Steve Buscemi: Police arrest man accused of punching ‘Boardwalk Empire’ actor
Steve Buscemi attack: File photo. The man accused of attacking actor Steve Buscemi was arrested on Friday in New York City. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for The Cantor Fitz)
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
NEW YORK — Police in New York City on Friday arrested a man accused of randomly attacking actor Steve Buscemi, authorities said.
A police spokesperson told the newspaper that the charge was elevated to a felony because of Buscemi’s age.
Buscemi was walking in the Kips Bay area of Manhattan on May 8 around noon when the suspect allegedly struck him in the face while the “Boardwalk Empire” actor was leaning against a wall, texting on his phone, WNBC-TV reported.
Buscemi, a Brooklyn native and former New York City firefighter, was taken to Bellevue Hospital for bruising, swelling and bleeding to his left eye, according to the television station. The actor, also known for his roles in “Fargo” and “The Sopranos,” was released but declined to speak about it on camera several days after the attack, WCBS-TV reported.
Police said the actor was attacked about 30 minutes after Williams allegedly punched a 22-year-old man on Third Avenue near 16th Street, according to the television station.
Police responded to a dispute on Friday between Williams and another man at a homeless shelter in the Chelsea neighborhood on Manhattan’s West Side, the Times reported. Officials, who had released surveillance photographs of Williams after the attack, recognized the suspect and arrested him, according to the newspaper.
Buscemi is the latest celebrity to be randomly attacked in New York, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His “Boardwalk Empire” co-star, Michael Stuhlbarg, was struck in the back of the neck with a rock on March 31, the Times reported.
Over the past few years, Rick Moranis and Bethenny Frankel have also been victims of random attacks in New York, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
If convicted of the charges, Williams could be jailed up to seven years in prison, the Times reported.
Through the years NEW YORK CITY - AUGUST 1: Actor Steve Buscemi attends the premiere of "Airheads" on August 1, 1994 at the 57th Street Playhouse in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years CIRCA 1998: (Top L-R) Actor Jeff Bridges and actor John Goodman (Bottom L-R) actor Steve Buscemi and actress Julianne Moore on set of the Gramercy Pictures movie "The Big Lebowski " circa 1998. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Actor Steve Buscemi attends HBO's screening of "Curb Your Enthusiasm at Time Warner Screening Room on September 30, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: Actor Steve Buscemi attends the "Saint John of Las Vegas" premiere at the Chelsea Clearview Cinema on January 16, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) (Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 16: Actor Steve Buscemi poses with his award for Best Actor in a Television Series (Drama) for "Boardwalk Empire" in the press room at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton hotel on January 16, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Actor Steve Buscemi, winner of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series award for "Boardwalk Empire," poses in the press room during the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on January 30, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 16: Actor Steve Buscemi attends "The Big Lebowski" Blu-ray release at the Hammerstein Ballroom on August 16, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 11: Actor and former FDNY firefighter Steve Buscemi (C) greets firefighters after a memorial service at Old St. Pat's Church to mark the tenth anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2011 in New York City. New York City firefighters are commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and honoring the 343 firefighters who died in the line of duty. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 13: Actor Steve Buscemi attends the "Comes A Bright Day" premiere at The Bryant Park Hotel on November 13, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 02: Steve Buschemi and James Gandolfini's son Michael Gandolfini attend IFP's 23nd Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on December 2, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for IFP) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for IFP)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: Actor Steve Buscemi attends the fifth annual Two Boots Mardi Gras ball at Le Poisson Rouge on March 4, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 04: Actor Steve Buscemi (L) and choreographer/filmmaker Jo Andres attend the fifth annual Two Boots Mardi Gras ball at Le Poisson Rouge on March 4, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 28: Steve Buscemi (L) and Jon Stewart perform onstage at Comedy Central Night Of Too Many Stars at Beacon Theatre on February 28, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Comedy Central) (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Comedy Central)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 12: Steve Buscemi and Dikembe Mutombo attend the Annual Charity Day hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC and GFI at Cantor Fitzgerald on September 12, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald) (Dave Kotinsky)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 20: Actor Steve Buscemi attends "The Boss Baby" New York Premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 theater on March 20, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Steve Buscemi, Michael Madsen, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel and Tim Roth attend the "Reservoir Dogs" Screening during 2017 Tribeca Film Festival on April 28, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival) (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Fe)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 11: Steve Buscemi attends the Annual Charity Day hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC and GFI at Cantor Fitzgerald on September 11, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald) (Presley Ann/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgera)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 14: (L-R) Creator and executive producer Simon Rich and actors Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Daniel Radcliffe and Karan Soni attend a screening and conversation for "Miracle Workers" at the 92nd Street Y on May 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Steve Buscemi speaks onstage during the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 19, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images) (Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 12: Steve Buscemi attends "The Year Between" premiere during the 2022 Tribeca Festival at Village East Cinema on June 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival) (Dominik Bindl/Getty Images for Tribeca Festiva)
Through the years VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 09: Steve Buscemi poses for the photographer at the Giornate degli Autori during the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 09, 2022 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Maria Moratti/Getty Images) (Maria Moratti/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 07: Elvis Costello and Steve Buscemi attend the Disney Original Documentary's "If These Walls Could Sing" New York Premiere at Metrograph on December 07, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Disney+ ) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Disney+)
Through the years WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 19: Steve Buscemi and Karen Ho attend the 24th Annual Mark Twain Prize For American Humor at The Kennedy Center on March 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images) (Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 27: Steve Buscemi attends the Peacock's "Bupkis" World premiere at The Apollo Theater on April 27, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 25: Steve Buscemi speaks as SAG-AFTRA members hold "Rock The City For A Fair Contract" rally in Times Square on July 25, 2023 in New York City. Members of SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood’s largest union which represents actors and other media professionals, have joined striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) workers in the first joint walkout against the studios since 1960. The strike could shut down Hollywood productions completely with writers in the third month of their strike against the Hollywood studios. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 11: (L-R) Steve Buscemi and Harvey Keitel appear onstage during 2023 Night of Too Many Stars benefiting NEXT for AUTISM at Beacon Theatre on December 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Night of Too Many Stars) (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Night of Too Ma)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 27: (L-R) Steve Buscemi and Karen Ho attend the "Problemista" New York Screening at Village East Cinema on February 27, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)