Ray Liotta
{{Short description|American actor (1954–2022)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ray Liotta
| image = Ray Liotta Deauville 2014 3.jpg
| caption = Liotta in September 2014
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1954|12|18}}
| birth_place = Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|05|26|1954|12|18}}
| death_place = Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| resting_place = Mount Pleasant Cemetery
| education = University of Miami (BFA)
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|film producer}}
| years_active = 1978–2022
| spouse = {{marriage|Michelle Grace|1997|2004|end=divorced}}
| partner =
| children = 1
}}
Raymond Allen Liotta ({{IPA|it|liˈɔta|lang}}; December 18, 1954 – May 26, 2022) was an American actor. He first gained attention for his role in the film Something Wild (1986), which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination. He was best known for his portrayals of Shoeless Joe Jackson in the film Field of Dreams (1989) and Henry Hill in the film Goodfellas (1990). Liotta appeared in numerous other films, including Unlawful Entry (1992), Cop Land (1997), Hannibal (2001), John Q., Narc (both 2002), Identity (2003), Killing Them Softly, The Place Beyond the Pines (both 2012), and Marriage Story (2019).
Liotta won a Primetime Emmy Award for his guest role in the television series ER in 2005. He starred as Frank Sinatra in the television film The Rat Pack (1998) and Lorca in the miniseries Texas Rising (2015), both of which earned him Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, and starred in the series Shades of Blue (2016–2018) and Black Bird (2022). The latter garnered him a posthumous Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role as Big Jim Keene at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. He had a prominent role as Tommy Vercetti in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002).
After his death in 2022, Liotta was posthumously recognized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 24, 2023. His films that were released posthumously include Cocaine Bear, Fool's Paradise, Dangerous Waters (all 2023), and 1992 (2024).
Early life and education
Liotta was born in Newark, New Jersey, on December 18, 1954.{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/ray-liotta-9542538 |title=Ray Liotta Biography: Film Actor, Television Actor, Television Personality (1954–) |publisher=Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks) |access-date=December 18, 2016 |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526201124/http://www.biography.com/people/ray-liotta-9542538 |url-status=live}} Having been abandoned at an orphanage, he was adopted at the age of six months by township clerk Mary (née Edgar) and auto parts store owner Alfred Liotta.{{cite web |title=Ray Liotta |url=http://www.lifetimetv.co.uk/biography/biography-ray-liotta |website=Biography |publisher=Lifetime TV |access-date=September 12, 2014 |archive-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520121403/http://www.lifetimetv.co.uk/biography/biography-ray-liotta |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Raymond Liotta – United States Public Records, 1970–2009|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QJNK-271B|website=FamilySearch|access-date=September 12, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Mary E Liotta – United States Public Records, 1970–2009|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KGRN-FNR|website=FamilySearch|access-date=September 12, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024713/https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KGRN-FNR|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=https://www.elmundo.es/loc/celebrities/2022/05/26/628fb112fdddffd4688b45ce.html | title=Ray Liotta: Abandonado por sus padres biológicos, una tragedia en el rodaje de 'Uno de los nuestros' y padre de una sola hija | date=May 26, 2022 }} His adoptive parents were Scottish and Italian Americans.{{cite web | url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/film/news/a10295/ray-liotta-interview/ | title=Ray Liotta: What I've Learned | date=July 13, 2016 }} Alfred was a personnel director and president of a local Democratic Party club. His adoptive parents each unsuccessfully ran for local political office; he recalled attending parades to hand out flyers for his father's run.{{cite web|url=http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800023967/bio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115075314/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800023967/bio|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 15, 2006|title=Ray Liotta|access-date=July 7, 2009|publisher=Movies.yahoo.com}}
