'Boardwalk Empire' actor Michael Stuhlbarg was attacked by a homeless man carrying rocks near Central Park

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by Joe Marino And Isabel Kane

“Boardwalk Empire” actor Michael Stuhlbarg was randomly attacked with a rock by a homeless man near Central Park on the Upper East Side on Sunday evening, police said.

The 55-year-old man was walking near East 90th and East Drive around 7:45 p.m. when 27-year-old Xavier Israel hit him in the back of the neck with a rock, causing a scratch, police said Monday.

He was attacked less than two miles from where his “Boardwalk Empire” character, Arnold Rothstein, was shot to death on the HBO drama series.

Israel, who is homeless, had previously been arrested for two attacks as well as a robbery, all of which occurred in January 2022, police and sources said.

He had been on parole for attempted robbery at the time of the attack.

Following the attack, Stuhlbarg pursued Israel, who was quickly arrested by police stationed outside the Russian consulate on 9E. 91st Street. Police said Israel was taken into custody without incident and charged with assault.

A witness later told police that she saw Israel pick up the rock and throw it into a crowd of people.

Law enforcement sources said at the time that surveillance camera footage in 2022 showed Israel beating and stealing the wallet of a good Samaritan man who had given him his coat on a cold January morning.

He was later arrested after taking approximately $1,500 from the stranger.

The attack was also the second time in a week that Israel has turned on someone trying to provide assistance.

A few days ago, he beat up a 49-year-old woman, who was said to be trying to help him. Sources told the newspaper that Israel was arrested, charged with assault, and released under a warrant to report to the office.

Israel allegedly assaulted two other victims — a man and a woman — on January 2 inside Central Park, according to sources.

He is accused of randomly hitting the 18-year-old youth while they were sitting on a rock inside the green space.

Israel was also charged with assault in the Central Park incident.

Stuhlbarg refused medical help because of pain and bruising to the back of his neck, police and sources said.

The Post has reached out to his representatives for comment.

Stuhlbarg was in New York before starring in “Patriots,” a Broadway play by “The Crown” creator Peter Morgan about the rise of Vladimir Putin.

He will play the role of Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky in the play, which begins its initial performances on Monday.