How to Pronounce Steve Buscemi’s Name

Steve Buscemi has finally cleared the air about his name, but the answer may leave fans even more confused. The actor, 67, admitted he isn’t fully sure how to pronounce Steve Buscemi’s name himself.

In a recent interview, the Fargo and Reservoir Dogs star explained that he has heard many versions of his last name. Growing up, his family said “Bue-semi.” Today, he finds it difficult to even say it that way. Over the years, fans, friends, and colleagues have all added their own twists, making the question of how to pronounce Steve Buscemi’s name a running mystery.

The Many Ways People Say His Name

04 April 2019 – Las Vegas, NV – Steve Buscemi. 2019 CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards Red Carpet at Caesars Palace. Photo Credit: MJT/AdMedia

The topic came up again during his guest spot on the Apple TV+ comedy The Studio. The episode made his name the center of a joke, and the bit quickly sparked more debate. On The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon reminded Buscemi of a version he once heard: “Brusch-kemi,” which sounded like bruschetta. Buscemi laughed but said he disliked that one.

Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire star Steve Buscemi was attacked while walking around New York. / © Hulu Courtesy Everett Collection

According to Fox News, he admitted he prefers “Boo-shemi,” which matches the Italian way to say it. Still, he usually introduces himself as “Boo-semi,” a mix of what he has heard over time. With a smile, he joked, “I don’t know how to say my own name.” For many fans still wondering how to pronounce Steve Buscemi’s name, that line confirmed there may never be one right answer.

A Common Celebrity Mix-Up

Buscemi isn’t alone in dealing with name confusion. Denzel Washington recently told audiences they have been saying his name wrong for decades. His mother used the clipped version “DEN-zel,” while most of Hollywood went with “DEN-ZELL.” Like Buscemi, he eventually accepted both.

Steve buscemi 9/11 — THE YEAR BETWEEN, from left: Steve Buscemi, Wyatt Oleff, 2022. © Gravitas Ventures Courtesy Everett Collection

For Buscemi, the mix-up hasn’t slowed his career. He now stars in Netflix’s Wednesday as Barry Dort, principal of Nevermore Academy. Whether fans say “Bue-semi,” “Boo-shemi,” or “Boo-semi,” the veteran actor embraces it all with humor. And for anyone still asking how to pronounce Steve Buscemi’s name, the answer seems to be whichever way feels right.