Liotta had a sister, Linda, who was also adopted. He said that he knew that he was adopted as a young child, and presented a show-and-tell report.{{cite web|last1=King|first1=Larry|title=Ray Liotta|url=http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/ray-liotta-0_16c9q31w9n8n|website=Larry King Now|publisher=Ora|access-date=September 6, 2014|date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=September 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906225936/http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/ray-liotta-0_16c9q31w9n8n|url-status=live}} He hired a private detective to locate his biological mother, named Ruth, in the 2000s, from whom he learned his family was of Scottish descent.{{cite news|last1=Whitty|first1=Stephen|title=Ray Liotta on 'Goodfellas,' mob movies, Jersey and more|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/11/ray_liotta_on_goodfellas_mob_m.html|access-date=September 12, 2014|work=The Star-Ledger|date=November 25, 2012|archive-date=September 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912135432/http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/11/ray_liotta_on_goodfellas_mob_m.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Ray Liotta Is Glad He Met His Biological Mother|url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/10/06/ray_liotta_is_glad_he_met_his_biological|website=Star Pulse|access-date=September 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202922/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/10/06/ray_liotta_is_glad_he_met_his_biological/|archive-date=October 29, 2013|date=October 6, 2006}}{{Contradictory inline|date=February 2025}} He had one biological sister, one biological half-brother also named Ray, and five biological half-sisters.{{cite news|last1=Evans|first1=Suzy|title=Ray Liotta Filmed 'The Identical' Because of His Own Adoption Experience|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ray-liotta-filmed-identical-because-730109|access-date=September 6, 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 4, 2014|archive-date=September 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907020629/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ray-liotta-filmed-identical-because-730109|url-status=live}}
Liotta grew up in a Roman Catholic household in Union, New Jersey,{{cite news|last1=Kratch|first1=James|title=Football previews, 2012: Union|url=http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/football/index.ssf/2012/09/football_previews_2012_union.html|access-date=September 12, 2014|work=The Star-Ledger|date=September 1, 2012|archive-date=September 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912141341/http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/football/index.ssf/2012/09/football_previews_2012_union.html|url-status=live}} although his family was not especially religious.{{cite news|last1=Nsenduluka|first1=Benge|title=Ray Liotta on 'The Identical', Being Adopted and Safety Concerns After Playing a Snitch in 'Goodfellas'|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/ray-liotta-on-the-identical-being-adopted-and-safety-concerns-after-playing-a-snitch-in-goodfellas-125615|access-date=September 12, 2014|work=Christian Post|date=August 29, 2014|archive-date=September 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912140812/http://www.christianpost.com/news/ray-liotta-on-the-identical-being-adopted-and-safety-concerns-after-playing-a-snitch-in-goodfellas-125615/|url-status=live}} They attended church and he received first communion and was confirmed, but the family did not pray much. He occasionally used prayer in his daily life, telling an interviewer, "... if I'm in a fix, I'll pray ... if I'm feeling uncomfortable about something, I'll say "Our Fathers" and "Hail Marys" to this day." In 1973, he graduated from Union High School, and was later named to the Union High School Hall of Fame.{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Dick |title=Actor Ray Liotta, star of "Goodfellas" and more, dies at 67 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/actor-ray-liotta-dies-at-67/ |access-date=May 27, 2022 |work=www.cbsnews.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527054039/https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/actor-ray-liotta-dies-at-67/ |archive-date=May 27, 2022}}
