Veteran actor Steve Buscemi was allegedly attacked while walking in Manhattan on Wednesday, according to the New York Post.
According to reports, Buscemi, 66, suffered facial injuries after the attack. Exit. The actor reportedly sustained injuries to his left eye in the assault, which occurred just before noon. Buscemi was found injured at the scene by New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, where his condition is reported to be stable, the newspaper said.
According to police sources, the suspect fled the scene and remains at large, the New York Post reported. The NYPD launched an investigation and released surveillance photos of the suspected attacker, which shows a bearded man wearing a baseball cap, blue T-shirt and black sweatpants, the newspaper said. According to the paper, a spokesperson said the attack on Buscemi appeared to be a random act of violence.
‘Boardwalk Empire’ star Steve Buscemi beaten by maniac in random attack in New York City https://t.co/RJ1ZZynXbn pic.twitter.com/9IDchJYI0t
— New York Post (@nypost) May 12, 2024
“Steve Buscemi was assaulted in midtown Manhattan, the latest victim of random acts of violence in the city,” a spokesperson for Buscemi said in an emailed statement, as reported by the New York Post. “I am a person,” he said. “He’s okay and we appreciate everyone’s well wishes, but for something like this to happen to him while he was walking down the street in New York is a terrible thing for anyone. It’s incredibly sad.” (Related: Video shows ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ actor gets jumped by group of bikers in New York)
“I saw him with a woman, and from the corner of the window I saw him stumble and fall backwards,” a witness told the New York Post. “He immediately got up and ran in the opposite direction. I didn’t know who hit him.”
Actor Steve Buscemi attends the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike rally in Times Square, Manhattan, New York City, USA on July 25, 2023.Reuters/Mike Seeger
Buscemi has had an illustrious career in film and television spanning decades, most recently receiving praise for her performance in “Boardwalk Empire,” the New York Post reported. He has won both a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award.
The incident is part of an alarming pattern in New York City where pedestrians, including celebrities and social media influencers, are increasingly being targeted for assault. In a similar incident in March 2024, Buscemi’s “Boardwalk Empire” co-star Michael Stuhlbarg was assaulted in Central Park. According to the New York Post, the attacker, 27-year-old Xavier Israel, was arrested and charged with assault after chasing Stuhlbarg.
