Ray Liotta

To celebrate the life of Ray Liotta, Variety is ranking his best performances.

Liotta has often played some semblance of a crooked or damaged police officer, but in Joe Carnahan’s thriller about an undercover narcotics officer trying to solve a murder case, he gets to stretch himself as an actor. The sparring that Dern and Liotta exhibit in the courtroom scene is among the film’s most incredible minutes. Liotta’s villainous cop has more depth than appears on the surface. On the surface, Carnahan’s action ensemble film “Smokin’ Aces” may not attract admirers of the acting craft, but with Liotta, it’s never taken much for him to stand out among his colleagues. James Mangold’s noir thriller stands as one of Sylvester Stallone’s most delicate acting turns, but also shows Liotta’s ability to lift any co-star with whom he shares a scene. Liotta was an Emmy winner for outstanding guest actor in a drama series for his role of Charlie Metcalf on the NBC series “ER” in 2005. I can recall catching Liotta’s attempt to take on the larger-than-life Frank Sinatra in the HBO event film. Because of the cultural impact of Scorsese’s gangster pic, Liotta’s legacy will continue to endure. His effortless transition between a good cop and bad cop was among the best and brightest villainous turns of the 1990s. I can recall sitting in the theater and my sister covering my eyes more than a dozen times due to the film’s sexually graphic scenes. My cinematic introduction to the talented Liotta was when I was eight years old. Intense and commanding, but passionate and endearing, Ray Liotta was one of the great character actors for the last four decades.

A shocker. Ray Liotta, the terrific actor whose career breakout came in the 1990 Martin Scorsese crime classic Goodfellas after co-starring in Field of ...

He had bit parts in telefilms and guested on St. Elsewhere in 1983 before co-starring in Casablanca, a short-lived 1983 NBC prequel series to the classic movie. Directed by Phil Alden Robinson and co-starring Jones, Amy Madigan and Burt Lancaster in his final big-screen role, the film earned three Oscar nominations including Best Picture, which was won by Driving Miss Daisy. Born on December 18, 1954, in Newark, NJ, Liotta studied acting at the University of Miami before landing his Another World role. The film, which Nicholas Pileggi adapted with Scorsese from his book, was nominated for six Oscars, with Pesci getting its lone win. Liotta played a ghostly version of Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, widely considered among Hollywood’s greatest baseball movies. Liotta was on a big resurgence.

According to his publicist, the actor died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting a movie.

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He died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming a movie called “Dangerous Waters,” according to his publicist.

Liotta held his own against Scorsese regulars Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. (Pesci was the only cast member to receive an Academy Award nomination, winning the best supporting actor Oscar in 1991.) But then I realized that what acting is is using your imagination," Liotta told The New York Times for a profile published in 1992. The decades that followed were a mixed bag for Liotta's career. "I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. He made his acting debut in the NBC daytime soap opera "Another World," then struggled to find major Hollywood work. He portrayed Henry Hill, a real-life mob associate who gets swept up in the thrill and glamour of the criminal underworld.

Actor Ray Liotta, who is probably still best known for playing Henry Hill in Goodfellas—and for decades of roles after it that directly wink at his ...

Deadline says that he “died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic” while working on director John Barr’s upcoming film Dangerous Waters. Deadline also refers to his death as “a shocker,” but it doesn’t look like any other information about his cause of death is currently available. In more recent years, Liotta has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence. Actor Ray Liotta, who is probably still best known for playing Henry Hill in Goodfellas—and for decades of roles after it that directly wink at his Goodfellas character—has died.

Hollywood actors, directors and more are honoring Ray Liotta, who died suddenly at age 67.

He just has this magnetic draw to his performances, which is part of the reason Goddfellas remains tied with Aliens as my favorite film(s) ever made. Ray Liotta Dies: ‘Goodfellas’ Star & ‘Field Of Dreams’ Actor Was 67 – Deadline / was privileged to work with and get to know liotta on two films. We had a lot of laughs Rest In Peace My friend. He was an friend back in the day and it’s very sad. We had a lot of laughs Rest In Peace My friend.” He was a friend back in the day and it’s very sad. His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. GREAT actor,” actor Jeffrey Wright wrote. Beyond the tough guy exterior and the tightly wound emotions of his signature characters, he was a sweet, playful and passionate collaborator and brilliant actor. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta. pic.twitter.com/3gNjJFTAne Hollywood tributes are pouring in for Ray Liotta, the distinctive “Goodfellas” actor who died suddenly at 67 years old.

