A popular comedy legend showed up to take over some grocery stores in New York City this week (Photo: Backgrid)
A huge Hollywood star, who stepped away from the film industry in the 1990s, was spotted out for a simple outing after keeping a low profile for the past few decades.
Rick Moranis, 71, is rarely seen and looks almost unrecognizable as he curls up against the New York City cold in an oversized brown jacket with an upright collar, shorts and gloves.
He was also wearing dark shades and a flat green hat, further obscuring his identity.
The Ghostbusters star turned his back on his film career and fame more than 25 years ago, after his wife’s tragic death from cancer, to focus on caring for their two children.
Anne Belsky, a successful fashion and makeup designer, was only in her mid-30s when she died of breast cancer in 1991.
Moranis’ last on-screen film was 1997’s “Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves,” the final installment in the popular family comedy series that began with 1989’s “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.”
Rick Moranis looked lost in thought as he strolled along the sidewalk, curled up against the cold (Photo: Backgrid) The comedy icon managed to remain unrecognizable thanks to his flat cap and sunglasses (Photo: Backgrid) Moranis walked away from a huge film career The 1980s and 1990s included films like Ghostbusters (Image: Columbia/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)
Having begun his career on the sketch comedy show Second City Television in his native Canada, which also provided launching pads for the likes of John Candy and Schitt’s Creek co-stars Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy, the comedian and actor chose film work.
After Strange Brew and Streets of Fire, he also had a scene-stealing and lead role in Ghostbusters and its sequels, Parenthood, Spaceballs, Little Shop of Horrors and the live-action film The Flintstones, where he played Barney Rubble.
The star appeared in the photos on a trip to the supermarket, carrying a black reusable bag with him.
He was also listening to something through white wired earphones as he walked with a thoughtful expression.
He focused on raising his children after his wife died of cancer in the 1990s (Image: Backgrid) The actor was wrapped up against the cold as he stepped out before the weekend (Image: Backgrid)
Although Moranis’ retirement from Hollywood was reported years ago, the actor set the record straight in a 2015 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, explaining that he has become more “selective” about the roles he takes on now.
“I took a break that turned into a longer break,” he told the publication. “But I’m interested in anything I find interesting.” I still get the occasional inquiry about a film or TV role, and as soon as a role comes up that interests me, I’ll probably do it.’
Although he hasn’t appeared in front of the camera for a long period of time, the actor has kept busy over the years with some voice work — such as Disney’s Brother Bear and its sequel — as he focused on raising his son and daughter as children. Single father.
He had said he found he “didn’t really miss” making films after struggling to do the travel required for them while raising his children.
One of his most famous roles was as Louis Tully in Ghostbusters and its sequel (Photo: Moviestore/Shutterstock) He also appeared as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors in 1986, in addition to The Flintstones, Spaceballs and other films before the last film, where he appeared in front of the camera in 1997 in the film “Honey We have shrunk ourselves” (Photo: Moviestore/Shutterstock)
In the same interview, he confirmed that he would not appear in a supporting role in the 2016 all-female Ghostbusters film like the rest of the original cast because “it doesn’t make sense” for him to “one day shoot something I did 30 years ago.”
Moranis recently made fan Ryan Reynolds “cry with joy” after agreeing to appear in a series of ads in 2020 for Mint Mobile, a phone plan company he owns.
He also made headlines the same year after being violently beaten in an unprovoked attack in New York while walking in Manhattan on a Thursday morning.
The attack occurred on October 1, with surveillance footage showing a man wearing a black T-shirt reading “I (Heart) New York” hitting Moranis with a punch and knocking him to the ground.
The star went to a local hospital with pain in his head, back, and hip, and reported the incident to the NYPD’s 20th District.
After his rep confirmed that the actor was the one who was attacked, a statement said: “Rick Moranis was assaulted on the Upper West Side yesterday.” He’s fine but grateful for everyone’s thoughts and well wishes.
The following month, a suspect in the case was arrested. Marquez Ventura, then 35, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and several other charges involving four other victims in August 2022, the network confirmed. NBC New York.
Moranis also delighted fans that year by signing up to appear in Shrunk, a continuation of his beloved film series alongside Josh Gad, with returning director Joe Johnston.
Moranis suffered a shocking assault in Manhattan in 2020, but reassured fans in the aftermath that he was ‘fine’ and ‘grateful for everyone’s thoughts and well wishes’ (Image: Backgrid) In 2020, it was announced that he would finally return to reprise his role. to Wayne Szalinski for Shrunk, but the project faced several obstacles (Photo: Moviestore/Shutterstock)
However, in June 2023, Gad provided an update on the project’s issues, revealing a series of delays due to the coronavirus, and scheduling and budget issues as well.
“I still think there’s an audience for an actual sequel to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” “I think Rick Moranis is one of the greatest actors and comedians of all time,” the Frozen star added in an update on the project to The Jess Cagle Show on SiriusXM in December.
I’m desperate to bring him out of retirement, so never say never. We’ll see.
He then simply said they were still “talking” about it, after sharing: “The sad thing is that we were actually weeks away from filming it on multiple occasions.” “It’s a lot closer than I think anyone knows.”
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