shading.' He continued, 'I went, 'OK.' And then I read it again, the exact same way I just did it.'
'There was this silence and we both just looked at each other,' Buscemi continued as the audience laughed. 'I think I even said, 'That was the same, wasn't it?' And he said, 'Yeah, it's OK, it's OK.' Needless to say, I did not get that part.'
Another audition he recalled was with director Mike Nichols and casting director Juliet Taylor. Buscemi explained that he didn't want to audition because he already booked another job that had a conflict with the shooting schedule. However, his agent at the time encouraged him to go to the audition so he could meet Nichols and Taylor.
'I went in, I do the audition and they love it,' he said. 'They were laughing, they were like, 'That's great! Yeah, good.''
Following the positive responses from Nichols and Taylor, Buscemi asked when they were filming the project. He then told them that he wasn't available, and he was met with a memorable response. 'And again, this, like, silence,' he said. 'And I could see Juliet Taylor just looking at me going, 'What is wrong with you?''
Despite not securing some of the roles he auditioned for, Buscemi has been able to make a name for himself in both comedies and dramas. Some of his most notable movie roles include parts in Reservoir Dogs, Fargo and The Big Lebowski, while he also starred on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
The 40 Greatest Needle Drops in Film History
The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience
Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
4 minutes ago
- New York Post
Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver's ‘Marriage Story' being used to scare wolves from killing cattle across US
Nothing drives wild animals away faster than hearing actors scream about divorce. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver's 2019 film 'Marriage Story' is being used by the United States Department of Agriculture to keep wolves away from killing cattle, according to The Wall Street Journal. 'Riding to the rescue are drone cowhands, whose quadcopters have thermal cameras that can reveal any wolf lurking in the darkness and bathe it in a spotlight,' the outlet reported. Advertisement 8 Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver's 2019 film 'Marriage Story' is reportedly being used by the USDA to keep wolves away from killing cattle. Netflix 8 Scarlett Johansson as Nicole and Adam Driver as Charlie in 'Marriage Story.' AP 'A loudspeaker broadcasts alarming sounds like fireworks, gunshots and people arguing,' it continued. 'One recording is of the fight between Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver in the movie 'Marriage Story.'' Advertisement The practice of using loud noises to scare off endangered species of animals, dubbed 'wolf hazing,' is not new, but the idea of using Noah Baumbach's Oscar-nominated drama certainly is. 'Marriage Story,' which stars Johansson, 40, and Driver, 41, as a couple going through an ugly divorce and custody battle over their son, received critical acclaim when it was released in theatres and on Netflix. 8 Adam Driver as Charlie and Scarlett Johansson as Nicole in 'Marriage Story.' Jose Perez / 8 'Marriage Story' stars Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver as a couple going through an ugly divorce and custody battle over their son AP Advertisement The focal point of the film unfolds when Nicole (Johansson) and Charlie (Driver) scream at each other for four minutes amid the complete breakdown of their relationship. While the scene was so intense that it earned the 'Black Widow' star and 'House of Gucci' actor nominations at the 2020 Academy Awards, it has also reportedly saved countless cows and other livestock targeted by gray wolves. 'Drones were deployed in the Klamath Basin of southern Oregon after 11 cows were killed by wolves there in a 20-day period,' the WSJ reported. 'Over the next 85 days, when drones were on patrol, only two were killed.' 8 Scarlett Johansson at the JW Marriott Essex House on June 25, 2025, in New York City. Getty Images for SiriusXM Advertisement 8 Adam Driver during the 75th annual Outer Critics Circle Awards at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on May 22, 2025, in New York City. WireImage A USDA district supervisor in Oregon told the outlet that the argument from 'Marriage Story' – as well as AC/DC's blaring 1990 hit 'Thunderstruck' – works just as well, and if not better, than recordings of fireworks and gunshots. 'I need the wolves to respond and know that, hey, humans are bad,' they explained. The Post has reached out to Johansson and Driver's reps for comment. 8 Scarlett Johansson as Nicole and Adam Driver as Charlie in 'Marriage Story.' AP 8 Adam Driver as Charlie and Scarlett Johansson as Nicole in 'Marriage Story.' LRNYC / MEGA 'Marriage Story' was unironically lauded as 'the best war movie of the year' in 2019, and Laura Dern went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of family law attorney Nora Fanshaw. Director Noah Baumbach, during an interview with Awards Daily upon the film's release, revealed that he always knew the movie would be called 'Marriage Story' – even despite it being about a divorce. Advertisement 'It was the title I had from the beginning,' he explained. 'It took me a long time to fully commit to it. It's interesting about the movie; it didn't take a poetic title. It always felt like 'Marriage Story' was the right thing; in some ways, it's both specific and generic at the same time.' 'Also, the narrative of marriage,' Baumbach continued. 'What is a marriage? Who gets to tell the story of a marriage? Is a marriage a marriage if it's over? All these questions are embedded in that title.'
