In casting the role of Nucky Thompson ( based upon real-life Atlantic City political boss Enoch L. Johnson ) , Winter wanted to stray from the real life of Johnson as much as possible . " If we were going to cast accurately what the real Nucky looked like , we 'd have cast Jim Gandolfini . " The idea of casting Steve Buscemi in the lead role came about when Scorsese mentioned wanting to work with the actor , whom Winter knew well having worked with him on '' The Sopranos '' . Winter sent the script out to Buscemi , who responded very enthusiastically . " I just thought , ' Wow . I 'm almost sorry I 've read this , because if I do n't get it , I 'm going to be so sad . ' My response was ' Terry , I know you 're looking at other actors ' ... and he said , ' No , no , Steve , I said we want you . Explained Scorsese , " I love the range he has , his dramatic sense , but also his sense of humor . " Buscemi has won and been nominated for several awards for his portrayal of Nucky Thompson . He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Award at the 63rd and 64th Primetime Emmy Awards . In addition , Buscemi won Best Actor in Dramatic Series at the 68th Golden Globe Awards , while also getting nominated at the 69th and 70th Awards . The cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the 17th and 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards while being nominated at the 19th , 20th and 21st . Buscemi won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series two years in a row from 2011 to 2012 , while also being nominated in 2013 , 2014 and 2015
18th Screen Actors Guild Awards
18th Screen Actors Guild Awards
Nucky Thompson