‘Goodfellas’ Star Ray Liotta Dead at 67
The actor and producer died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic.
He was not on the list.
Actor and producer Ray Liotta, best known for his breakout role in Goodfellas, has died in his sleep at age 67.
“Very sadly, I can confirm,” Liotta’s publicist Jennifer Allen told The Daily Beast on Thursday. “He went to sleep last night and didn’t wake up this morning.”
Deadline Hollywood first reported that the actor died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting a new thriller titled Dangerous Waters.
Following his big break as real-life gangster Henry Hill in the Martin Scorsese-directed classic, the New Jersey-born actor had a lengthy career, most often portraying tough-guy gangsters, federal agents, or police detectives.
In 2016, he starred opposite Jennifer Lopez in the NBC drama Shades of Blue, a dirty-cop role that he credited with putting him back in the public consciousness.
“I’ve done a lot of independent movies that I thought were very good, but it’s hard to get people to see them,” he told reporters in 2017. “It reminded people that I know how to do this. I’ve definitely had an up-and-down career, and this has definitely put me back in the public eye.”
While his intense, piercing-blue eyes made him particularly well-suited for playing cops and bad guys, he also had a streak of lighter roles, including guest turns in Muppets from Space, Muppets Most Wanted, Disney shows like Hannah Montana and Phineas & Ferb, as well as Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants.
In recent years, he starred in HBO’s Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark in a dual role as twin gangsters “Hollywood Dick” and Salvatore “Sally” Moltisanti.
Liotta is survived by his fiancée Jacy Nittolo and a daughter, Karsen, from his first marriage to Michelle Grace.
As news of Liotta’s death spread on Thursday, his friends, co-stars, and admirers took to social media to share their grief.
Lorraine Bracco, who played Liotta’s onscreen wife Karen Hill in Goodfellas, wrote on Twitter, “I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray. 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. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta.”
Viola Davis tweeted, “RIP Ray Liotta!! Loved your work,” while Jamie Lee Curtis wrote, “His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad to hear.” Jeffrey Wright shared, “Ray Liotta. Man. Just met dude for the first time last year. GREAT actor. Nice to have had a chance to say that to him. RIP.” James Caan wrote simply, “Not Ray” alongside a broken heart emoji.
Seth Rogen, who starred with Liotta in the 2009 black comedy Observe and Report, tweeted, “I can’t believe Ray Liotta has passed away. He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person. 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. A true legend of immense skill and grace.”
Similarly, actor Alessandro Nivola reflected on acting opposite Liotta in last year’s Sopranos prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark, by sharing a photo on Twitter. “RIP Ray Liotta. I feel so lucky to have squared off against this legend in one of his final roles,” Nivola wrote. “The scenes we did together were among the all time highlights of my acting career. He was dangerous, unpredictable, hilarious, and generous with his praise for other actors. Too soon.”
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1983 The Lonely Lady Joe Heron
1986 Something Wild Ray Sinclair Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (tied with Dennis Hopper for Blue Velvet)
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (3rd place)
Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor (3rd place)
1987 Arena Brains The Artist Short film
1988 Dominick and Eugene Eugene "Gino" Luciano
1989 Field of Dreams Shoeless Joe Jackson
1990 Goodfellas Henry Hill
1992 Article 99 Dr. Richard Sturgess
Unlawful Entry Officer Pete Davis Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Villain
1994 No Escape Captain J.T. Robbins
Corrina, Corrina Manny Singer
1995 Operation Dumbo Drop Captain T.C. Doyle
1996 Unforgettable Dr. David Krane
1997 Turbulence Ryan Weaver
Cop Land Detective Gary "Figgsy" Figgis
1998 Phoenix Detective Harry Collins Also co-producer
1999 Muppets from Space Gate Guard #1 Cameo
Forever Mine Mark Brice
2000 Pilgrim Jack
A Rumor of Angels Nathan Neubauer
2001 Hannibal Paul Krendler
Heartbreakers Dean Cummano / Vinny Staggliano
Blow Fred Jung
2002 Narc Lieutenant Henry Oak Also producer
Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male
Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
John Q Chief Gus Monroe
Ticker FBI Agent Segment for the BMW short film series The Hire
2003 Identity Samuel Rhodes
2004 The Last Shot Jack Devine
Control Lee Ray Oliver Direct-to-DVD
2005 Revolver Dorothy Macha
Slow Burn Ford Cole Also co-executive producer
2006 Even Money Tom Carver
Take the Lead Unknown Executive producer
Local Color John Talia Sr.
