Arrest made in attack on 'Ghostbusters' actor Rick Moranis in New York City

Video showed the moment a man wearing a black ''I (heart) NY'' sweatshirt hit the 67-year-old ''Ghostbusters'' star

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Sunday, November 15, 2020
Suspect arrested in random attack on actor Rick Moranis
Police have made an arrest in the violent sucker-punch attack on actor Rick Moranis.

UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan -- An arrest has been made in a random and violent attack on actor Rick Moranis in New York City.

Police arrested Marquis Ventura on Saturday in connection with the attack.

Police say it was Ventura's seventh assault charge of the year.

Video showed the moment a man wearing a black "I (heart) NY" sweatshirt and a backpack hit the 67-year-old "Ghostbusters" star and knocked him to the ground.

The assault happened in late September on West 70th Street near Central Park West.

The attack happened just a few blocks from the apartment building where Moranis' character, Louis Tully, lived in the movie.

The attacker continued walking north after throwing the punch.

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Moranis hurt his head, back and hip in the attack but was able to take himself to the hospital, and later, to the police station to report the incident.

Moranis' representative Troy Bailey said in a written statement after the attack: "Rick Moranis was assaulted on the Upper West Side yesterday. He is fine but grateful for everyone's thoughts and well wishes."

Moranis shot to fame in the 1980s as a star of the sketch comedy series "Second City Television," before landing roles in blockbuster movies like "Ghostbusters" and "Honey I Shrunk the Kids."

He put acting aside in the late 1990s to focus on raising his kids but has made occasional appearances since.

Fellow actor Chris Evans, who portrays Captain America in the Marvel movie franchise, reacted to the attack on Twitter.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.

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