Jo Andres: Last News

Clayton Davis In a world where politicians use mental health as mere talking points when discussing gun violence and suicide rates, Steve Buscemi’s “The Listener” addresses the crisis head-on. Written by Alessandro Camon, the Oscar-nominated scribe of “The Messenger” (2009), the film follows a helpline volunteer named Beth, played by Tessa Thompson, who is an integral part of the small army of counselors who field calls from all kinds of people who feel lonely and broken. The film unspools at the Venice Festival’s Giornate degli Autori and is the closing film of Venice Days on Sept. 9. Buscemi can sympathize with anyone who feels lost and broken, especially as he is still reeling from losing his wife Jo Andres in January 2019; they had been married for over 30 years. While in pre-production, the director and producer called a helpline number. “At first, it was in the name of research,” Buscemi told Variety. “I had these dreams in the night involving my late wife, and it was reason enough for me to call. I had an amazing 15-minute talk with this person. I’ll never know who she was, and I never told her who I was. I just talked about Jo, and it was important.”

Standing between Steve Buscemi’s newest directorial effort, “The Listener,” and his last time on the director’s chair for the Sienna Miller-starring drama “Interview” is a whopping 15 years. Buscemi has been open about his desire to direct again, but nothing seemed to work out until Oscar-nominated writer Alessandro Camon knocked on his door, script in hand.

He lost his wife of 22 years Jo Andres in 2019.But Steve Buscemi looked happy and in love again while holding hands with a much younger mystery woman during a stroll around New York City's Manhattan borough.The Big Lebowski actor, 63, tilted his head to the side and smiled, appearing to be embracing good times with his new friend. New love: Steve Buscemi looked very happy while strolling hand-in-hand with a female friend on Saturday.

Taking his time. Steve Buscemi remembered the heartbreaking impact of wife Jo Andres’ cancer battle more than one year after she died at the age of 65.