Rick Moranis trending on Twitter as FBI searches for January 6 riot suspect who resembles the star

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‘Is that Rick Moranis?!’ Social media users notice a striking resemblance between MAGA rioter and actor from Spaceballs in FBI issued photo

  • FBI posted a photo of a different man who allegedly participated in the riot at the US Capitol building
  • Suspect wearing helmet and glasses bears some resemblance to the actor in his his role in the the 1987 Star Wars spoof ‘Spaceballs’
  • Toronto-born actor was in the news when a stranger punched him outside his Manhattan apartment in October
  • Twitter users post messages asking, ‘Hasn’t Rick Moranis suffered enough?’

An FBI hunt for a Rick Moranis lookalike who took part in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot made the actor a trending topic on social media Sunday. 

Moranis was trending on Twitter after the FBI posted a photo of a different man who allegedly participated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol building, the New York Post reported.

Photos of the man wanted for questioning by federal investors show he bears some resemblance to the actor, especially in his role in the hit comedy ‘Spaceballs.’

‘You can help the #FBI identify individuals involved in the January 6 violence at the U.S. Capitol,. Visit http://tips.fbi.gov if you recognize this person. Reference photo 268 in your tip,’ the FBI tweeted Sunday alongside two photos of the man.

Twitter users quickly noted the similarities between the helmeted, bespectacled suspect and the Toronto-born star. And of course if the FBI actually were looking for Moranis, it’s presumed they could find him.

On Twitter, people responded to the resemblance by the dozens with screenshots of the 1987 Star Wars spoof ‘Spaceballs,’ in which Moranis played a glasses- and giant helmet-wearing parody of Darth Vader called ‘Dark Helmet.’

The FBI issued a tweet Sunday seeking information about a man involved in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot. The post drew the attention of film fans who noticed the suspect's resemblance to actor Rick Moranis in the hit comedy film 'Spaceballs'

The FBI issued a tweet Sunday seeking information about a man involved in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot. The post drew the attention of film fans who noticed the suspect’s resemblance to actor Rick Moranis in the hit comedy film ‘Spaceballs’

WANTED: A closeup of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot suspect sought by the FBI. The federal law enforcement agency's tweet says, 'You can help the #FBI identify individuals involved in the January 6 violence at the U.S. Capitol'

WANTED: A closeup of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot suspect sought by the FBI. The federal law enforcement agency’s tweet says, ‘You can help the #FBI identify individuals involved in the January 6 violence at the U.S. Capitol’

WANTED: A video still shows another angle of the man wanted for questioning by the FBI in its investigation into the Capitol riot

WANTED: A video still shows another angle of the man wanted for questioning by the FBI in its investigation into the Capitol riot

THE REAL RICK: Twitter and other social media exploded with pictures from Rick Moranis's movies, above, after an apparent lookalike was posted as wanted by the FBI

THE REAL RICK: Twitter and other social media exploded with pictures from Rick Moranis’s movies, above, after an apparent lookalike was posted as wanted by the FBI

THE ACTOR: Rick Moranis on the Disney+ program 'Prop Culture.' The actor is known for comic characters in films including 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,' 'Strange Brew' and 'Ghostbusters'

THE ACTOR: Rick Moranis on the Disney+ program ‘Prop Culture.’ The actor is known for comic characters in films including ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,’ ‘Strange Brew’ and ‘Ghostbusters’

One of the many Twitter responses to the FBI post seeking information on a suspect sought for questioning in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The tweet references a line from Moranis' character in 'Ghostbusters'

One of the many Twitter responses to the FBI post seeking information on a suspect sought for questioning in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The tweet references a line from Moranis’ character in ‘Ghostbusters’

A response to the FBI's tweet seeking information about a suspected Jan. 6 rioter references the 1986 Rick Moranis comedy "Little Shop of Horrors'

A response to the FBI’s tweet seeking information about a suspected Jan. 6 rioter references the 1986 Rick Moranis comedy ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Moranis is known for other hit films including ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,’ ‘Parenthood,’ ‘Strange Brew’ and ‘Ghostbusters.’

Referencing Moranis’ role as a florist with a man-eating plant in the 1986 film, ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ one Twitter user responded to the FBI with the message, ‘Hey I think that guy did something to my dentist! He works at a little shop down the street, and he has this weird plant!’ 

Rick Moranis and his man-eating plant in the 1986 film, 'Little Shop of Horrors'

Rick Moranis and his man-eating plant in the 1986 film, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Rick Moranis and Marcia Strassman in the 1989 Disney film, 'Honey, I Shrunk The Kids'

Rick Moranis and Marcia Strassman in the 1989 Disney film, ‘Honey, I Shrunk The Kids’

Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis in the 1984 science-fiction comedy 'Ghostbusters'

Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis in the 1984 science-fiction comedy ‘Ghostbusters’

Moranis also was in the news in October when a stranger punched him outside his Manhattan apartment. Video footage showed the actor walking near Central Park West when a man suddenly strikes him in the head, knocking him to the ground.

Marquis Ventura, 36, was charged with felony assault for the alleged attack on Moranis.

Ventura also was accused of randomly attacking other strangers last year, including the owner of a liquor store in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan before stealing a bottle of champagne.

The new attention on Moranis led more than one Twitter commentator on Sunday to remark, ‘Hasn’t Rick Moranis suffered enough?’

A stranger punches 67-year-old 'Spaceballs' star Rick Moranis in the head in unprovoked attack on NYC's Upper West Side in October

A stranger punches 67-year-old ‘Spaceballs’ star Rick Moranis in the head in unprovoked attack on NYC’s Upper West Side in October

Marquis Ventura, 36, was charged with felony assault for the alleged attack on Moranis

Marquis Ventura, 36, was charged with felony assault for the alleged attack on Moranis

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