66-Year-Old Steve Buscemi Attacked While Walking Through NYC

Actor Steve Buscemi was recently attacked while visiting New York City. His publicist told PEOPLE that Buscemi was “assaulted in midtown Manhattan,” making him “another victim of a random act of violence in the city.”

NYPD is currently investigating the attack against 66-year-old Buscemi, the department told CNN. The assault took place on Wednesday, May 8, and police were called to the scene at 369 3rd Avenue shortly before noon.

Steve Buscemi was attacked while in New York City

Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire star Steve Buscemi was attacked while walking around New York / © Hulu /Courtesy Everett Collection

While walking through the Kips Bay neighborhood, at around 11:50 a.m., Buscemi was suddenly approached by a stranger and punched in the face. The attacker then fled the scene. Buscemi’s face was swollen, particularly around his left eye. Additionally, he also had bruising and even bleeding from the afflicted eye. The Boardwalk Empire actor was then taken to Bellevue Hospital. He was stable when emergency services transported him to the hospital.

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The attacker was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt, black pants with white sneakers, and a baseball cap. Days after the incident, an eyewitness, a local worker, recounted, “I saw he was with a woman, and then through the corner of the window, I saw him trip and fall backward. He right away got up and ran in the opposite direction. I didn’t see who hit him.”

His publiist also issued a statement updating fans on Buscemi’s condition. “He is ok and appreciates everyone’s well wishes,” the statement assured, adding, “though incredibly sad for everyone that this has happened to while also walking the streets of NY.”

The attack on Steve Buscemi is part of a bigger pattern

NYPD releases photos of suspect in random attack on actor Steve Buscemi https://t.co/3nnEPsvuAG

— HNGN (@HNGNcom) May 13, 2024

PEOPLE reports that Buscemi’s attack comes a month after his Boardwalk Empire costar Michael Stuhlbarg was struck with a rock in Manhattan. Following the March 31 attack, police detained 27-year-old Xavier Israel. That attack took place in Central Park, and Stuhlbarg reportedly chased Xavier out of the park after the assault.

While Buscemi was punched, Michael Stuhlbarg was hit with a rock / Kerry Hayes ©EuropaCorp USA/courtesy Everett Collection

As of May 12, no arrests have been made, NBC News reports. The outlet also reports that this attack is part of a bigger pattern still that has afflicted several pedestrians in New York from all walks of life. Women on TikTok have shared stories of being attacked while heading from classes back to their homes, or else while traveling to work, and other similar situations.