Ray Liotta, has passed away at the age of 67. The New Jersey native acted in films such as ‘Field of Dreams’ and ‘Goodfellas,’ as well as the video game ‘Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.’
According to TMZ, Liotta died in his sleep while filming a new film called ‘Dangerous Waters’ in the Dominican Republic. Jacy Nittolo, Liotta’s fiancée, was in the Dominican Republic alongside him throughout filming.
“When Ray died, he was working on a project called ‘Dangerous Waters’ in the Dominican Republic. He died peacefully in his sleep. Karsen, his daughter, and Jacy Nittolo, his fiancée, survive him “Jennifer Allen, his publicist, informed CNN.
Liotta was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Alfred and Mary Liotta, who also adopted a daughter, Linda. He attended Union High School, where he excelled in sports, and then went on to the University of Miami to study acting, where he was cast in his first production, “Cabaret.”
Following his graduation from college, Liotta relocated to New York City, where he worked in commercials before landing the role of Joey Perrini on the daytime drama Joey Perrini. From 1978 to 1981, he starred in the television series “Another World.”
In the 1986 Jonathan Demme film “Something Wild,” he played insane ex-con Ray Sinclair, which proved to be a breakout role for the actor.
Following that, Liotta starred alongside Kevin Costner in the box office blockbuster “Field of Dreams” as baseball player “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.
Perhaps his most famous performance was as real-life mobster Henry Hill in the 1990 film “Goodfellas,” in which he starred alongside Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.
On Thursday, Lorraine Bracco, who played Liotta’s wife in “Goodfellas,” paid tribute to him.
In a tweet, Bracco stated, “I am absolutely shattered to hear this dreadful news about my Ray.” “People will approach me from all over the world and tell me that their favorite film is Goodfellas. Then they always want to know what the most enjoyable aspect of making the film was. Ray Liotta, that’s always been my response.”
When questioned by The Guardian in 2021 why he never worked with Scorsese again, Liotta replied, “Because the filmmaker has a habit of using some of the same actors in different movies.” “You’d have to ask him, I’m afraid. But it’s something I’d like to do.”
That’s not to say he didn’t find jobs over the years.
“John Q,” “Blow,” “Operation Dumbo Drop,” “Hannibal,” “Wild Hogs,” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” are among Liotta’s many film and television credits.
More recently, Liotta participated in “The Many Saints of Newark,” a prequel film to the blockbuster television mob series “The Sopranos,” and narrated the TV docuseries “The Making of the Mob.” Liotta played a lot of nasty guys, but it wasn’t his genuine persona.
