‘Boardwalk Empire’ actor Michael Stuhlbarg returns to Broadway stage after Central Park rock attack
The show must go on.
Actor Michael Stuhlbarg was beaming during curtain call at Monday night’s premiere of “Patriots,” a new Broadway production he is starring in that began previews a day after he was allegedly attacked by a homeless man with a lengthy rap sheet.
The 55-year-old “Boardwalk Empire” star’s name was above on the marquee at the Barrymore Theater as he took on the role of Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky in the play, which is about the rise of Vladimir Putin.
Photos of the premiere show the actor dressed in black, looking up at the audience and clapping.
The new play opened Monday, one day after Stuhlbarg was walking near Central Park on the Upper East Side when 27-year-old Xavier Israel allegedly struck him in the back of the neck with a rock, causing an abrasion.
Israel, a parolee who is homeless, has previously been arrested for two assaults as well as an attempted robbery, all of which took place in January 2022, police and sources told The Post.
Stuhlbarg was attacked less than 2 miles from where his “Boardwalk Empire” character, Arnold Rothstein, was fatally shot in the HBO drama series.
He declined medical assistance following the attack despite notifying authorities of pain and bruising on the back of his neck, police and sources said. The Post has reached out to Stuhlbarg’s reps for comment.
After Israel allegedly threw a rock at Stuhlbarg, the actor chased him down the block.
Surveillance footage of the chase obtained by The Post shows Stuhlbarg running in a bike lane moments after his attacker sprinted past on the sidewalk.
The footage shows Israel wearing white pants, a cropped white top, and a large white hat that seems to cover most of his face as he runs by. Moments later, Stuhlbarg can be seen in all black running after him in the street.
Israel was eventually caught by police outside the Russian Consulate at 9 E. 91st St.
Police charged him with assault. He was awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday.
Israel’s lengthy rap sheet includes several random assaults in Central Park.
He was also caught on surveillance footage in 2022 beating up and stealing the wallet of a good Samaritan who had given him his coat one cold January morning, law enforcement sources said at the time.
He was later arrested after allegedly stealing nearly $1,500 from the stranger.
That same week, Israel turned on another random stranger who had tried to offer him help.
Days before, he brutally attacked a 49-year-old woman who had reportedly been trying to help him. He was arrested, charged with assault and released on a desk appearance ticket, sources told The Post.
Around the same time, he also allegedly assaulted two 18 year olds inside Central Park.
He was accused of randomly punching the teens, a man and a woman, as they sat on rocks inside the park.
He was also charged in that incident.