Liotta attended the University of Miami, where he studied acting and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1978.{{cite news|last1=Marr|first1=Madeleine|title=Ray Liotta dug deep to play a preacher in 'The Identical'|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/09/05/4328233/ray-liotta-dug-deep-to-play-a.html|access-date=September 6, 2014|work=Miami Herald|date=September 5, 2014|archive-date=September 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906223124/http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/09/05/4328233/ray-liotta-dug-deep-to-play-a.html|url-status=live}} He performed in plays and musicals, including Cabaret, Dames at Sea, Oklahoma, and The Sound of Music, at the University of Miami's Jerry Herman Ring Theatre.{{cite web|last1=Camilleri|first1=Ricky|title=Ray Liotta LIVE|url=http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/ray-liotta-the-identical/53f20d3a02a76097e90005ab|website=Huffington Post|access-date=September 12, 2014|format=Video interview|date=September 4, 2014|archive-date=September 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912141120/http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/ray-liotta-the-identical/53f20d3a02a76097e90005ab|url-status=live}}
Career
File:Ray Liotta, Winona Ryder, Michael Shannon TIFF 2012.jpg, and Michael Shannon at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival for the premiere of The Iceman]]
After graduating from the University of Miami, Liotta moved to New York City, where he was hired as a bartender at the Shubert Organization and landed an agent within six months. One of his earliest roles was as Joey Perrini on the soap opera Another World, on which he appeared from 1978 to 1981.{{cite news |last1=Respers |first1=Lisa France |last2=Melas |first2=Chloe |title=Ray Liotta, 'Goodfellas' star, is dead at 67 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/26/entertainment/ray-liotta-dead/index.html |access-date=May 27, 2022 |work=CNN |date=May 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526205455/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/26/entertainment/ray-liotta-dead/index.html |archive-date=May 26, 2022}} He left the show and moved to Los Angeles. He made his film debut in 1983's The Lonely Lady. His first major acting role was Something Wild (1986),{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-16-ca-1277-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Nikki|last=Finke|title=Not Your Typical Wise Guy: Why Ray Liotta had a tough time getting a deal he didn't want to refuse—a leading role in Martin Scorsese's Mafia movie, 'GoodFellas'|date=September 16, 1990|access-date=November 18, 2012|archive-date=November 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101040843/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-09-16/entertainment/ca-1277_1_ray-liotta|url-status=live}} for which he received his first Golden Globe nomination, this nomination being for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.{{cite web|url=http://www1.hfpa.org/browse/member/29970 |title=HFPA—Awards Search |access-date=July 7, 2009 |publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225714/http://www1.hfpa.org/browse/member/29970 |archive-date=September 26, 2007}} In 1989, Liotta played the ghost of baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson in the fantasy/drama film Field of Dreams.{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/4/23/5640792/field-of-dreams-worst-baseball-film-of-all-time-25th-anniversary|title='Field of Dreams': Worst baseball film of all time|first=Steven|last=Goldman|date=April 23, 2014|website=SBNation.com|access-date=March 5, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044224/https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/4/23/5640792/field-of-dreams-worst-baseball-film-of-all-time-25th-anniversary|url-status=live}}
In 1990, Liotta portrayed real-life mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's universally praised and commercially successful Academy Award winning film Goodfellas. In 1992, he starred as a psychopathic cop in the thriller Unlawful Entry. He appeared in a leading role in the 1994 science-fiction/action film No Escape. In 1995, he starred in the war comedy film Operation Dumbo Drop. In 1996, he starred in the sci-fi/thriller Unforgettable. Liotta earned critical praise for his turn in James Mangold's 1997 film Cop Land, and he received critical praise in 1998 for his performance as a compulsive gambler in Phoenix.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-04-ca-19288-story.html|title=Liotta Arises as a Winner in Hard-Hitting 'Phoenix'|last=THOMAS|first=KEVIN|date=September 4, 1998|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 7, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=October 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204222/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/sep/04/entertainment/ca-19288|url-status=live}}
Liotta portrayed singer Frank Sinatra in the 1998 TV film The Rat Pack (for which he received a Screen Actors Guild award nomination). He starred as himself in the sitcom Just Shoot Me! in December 2001. In October 2002, he provided the voice of Tommy Vercetti for the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. He appeared in the television drama ER in 2004, playing Charlie Metcalf in the episode "Time of Death".
