Steve Buscemi Honors Late Wife Jo Andres in Heartfelt Speech: 'She Was My Inspiration'

"She was my biggest supporter and, also, audience and my biggest inspiration," Buscemi said of his late wife

Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage

While accepting an award at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Thursday, Steve Buscemi got personal.

During his speech to the National Association of Theater Owners, Buscemi, 61, briefly honored his late wife, Jo Andres, who passed away unexpectedly in January.

“I want to thank my family, who’s been so supportive. My parents, my brothers and also my son and also my wife,” he said while winning the Cinema Icon Award. “My wife Jo, who we knew each other going back to [1984 film] Parting Glances.”

“You know, this business can be a challenge to relationships, but you stick it out and there are rewards and I am so grateful to her,” he continued. “She was my biggest supporter and, also, audience and my biggest inspiration.”

Buscemi and Andres married in 1987 and share one son together, Lucian, who was born in 1990.

Steve Buscemi and Jo Andres. Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Andres, a filmmaker and choreographer, died in January at the age of 64. She had previously been treated for ovarian cancer, although her cause of death was sclerosis, according to The New York Times.

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She and Buscemi were married for over 30 years. The couple shared one son together, Lucian, who was born in 1990.

Andres received acclaim for her 1996 film Black Kites, which played at several film festivals, including Sundance, Toronto and London. She also directed music and art videos, including her own performance works.