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Loni Anderson's Family: All About the Late Actress's 2 Children and Four Marriages
The actress, whose death was announced on Aug. 3, was married to musician Bob FlickNEED TO KNOW Loni Anderson, whose death was announced on Aug. 3, was married four times The WKRP in Cincinnati actress was married to musician Bob Flick at the time of her death She is survived by her two children, daughter Deidra and son QuintonLoni Anderson was a wife and mother of two at the time of her death. The actress, whose death was announced on Aug. 3, rose to fame in the late 1970s as she starred in the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati as Jennifer Marlowe, a role that earned her three Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy nominations. Just a few days before her 80th birthday, Anderson's publicist confirmed to the Associated Press that she died at a Los Angeles hospital following a "prolonged illness." 'We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,' Anderson's family said in a statement. Prior to her death, Anderson had been married four times: first to Bruce Hasselberg, with whom she welcomed daughter Deidra, followed by Ross Bickell and the late Burt Reynolds, with whom she adopted son Quinton. At the time of her death, she was married to Bob Flick, whom she married in 2008. Here's everything to know about Loni Anderson's family, including her spouse, ex-husbands and two children. She met her husband, Flick, at a movie premiere While Anderson married Flick in 2008, they first crossed paths over four decades earlier. The pair met at a movie premiere in Minneapolis and posed for a photo together. Years later, they used the photo to decorate their wedding cake when they tied the knot in California on May 17, 2008. 'When we met, 5-17-63,' the inscription on the cake read, indicating that they got married on the very day they met, 45 years later. Her husband was a musician While Anderson made her mark on the screen, Flick built his career on stages. The musician was a founding member of a folk band known as The Brothers Four, per their website. During an interview with Flick shared that the band originated while he and his co-founders were in college at the University of Washington in Seattle. "We had no idea or dream of being professional musicians at that time," he said. "It was all music on campus." According to the band's site, Flick is still an active performer with the group, though he also composes, arranges and produces music for TV series, documentary films and other video programs. She was previously married three times Anderson was married three times before she tied the knot with Flick. She first wed Hasselberg in 1964, though they divorced in 1966. Anderson was then married to actor Bickell, known for 1977's Airport '77 and 1995's Major Payne, from 1974 until 1981. Her third marriage was with her former costar Reynolds, whom she met in 1981, wed in 1988 and split from in 1993. After she and Reynolds split, Anderson was in a long-term relationship with Geoffrey Brown, though they never married. During a March 2006 conversation with Massachusetts Daily Collegian, Anderson said that she believed marriage hadn't "worked" for her because it sometimes made her feel "caged." The actress went on to say that Brown didn't put restrictions on her, and she felt she could go "any time I wanted." She had a tumultuous relationship with Reynolds A few years before Reynolds died in 2018, the late actor opened up to PEOPLE about his relationship with Anderson, saying that marrying her in 1988 was "a really dumb move on my part." "I should have known that you don't marry an actress," he told PEOPLE in 2015, adding that their relationship had "ups and downs." "It wasn't lollipops and roses," Reynolds said. The actor announced their split in June 1993, when his rep said his and Anderson's marriage was "irretrievably broken." The statement went on to say that he had "the highest respect and regard for Miss Anderson," though Reynolds "feels his priorities and hers have become different." Their divorce became complex when Reynolds admitted to being involved with another woman, only after he had become convinced that Anderson had cheated first, he alleged to Good Morning America: Evening Edition. Meanwhile, Anderson remained tight-lipped about the divorce until 1995, when she accused her ex-husband of physically abusing her several times while he was allegedly under the influence of drugs in a November 1995 interview with SFGate. "Burt