Ray Liotta, the actor known for his roles in "Field of Dreams" and the Martin Scorsese mob classic "Goodfellas," has died.

"For some reason, I've been busier this year than I have in all the years that I've been doing this. "It's weird how this business works, because I've definitely had a career that's up and down," he added. "Ray was working on a project in the Dominican Republic called 'Dangerous Waters' when he passed. My response has always been the same...Ray Liotta." But I'd love to." He is survived by his daughter, Karsen and his fiancée, Jacy Nittolo," his publicist Jennifer Allen told CNN.

The actor died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming a movie.

“He’s very powerful in his stillness. The most notable of those was his portrayal of the gangster Henry Hill in “Goodfellas,” Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed 1990 film. “Ray can be very still, almost like a cat,” the director Howard Deutch told The Times in 1992.

"Goodfellas" actor Ray Liotta, who once lent his voice to a Palm Beach County tourism video, has died at the age of 67.

Liotta's father, Alfred, died in Palm Beach Gardens in 2015 at the age of 98. While studying acting at the University of Miami in the 1970s, Liotta performed in musicals like "Cabaret," "Oklahoma" and "The Sound of Music." Liotta came to Palm Beach County in 2000 to film "Heartbreakers," which was set in Palm Beach. Filming locations included the Breakers, Worth Avenue and neighboring West Palm Beach.

Ray Liotta, a gangster-movie icon who starred in "Goodfellas" and played Shoeless Joe Jackson in "Field of Dreams," has died at 67.

He’d go on to study acting at the University of Miami, and after graduation, he got his first break on the soap opera “Another World.” During his senior year of high school, a drama teacher asked him whether he wanted to be in a play. It’s a tremendous loss and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, fiancée Jacy and daughter Karsen."

The actor reportedly died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he had been shooting the film Dangerous Waters. Liotta's rep Jennifer Craig ...

However, Liotta’s most memorable role will always be that of Henry Hill, the charismatic wiseguy he portrayed in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 mob epic Goodfellas. In the film, based on a true story, Liotta stars as a charismatic Italian-American man rising through the ranks of his local mob, then descending into chaos as the FBI closes in on him. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta.” Liotta, a seasoned actor whose career spanned four decades, turned in a number of memorable supporting performances in the last few years alone.

Chicago White Sox legend Shoeless Joe Jackson was portrayed by Ray Liotta in the amazing movie, Field of Dreams. It was an amazing performance.

There are families across the United States of America that hold Field of Dreams in their hearts forever. In addition to Field of Dreams, Liotta had an incredible 35-year acting career that included some other legendary movies including Goodfellas which is known as one of the greatest movies of all time. In the movie, the character of Shoeless Joe Jackson was incredibly important.

Reactions to the death of “Goodfellas” star Ray Liotta: "I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray. I can be anywhere in the world ...

- “Many Saints of Newark” director and “Sopranos” creator David Chase, in a statement. Too soon.” - Actor Alessandro Nivola, star of “The Many Saints of Newark,” one of Liotta's final films. I was so glad he worked on ‘The Many Saints of Newark' Ray was also a very warm and humorous person. “I was very saddened to learn of Ray's passing. He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta." - Lorraine Bracco, who played Liotta's wife in “Goodfellas,” via Twitter.

According to his publicist, the actor died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting a movie.

The actor is perhaps best known for his role as Henry Hill in the 1990 Martin Scorsese movie Goodfellas, where he helped shape the idea of a gangster movie for years to come. In 2002, he starred in the hit video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, as Tommy Vercetti, a mobster who rises up the ranks of the game's criminal empire. After graduation, he worked small roles in various commercials and TV shows, but his breakout turn was in 1986's Something Wild, directed by Jonathan Demme. He started acting at the University of Miami, where he majored in drama. He was 67 years old. The actor Ray Liotta has died.

