PITTSBURGH -- A New York City firefighter who volunteered during rescue efforts in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, is channeling his experiences into the focal point of his career as he climbs the Hollywood ladder of success.
Christopher Stadulis was working as a mass transit officer on 9/11, when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City.
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Watch Mike Clark's Uncut Interview With Christopher StadulisAfter first making sure his wife was safe, Stadulis volunteered in rescue efforts the following day.
"I just saw all the people crying, praying that they'd find their loved one. I just couldn't sit there. I feel I'm a strong guy -- healthy guy -- I can't just sit here and do nothing, so instead of crying at home, I said, 'I've got to do something,' to my wife, got a hardhat, some gloves, tools, took my MTA badge and went to dig for several days," said Stadulis.
In the day that followed, Stadulis would discover that he lost one of his friends in the attack, Jimmy Riches, who served at a Brooklyn firehouse.
"He was with the 114 truck. He actually made it to the 69th floor. He was a great athlete. I know his dad, his brothers -- he was a really good guy," said Stadulis.
Stadulis said the emotions and experiences he's undergone have made him a better actor, and helped to breathe life to the characters he portrays.
He said his real-life experiences are one of the reasons director Tony Scott hired him for a role in his upcoming movie "Unstoppable," starring Denzel Washington, which has been shooting in Pittsburgh.
"I have the ability to affect people I've never met. People go to movies to get away from reality -- to escape, to be told a story -- to be able to affect people worldwide, telling them a story, taking them on your journey, having emotions come out, whether you cry or you're happy, it's a powerful thing," said Stadulis.
Stadulis said he got his start as an actor when he needed one more credit to graduate the police academy and decided to sign up for an acting class.
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