Boardwalk Empire star Steve Buscemi is punched in the face in a random attack in NYC

• Buscemi, 66, was strolling along Third Avenue in Kips Bay in eastern Manhattan
• Punched by a man at 11.48am before the attacker fled and fled
• Buscemi was treated for bruising, swelling and bleeding in his left eye

Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi was punched in the face in a random attack on the streets of New York City.

Buscemi, 66, was strolling along Third Avenue near East 27th Street in Kips Bay in eastern Manhattan at 11:48 a.m. Wednesday, police said.

The man walked toward the Brooklyn eatery and suddenly attacked him in front of 369 Third Avenue, causing him to flee. He hasn’t been caught yet.

Buscemi was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was treated for bruising, swelling and bleeding in his left eye.

“Steve Buscemi was attacked in mid-town Manhattan, another victim of random violence in the city,” his publicist said.

“He’s doing well and appreciates everyone’s well wishes, although he’s incredibly sad for everyone that this happened while at the same time he was walking the streets of New York.”

Police released a surveillance image of the alleged attacker wearing a dark baseball cap, blue T-shirt, black pants and white sneakers.

Buscemi grew up in New York and worked as a firefighter in Brooklyn before quitting to pursue an acting career in the 1980s.

He returned to his old fire station just hours after the September 11 attacks and stayed at the World Trade Center site for days searching through the rubble.