Legendary Canadian comic actor Rick Moranis, who starred in Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, was randomly attacked in New York City on Thursday. The actor appeared in a number of 1980s comedy hits, and became one of the biggest comedy stars on the planet for his memorable roles, usually playing small, nervous men besides more established stars like Steve Martin, Bill Murray and others. He also memorably played Dark Helmet, a parody of Star Wars villain Darth Vader in Mel Brooks' Spaceballs.
However, Moranis left acting in the mid-1990s following the death of his wife from cancer. He stated the decision allowed him to raise his kids as a single father. He famously turned down the opportunity to cameo in the Ghostbusters reboot alongside the rest of the surviving original cast, and won't be appearing in the upcoming sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Moranis has only recently emerged into the spotlight again, making a surprise appearance in an advert for Ryan Reynolds' Mint Mobile.
Today, ABC revealed that Moranis was the victim of a random attack that took place in New York City on Thursday morning. Moranis was reportedly walking on West 70th street on the city's Upper West Side, which is near his home and close to Central Park, when a man randomly punched him in the head. The video shows the attack seemed to be random, with Moranis a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Moranis sustained injuries to his head, back, and hip during the attack, and had to go to the hospital, where he reported the attack. His current condition is reportedly fine. Social media reaction was swift, with many wishing the actor well, including former Captain America Chris Evans, who reacted to the news with a tweet, saying that the incident made his "blood boil." You can see it below:
The NYPD confirmed that Moranis was the victim in the attack, and has asked the public to contact them if they have information on the perpetrator. The shocking news comes just as Moranis is gearing up to return to movies, having signed on to reprise the role of Wayne Szalinski in Shrunk, the latest sequel in the Honey, I Shrunk The Kids franchise.
What is important, though, is that Moranis wasn't severely injured in the attack. He is a much beloved actor both in his native Canada, as well as the rest of the world, and 2020 would have taken another turn for the worse if the situation had been more serious. Hopefully, the 67-year-old is able to recover without any ill effects and can return to regular life and prepping for his upcoming role soon.
Source: ABC