The ER role earned Liotta an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Liotta later spoofed himself and his Emmy win in Bee Movie). Liotta starred in the 2006 CBS television series Smith, which was pulled from the schedule after three episodes. In 2012, Liotta appeared as himself in a purely vocal role for the "What a Croc!" episode of the Disney Channel comedy series Phineas and Ferb.{{cite news |last=Seemayer |first=Zach |date=September 20, 2013 |title=Exclusive: Remini Cleans Up on 'Phineas and Ferb' |url=https://www.etonline.com/tv/138640_Leah_Remini_on_Phineas_and_Ferb |work=Entertainment Tonight |access-date=September 12, 2014 |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926201032/http://www.etonline.com/tv/138640_Leah_Remini_on_Phineas_and_Ferb/ |url-status=live}}
Liotta played the Justice Department official Paul Krendler in the 2001 film Hannibal opposite Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore. Also in 2001, he played the father of drug dealer George Jung in the film Blow. In 2002, he appeared as Detective Lieutenant Henry Oak in the Joe Carnahan-directed film Narc, a role that led to an Independent Spirit Award nomination and a Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards nomination for Best Supporting Male.{{cite news |last=Hendrix |first=Steve |date=January 12, 2003 |title=Ray Liotta, Hanging Tough |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/2003/01/12/ray-liotta-hanging-tough/102ffdf1-5f63-48fa-a3dc-dbca1ed3db59/ |work=The Washington Times |access-date=September 12, 2014 |archive-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715102237/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/2003/01/12/ray-liotta-hanging-tough/102ffdf1-5f63-48fa-a3dc-dbca1ed3db59/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050323005567/en/Phoenix-Film-Festival-Announces-2005-Showcase-Events |title=Phoenix Film Festival Announces 2005 Showcase Events; Arizona's Largest Film Festival Celebrates its 5th Anniversary with Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Tom Arnold and More ... |date=March 23, 2005 |website=Business Wire |access-date=September 12, 2014 |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711205827/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050323005567/en/Phoenix-Film-Festival-Announces-2005-Showcase-Events |url-status=live }}
He reunited with director James Mangold in 2003, alongside John Cusack and Alfred Molina, in the dark horror-thriller Identity. In 2005, he narrated Inside the Mafia for the National Geographic Channel. In 2006, he appeared in Smokin' Aces—reuniting with Narc director Carnahan, in which he portrayed an FBI agent named Donald Carruthers in one of the lead roles.{{cite news |last=Scott |first=A. O. |date=January 26, 2007 |title=Smokin' Aces |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/movies/26smok.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=December 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208175759/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/movies/26smok.html |url-status=live }} In 2004, Liotta made his Broadway debut opposite Frank Langella in the Stephen Belber play Match.{{cite news|last1=Gans|first1=Andrew|title=Frank Langella to Join Ray Liotta for Broadway's Match|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/frank-langella-to-join-ray-liotta-for-broadways-match|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140914193731/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/frank-langella-to-join-ray-liotta-for-broadways-match|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2014|work=Playbill|date=November 14, 2003}}{{cite web|title=Match – Stephen Belber|url=http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=3457|website=Dramatists Play Service|access-date=September 14, 2014|year=2004|archive-date=February 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209155413/http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=3457|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Gardner|first1=Elysa|title=Langella, Liotta make almost perfect 'Match'|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/2004-04-08-match-review_x.htm|access-date=September 14, 2014|work=USA Today|date=April 8, 2004|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100134/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/2004-04-08-match-review_x.htm|url-status=live}} Ben Brantley of The New York Times described Liotta as "compelling" but "doesn't have much to work with for his Broadway debut."{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/09/movies/theater-review-a-folksy-eccentric-who-s-got-a-secret.html|title= THEATER REVIEW; A Folksy Eccentric Who's Got a Secret|website= The New York Times|date= April 9, 2004|accessdate= May 30, 2022|last1= Brantley|first1= Ben}} That same year he appeared in an advertisement for Heineken in the UK. The ads were eventually pulled by Ofcom "in breach of the advertising code for implying that stronger alcohol is better."{{cite news |last1=Whitehead |first1=Jennifer |title=Ray Liotta Heineken campaign breaks alcohol ad rules |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/ray-liotta-heineken-campaign-breaks-alcohol-ad-rules/218334 |access-date=May 27, 2022 |publisher=Campaign Live |date=August 2, 2004}}
