Ray Liotta, best known for his role in Martin Scorsese’s classic “Goodfellas,” died aged 67, his publicist said yesterday.
“Ray was working on a project in the Dominican Republic called ‘Dangerous Waters’ when he passed. He passed in his sleep. He is survived by his daughter, Karsen, and his fiancée, Jacy Nittolo,” Jennifer Allen told the media.
The Hollywood star began his acting career working in New York commercials before being cast as Joey Perrini in the television soap opera “Another World” from 1978 to 1981.
Liotta then had an acclaimed role in the 1986 Jonathan Demme-directed black comedy “Something Wild,” as crazed ex-con Ray Sinclair. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for that performance.
Two years later, the actor starred in “Dominick and Eugene,” a drama film about two twin brothers with very different personalities and a strained relationship.
Liotta also starred in Corrina with Whoopi Goldberg, Unlawful Entry and Cop Land in the 90s.
The American star was born in Newark, New Jersey. His adoptive parents, Alfred and Mary Liotta, also adopted a daughter, Linda Liotta.
He went to the University of Miami, where he studied theater and participated in “Cabaret,” his first play.
In 2016, Liotta publicly regretted turning down the opportunity to audition for Tim Burton’s Batman. The actor says the director was interested in him when getting ready to make Batman because he wanted the movie to be “edgy and real.”
“I thought, ‘Batman? That’s a stupid idea’, even though he had just done one of my favorite movies of all time, Beetlejuice. So yes, I regret not auditioning for that’,” he said.
Liotta also stars as attorney Jay Marotta in Marriage Story, the critically acclaimed film starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in 2019. He also joined The Sopranos prequel “The Many Saints Of Newark” cast last year despite turning down a role in the original series.
The actor also narrated the documentary series “The Making Of The Mob,” appeared in the music video for David Guetta’s song “Lovers On The Sun,” and recently worked on the film “The Cocaine Bear,” directed by Elizabeth Banks and due for release in 2023.
According to IMDB, Liotta has participated in multiple television and film projects, including Wild Dogs, Hannibal, Operation Dumbo Drop, and John Q.