Actor Ray Liotta, who rocketed to film stardom in Goodfellas, has died in his sleep at a hotel in the Dominican Republic where he was filming a movie.

LIOTTA: (As Henry Hill) Even before I first wandered into the cabstand for an after-school job, I knew I wanted to be a part of them. And with more than 100 roles to his credit, it would be hard to say he was ever in a career slump. (SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "GOODFELLAS") (SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "GOODFELLAS") (SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "GOODFELLAS") Actor Ray Liotta, who rocketed to film stardom in "Goodfellas," has died in his sleep at a hotel in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming a movie.

Actor Ray Liotta, who rocketed to film stardom in Goodfellas, has died in his sleep at a hotel in the Dominican Republic where he was filming a movie.

LIOTTA: (As Henry Hill) Even before I first wandered into the cabstand for an after-school job, I knew I wanted to be a part of them. And with more than 100 roles to his credit, it would be hard to say he was ever in a career slump. (SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "GOODFELLAS") (SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "GOODFELLAS") (SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "GOODFELLAS") Actor Ray Liotta, who rocketed to film stardom in "Goodfellas," has died in his sleep at a hotel in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming a movie.

Ray Liotta, the actor best known for his roles in "Goodfellas" and "Field of Dreams," has died, multiple outlets reported Thursday.

Liotta died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting the film Dangerous Waters. He was engaged to fiancée Jacy Nittolo, and he was dad to ...

Liotta’s career was under a resurgence; he recently appeared in the Sopranos prequel movie The Many Saints of Newark, the Amazon Prime series Hanna, and also appeared in Marriage Story — for which he shared a 2020 Indie Spirit Award for its ensemble cast. Some of Liotta’s best known roles were in the Jonathan Demme-directed Something Wild (1987) for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. Liotta revealed his engagement to Nittolo, a mom of four, on Christmas in 2020, writing on Instagram, “Christmas wishes do come true.

Martin Scorsese, Lorraine Bracco, Kevin Costner, and Jennifer Lopez are among those reflecting on the actor's life and career.

He is way too young to have left us. Playing Henry Hill in Good Fellas was a tall order, because the character had so many different facets, so many complicated layers, and Ray was in almost every scene of a long, tough shoot. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta.”

The shocking death of Ray Liotta caused an outpouring of grief in Hollywood. Robert De Niro, Lorraine Braco and Kevin Costner are among the stars ...

"When I first heard he took the job on Shades of Blue I was thrilled, and the first time we walked on set to do our first scene together there was an electric spark and a mutual respect and we both knew this was going to be good. While he leaves an incredible legacy, he'll always be 'Shoeless Joe Jackson' in my heart," Costner wrote along with a clip of a the two of them in the film. "Devastated to hear the news of Ray Liotta's passing. "Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. Playing Henry Hill in 'Goodfellas' was a tall order, because the character had so many different facets, so many complicated layers, and Ray was in almost every scene of a long, tough shoot," the statement read. "He was so uniquely gifted, so adventurous, so courageous as an actor.

Reactions to the death of “Goodfellas” star Ray Liotta : “I'm absolutely shocked and devastated by the sudden, unexpected death of Ray Liotta.

— “Many Saints of Newark” director and “Sopranos” creator David Chase, in a statement. Too soon.” — Actor Alessandro Nivola, star of “The Many Saints of Newark,” one of Liotta's final films. I was so glad he worked on ‘The Many Saints of Newark’... Ray was also a very warm and humorous person. “Devastated to hear the news of Ray Liotta’s passing. He absolutely amazed me, and I’ll always be proud of the work we did together on that picture.” —Director Martin Scorsese in a statement. His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human. “I was very saddened to learn of Ray’s passing. He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta." — Lorraine Bracco, who played Liotta's wife in “Goodfellas,” via Twitter. Working with him was one of the great joys of my career and we made some of my favorite scenes I ever got to be in. What a gentle human. “I can’t believe Ray Liotta has passed away.