Comeback Season Walter Pearce
Smokin' Aces FBI Agent Donald Carruthers
2007 Wild Hogs Jack Blade
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale Gallian
Battle in Seattle Mayor Jim Tobin
Bee Movie Himself (voice)
2008 Hero Wanted Detective Terry Subcott
Powder Blue Jack Doheny
2009 Crossing Over Cole Frankel
Observe and Report Detective Harrison
La Linea Mark Shields Also executive producer
Youth in Revolt Lance Wescott
2010 Crazy on the Outside Gray
Date Night Joe Miletto Uncredited
Snowmen Reggie Kirkfield Also executive producer
Chasing 3000 Adult Mickey
Charlie St. Cloud Florio Ferrente
2011 The Details Peter Mazzoni
The Son of No One Captain Marion Mathers
All Things Fall Apart Dr. Brintall
Street Kings 2: Motor City Detective Marty Kingston Direct-to-DVD
The River Murders Jack Verdon
Field of Dreams 2: Lockout Roger Goodell Short film
The Entitled Richard Nader
2012 Wanderlust Himself Cameo
Killing Them Softly Markie Trattman
Breathless Sheriff Cooley
The Iceman Roy DeMeo
The Place Beyond the Pines DeLuca
Ticket Out Jim
Yellow Afai
Bad Karma Molloy
Dear Dracula Count Dracula (voice) Direct-to-DVD
2013 The Devil's in the Details Dr. Robert Michaels
Pawn Man in the Suit
Suddenly Todd Shaw
2014 Better Living Through Chemistry Jack Roberts
Muppets Most Wanted Big Papa
The Identical Reece Wade Also executive producer
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Joey
Revenge of the Green Dragons FBI Agent Michael Bloom
Stretch Himself Cameo
Kill the Messenger John Cullen
2015 Blackway Blackway
Campus Code Bartender
2016 Sticky Notes Jack
Flock of Dudes Uncle Reed
2019 Marriage Story Jay Marotta
2020 Hubie Halloween[2] Mr. Landolfa
2021 No Sudden Move Frank Capelli
The Many Saints of Newark Aldo "Hollywood Dick" Moltisanti / Salvatore "Sally" Moltisanti
2022 Broken Soldier Mr. Ancilla
TBA El Tonto Not yet released Completed, posthumous release
2023 Cocaine Bear Not yet released Post-production, posthumous release
TBA The Substance Not yet released Posthumous release
Dangerous Waters Not yet released Posthumous release
Clash Not yet released Lowell Posthumous release
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1978–1981 Another World Joey Perrini
1980 Hardhat and Legs Family Television film
1981 Crazy Times Johnny "Wizard" Lazarra Television film
1983 St. Elsewhere Murray Episode: "Rain"
Casablanca Sacha 5 episodes
1984 Mike Hammer Tony Cable Episode: "Kill Devil"
1985 Our Family Honor Officer Ed Santini 10 episodes
1991 Women & Men 2: In Love There Are No Rules Martin Meadows Television film
1995 Frasier Bob (voice) Episode: "Frasier Grinch"
1998 The Rat Pack Frank Sinatra Television film
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2001 Family Guy Zack (voice) Episode: "Brian Does Hollywood"
2001–2002 Just Shoot Me! Himself 2 episodes
2002 Point of Origin John Leonard Orr Television film
2003 Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Ray Liotta/The Donnas"
2004 ER Charlie Metcalf Episode: "Time of Death"
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2006–2007 Smith Bobby Stevens 7 episodes
2008 SpongeBob SquarePants Leader of the Bubble Poppin Boys Gang (voice) Episode: "What Ever Happened to SpongeBob?"
2010 Hannah Montana Principal Luger Episode: "Hannah Montana to the Principal's Office"
2011 The League Mr. Hudabega Episode: "Yobogoya!"
2012 Phineas and Ferb Himself (voice) Episode: "What A Croc!"
NTSF:SD:SUV:: Jason Episode: "Wasilla Hills Cop"
Abominable Christmas Abominable Dad (voice) Television film
2014 The Money George Archer Pilot
2015 Texas Rising Lorca 5 episodes
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2015–2016 The Making of the Mob Narrator (voice) 16 episodes
2016–2018 Shades of Blue Lt. Matt Wozniak 36 episodes
2016 Modern Family Himself Episode: "Playdates"
2017 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Paulie Fiuccillo Episode: "Kimmy Pulls Off a Heist!"
Young Sheldon Vincent Episode: "A Solar Calculator, a Game Ball, and a Cheerleader's Bosom"
2018 Great News Himself Episode: "Early Retirement"
The Simpsons Morty Szyslak (voice) Episode: "King Leer"
2021 Hanna Gordon Evans 6 episodes
2022 Black Bird James "Big Jim" Keene Miniseries, posthumous release
Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Tommy Vercetti G-Phoria Award for Best Male Voice Performance.
Spike Video Game Award for Best Performance.
2013 Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Zombies) Billy Handsome Character featured in the Mob of the Dead zombies map.
2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Tommy Vercetti Archival Recordings
Remaster of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City only.
Theater
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Match Mike Broadway
Music videos
Year Title Album Role
2014 "Lovers on the Sun" Listen by David Guetta The Villain
2015 "Bloodstream" × by Ed Sheeran and Rudimental
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