always said no one would ever believe me because he was Mr. Wonderful and the world loved him," Anderson said of the abuse. She also claimed he was frequently late in making his $15,000 child support payments. Per TMZ at the time, it wasn't until 2015 that Reynolds wrote a $154,520 check, officially finalizing his divorce from Anderson. Though their relationship ended on rocky terms, Anderson told FOX News after his death that Reynolds was a "big part of my life for twelve years," adding that she would "miss him and his great laugh." She had two children Anderson was a mother of two: son Quinton and daughter Deidra. The actress welcomed Deidra with her first husband, Hasselberg. Then, while she was married to Reynolds, the former couple adopted Quinton. According to ABC7, Quinton walked his mom down the aisle when she wed Flick in 2008. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she is also survived by her grandchildren Megan and McKenzie, stepson Adam and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump Pits 'Woke' Taylor Swift Against Sydney Sweeney, Saying Pop Star Is for 'Losers' and Calling Sweeney's Ad the 'Hottest'
Hours after Trump learned that Sweeney is registered as a Republican, he took to Truth Social to contrast his appreciation for the actress with his "hate" for SwiftNEED TO KNOW Donald Trump pitted Taylor Swift and Sydney Sweeney against each other in a Truth Social post that praised Sweeney's career and slammed Swift as "no longer hot" After calling Sweeney's controversial American Eagle campaign the "hottest" ad, Trump wrote, "Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be" Trump previously expressed support for Sweeney in front of news cameras when a reporter informed him on Sunday, Aug. 3, that the actress is a registered RepublicanDonald Trump is pitting Sydney Sweeney and Taylor Swift against each other by casting them as opposing sides of the celebrity coin. When Trump discovered that Sweeney is a registered Republican while speaking with reporters on Sunday, Aug. 3, he praised the actress and her controversial American Eagle campaign, which has come under fire for its perceived problematic undertones. In a Truth Social post on Monday morning, the president took his newfound affection for Sweeney a step further by contrasting his appreciation for the actress with his "hate" for Swift, who backed Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. "Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the 'HOTTEST' ad out there. It's for American Eagle, and the jeans are 'flying off the shelves.' Go get 'em Sydney!" he wrote on Aug. 4. After slamming ads from other companies like Bud Lite and Jaguar — which Trump described as "woke" — the president then shifted the conversation to Swift, who has become a frequent target of his anger over the past year. "Just look at Woke singer Taylor Swift," he wrote in the post. "Ever since I alerted the world as to what she was by saying on TRUTH that I can't stand her (HATE!). She was booed out of the Super Bowl and became, NO LONGER HOT." He continued: "The tide has seriously turned — Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" The president's modern criticism of Swift escalated after she endorsed Harris for president in September 2024. The endorsement prompted Trump to post: "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!" Despite Trump's attempts to turn his MAGA followers against Swift, the president's granddaughter Arabella remained a fan of the "Blank Space" singer, even celebrating her 13th birthday with mom Ivanka at the Eras Tour in October. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer. Sweeney's party preference was first reported by Buzzfeed News amid the backlash from her controversial new partnership with American Eagle, though the actress has not commented on her political affiliation or spoken publicly in support of Trump. The AE ad campaign — called "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans" — played off the word "genes," with critics claiming that it suggested she was genetically superior in the way that it highlighted her blonde hair and blue eyes. The jeans campaign also drew comparisons to Brooke Shields' controversial Calvin Klein ad from 1980. Shields' age (she was 15 at the time) ruffled feathers due to the commercial's provocative tagline: "You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing." It also featured similar messaging about passing down characteristics from generation to generation. Read the original article on People
