Suspect arrested for attacking Rick Moranis in NYC

In news that seems completely on brand for 2020, beloved actor Rick Moranis was the victim of a random attack in New York City earlier this year. Thankfully, Moranis only sustained minor injuries after being punched in the head while walking alone in the city on October 1. Security cameras caught Moranis’ assailant on video and police arrested the attacker this past weekend.On Saturday, the New York City Police Department Twitter page announced that a member of their transit division had spotted Moranis’ assailant. The man was arrested and charged for attacking the Canadian actor.

Thanks to an eagle-eyed sergeant from @NYPDTransit, this suspect has been apprehended and charged. https://t.co/cKtkgzc3vU

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 14, 2020

According to NBC news, the 35-year-old suspect was spotted by transit police near 72nd Street and Broadway, which was only a few blocks away from where he allegedly assaulted Moranis at Central Park West near 70th Street. Moranis was not named as the victim by police, but police referred to the assault, which took place outside of the actor's Upper West Side apartment building. The suspect has been charged with second degree assault in relation to his October 1 attack on Moranis.According to the New York Post, the attacker, who suffers from mental health issues and is currently homeless, has also been charged with five other separate assaults that occurred over the past six months. Like Moranis’ assault, the other incidents appear to have also been unprovoked. The suspect's attorney Autumn Levine told a judge on Sunday that her client has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic and is currently without his medication. All the assaults have occurred since the pandemic began earlier this year.In released footage of the attack, it appears as though the 67-year-old actor had no prior interaction with his assailant before being punched in the head. Moranis was knocked to the ground by the man, who walked away after the seemingly random attack. Moranis took himself to the hospital, where he was treated for pain in his head, back and hip. Following his release from the hospital, Moranis’ rep told The Hollywood Reporter that the actor was "…fine but grateful for everyone’s thoughts and well wishes.”Earlier this year, Moranis announced that he was coming out of retirement to reprise his role as Wayne Szalinski from the beloved Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise. In February, Moranis tweeted that he was returning to the role for the upcoming film Shrunk, which will star Josh Gad as Moranis’ adult son. Gad also tweeted about the exciting news, writing “To say it is a dream come true to once again see #RickMoranis on the big screen is the understatement of the decade. But to say, I get an up seat view of him returning to play one of his most iconic roles is the understatement of the Century. Welcome back hero! #Shrunk.”

To say it is a dream come true to once again see #RickMoranis on the big screen is the understatement of the decade. But to say, I get an up seat view of him returning to play one of his most iconic roles is the understatement of the Century. Welcome back hero! #Shrunk https://t.co/oZRokBbQQs

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 12, 2020

In September, Moranis shared the screen with fellow Canadian Ryan Reynolds in an ad for Mint Mobile. The ad revolved around Reynolds fangirling over Moranis, which likely required no acting whatsoever. Rick Moranis! [video_embed id='2076479']BEFORE YOU GO: Baby has an adorable reaction to family's new puppy[/video_embed]