In 2007, Liotta appeared with John Travolta in the film Wild Hogs, and in Battle in Seattle as the city's mayor. In 2008, he starred in Hero Wanted as a detective alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. Also in 2008, he made a guest appearance on the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "What Ever Happened to SpongeBob?". In the episode, he voices the leader of a gang called the Bubble Poppin' Boys, who try to kill an amnesiac SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny).{{cite web|author=Moody, Annemary|title=Ray Liotta To Guest Star In SpongeBob Special Oct. 13|url=http://www.awn.com/news/television/ray-liotta-guest-star-spongebob-special-oct-13|publisher=Animation World Network|access-date=May 12, 2018|date=September 25, 2008|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203081015/http://www.awn.com/news/television/ray-liotta-guest-star-spongebob-special-oct-13|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Ray Liotta guesting on Nickelodeon's 'SpongeBob SquarePants'|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/ray-liotta-guesting-on-nickelodeons-%CB%9Cspongebob-squarepants/|work=Media Life Magazine|access-date=May 12, 2018|date=September 26, 2008|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203025650/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/ray-liotta-guesting-on-nickelodeons-%CB%9Cspongebob-squarepants/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Ray Liotta Voices Criminal on Spongebob Squarepants|url=http://www.babble.com/cs/famecrawler/2008/10/04/ray-liotta-voices-criminal-on-spongebob-squarepants/|website=Babble.com|access-date=May 30, 2013|date=October 4, 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628171934/http://www.babble.com/cs/famecrawler/2008/10/04/ray-liotta-voices-criminal-on-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=June 28, 2013}} In 2009 he appeared in Crossing Over, co-starring Harrison Ford. Liotta played Detective Harrison in the 2009 Jody Hill comedy Observe and Report as Seth Rogen's nemesis from the local police. In 2011, he starred in The Son of No One, opposite Channing Tatum and Al Pacino.{{cite news |last=DeFore |first=John |date=January 29, 2011 |title=SUNDANCE REVIEW: 'The Son of No One' Is a Buried-Secret Cop Drama Full of Holes |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/sundance-review-son-no-suffers-94230 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=July 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722205317/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/sundance-review-son-no-suffers-94230 |url-status=live }}
In the 2010s, Liotta appeared in Date Night with Steve Carell, in Charlie St. Cloud with Zac Efron, the independent drama Snowmen, and The River Sorrow, which stars Liotta as a detective alongside Christian Slater and Ving Rhames. He starred alongside Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini in the 2012 Andrew Dominik film Killing Them Softly{{cite news|title=One Bad Turn Deserves Another|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/movies/killing-them-softly-with-brad-pitt-from-andrew-dominik.html|access-date=June 9, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 29, 2012|last=Scott|first=A. O.|archive-date=January 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110170643/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/movies/killing-them-softly-with-brad-pitt-from-andrew-dominik.html|url-status=live}} and the 2012 Ariel Vromen film The Iceman features Liotta as the character of Roy DeMeo.{{cite news|title=Ray Liotta: 'I like Brad. I admire his whole career'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/06/ray-liotta-brad-pitt-iceman|access-date=June 9, 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=June 6, 2013|author=Alex Godfrey|location=London|archive-date=September 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906132915/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/06/ray-liotta-brad-pitt-iceman|url-status=live}} He had a supporting role in Muppets Most Wanted (2014).{{cite news |last=Zuckerman |first=Esther |date=March 19, 2014 |title=A Guide to the Most Obscure 'Muppets Most Wanted' Cameos |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2014/03/guide-most-obscure-muppets-most-wanted-cameos/359341/ |work=The Atlantic |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711171802/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2014/03/guide-most-obscure-muppets-most-wanted-cameos/359341/ |url-status=live }}
In 2014, he played a preacher in the faith-based film The Identical.{{cite news|last1=Richford|first1=Rhonda|title=Deauville: Ray Liotta Reflects on Career, Box Office Beating of 'The Identical'|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/deauville-ray-liotta-reflects-career-731662|access-date=January 6, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=February 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218063223/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/deauville-ray-liotta-reflects-career-731662|url-status=live}} His other 2014 projects include Kill the Messenger with Jeremy Renner, Stretch with Chris Pine, and a David Guetta video. He starred in the Western miniseries Texas Rising for The History Channel in 2015. For his performance he earned a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie nomination. From 2015 to 2016, he narrated the AMC docu-series The Making of the Mob.{{cite news|last1=Neale|first1=April|title=AMC's 8-Part Event 'Making Of The Mob: New York' With Ray Liotta Kicks Off 'Mob Mondays'|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/amcs-8-part-event-making-of-the-mob-new-york-with-ray-liotta-kicks-off-mob-mondays|access-date=January 6, 2016|work=Monsters & Critics|date=April 10, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103122353/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/amcs-8-part-event-making-of-the-mob-new-york-with-ray-liotta-kicks-off-mob-mondays/ |archive-date=January 3, 2016}} Liotta starred opposite Jennifer Lopez in Shades of Blue between 2016 and 2018.{{cite news |last=Hammond |first=Pete |date=June 16, 2016 |title=Jennifer Lopez & Ray Liotta on Redefining Police Procedurals With 'Shades of Blue' -Emmys |url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/shades-of-blue-jennifer-lopez-ray-liotta-nbc-emmy-interview-1201772882/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616231516/http://deadline.com/2016/06/shades-of-blue-jennifer-lopez-ray-liotta-nbc-emmy-interview-1201772882/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/jennifer-lopez-pays-tribute-to-ray-liotta/|title=Jennifer Lopez Remembers Her Late 'Partner in Crime' Ray Liotta: 'I Felt Lucky to Have Him'|work=People|first=Joelle|last=Goldstein|date=May 26, 2022|access-date=June 8, 2022}} In 2018, he became a spokesperson for Pfizer's Chantix advertising campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/actor-ray-liotta-joins-pfizer-s-ad-campaign-for-chantix-featuring-real-people-who-quit-smoking|title=Goodfellas star Ray Liotta's new line? A quit-smoking pitch for Pfizer's Chantix|last=Bulik|first=Beth Snyder|publisher=FiercePharma|date=July 6, 2018|access-date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=May 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505195350/https://www.fiercepharma.com/actor-ray-liotta-joins-pfizer-s-ad-campaign-for-chantix-featuring-real-people-who-quit-smoking|url-status=live}}
Liotta appeared as Charlie Barber's (Adam Driver) second divorce attorney, Jay Marotta in the 2019 Noah Baumbach film Marriage Story.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=October 31, 2019 |title=Ray Liotta & Laura Dern Praise Noah Baumbach For Netflix's 'Marriage Story' – The Contenders London Video |url=https://deadline.com/video/marriage-story-ray-liotta-laura-dern-david-heyman-praise-noah-baumbach-contenders-video/ |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}} The film received critical acclaim and earned six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. Liotta received praise for his performance with Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian declaring, "what a thrill to hear his syrupy-gravelly voice again". The Hollywood Reporter described Liotta as being in "fine, mischievous form".{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/marriage-story-review-1234560/|title= Marriage Story Review|website= The Hollywood Reporter|date= August 29, 2019|accessdate= May 30, 2022}} In 2021, he played twin brothers "Hollywood Dick" Moltisanti and Salvatore "Sally" Moltisanti in the film The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to the HBO crime drama series The Sopranos.{{cite web |date=October 4, 2021 |title=Ray Liotta Explains Why He's Playing Two Roles in 'The Many Saints of Newark' After Passing on a 'Sopranos' Role |url=https://decider.com/2021/10/04/ray-liotta-the-many-saints-of-newark-sopranos-role/ |website=Decider}}
Liotta appeared in Cocaine Bear, a thriller film based on the true story of an American black bear that ingested a duffel bag full of cocaine in 1985. The movie, released in theaters in February 2023, is directed by Elizabeth Banks and traces the aftermath of a drug runner's cocaine disappearing in a plane crash and being devoured by a bear.Horner, Al. "Beyond the Chaos of Cocaine Bear" – Elizabeth Banks: "[Ray] gave a beautiful speech when we wrapped about how special it was to be in Ireland. He's so known for being Italian but he'd done his heritage tree and found out he was actually Irish. The speech he gave brought some members of the crew to tears." Empire, January 2023 (cover-dated February 2023). The movie was dedicated to his memory.
Personal life
File:RayLiottaTIFFSept2012.jpg
Liotta married Michelle Grace, an actress and producer, in February 1997 after they met at a baseball game, where her former husband Mark Grace was playing for the Chicago Cubs.{{cite news|last1=Longsdorf|first1=Amy|title=Ray Liotta finds intense adrenaline rush in 'Narc'|url=http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/MP/20030122/TMP05/301229966|access-date=January 6, 2016|work=Pottstown Mercury|archive-date=November 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119204947/http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/MP/20030122/TMP05/301229966|url-status=live}} They had a daughter before divorcing amicably in 2004.
On an episode of Jay Leno's Garage, Liotta revealed that Nancy and Tina Sinatra once sent Liotta a fake horse's head in the mail. The joke was in response to Liotta's declining to play their father in a miniseries they were working on, only to see Liotta play him in the 1998 HBO television film The Rat Pack.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/ray-liotta-frank-sinatra-daughters-mailed-horse-head|work=Fox News|title=Ray Liotta reveals why Frank Sinatra's daughters mailed him a horse head|first=Jessica|last=Napoli|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105162719/http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/ray-liotta-frank-sinatra-daughters-mailed-horse-head|url-status=live}}
In February 2007, he was charged with driving under the influence after crashing his Cadillac Escalade into two parked vehicles in Pacific Palisades.{{cite web|title=Under The Influence|publisher=CBS News|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/under-the-influence/15|access-date=July 15, 2015|archive-date=July 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716025145/http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/under-the-influence/15/|url-status=live}} He pleaded no contest.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2007/12/14/monitor|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|title=News Monitor|first=Adam|last=Markovitz|access-date=August 18, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924064828/http://www.ew.com/article/2007/12/14/monitor|url-status=live}}
From his experience shooting the Western Texas Rising, Liotta continued horseback riding and said in September 2014: "I was obsessed with riding horses [on the show]. I love it now. I've never had a hobby. It might be my new hobby."
In May 2017, Liotta, along with talk show host and actress Kelly Ripa, was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
In 2018, while discussing his role alongside Jennifer Lopez as a corrupt cop targeted by the FBI in the NBC crime drama Shades of Blue, Liotta told a reporter for Long Island Weekly:
{{blockquote|You want to do as many different genres as you can and that's what I've been doing. I've done movies with the Muppets. I did Sinatra. I did good guys and bad guys. I did a movie with an elephant. I decided that I was here to try different parts and do different things. That's what it's really all about. That's what a career should be.{{cite news |last1=Gil de Rubio |first1=Dave |title=Ray Liotta: More Than Just A Goodfella |url=https://longislandweekly.com/ray-liotta-more-than-just-a-goodfella/ |access-date=May 27, 2022 |work=Long Island Weekly |date=May 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414082958/https://longislandweekly.com/ray-liotta-more-than-just-a-goodfella/ |archive-date=April 14, 2019}}}}
In 2022, after wrapping up filming of Cocaine Bear, Liotta made a speech and stated that he was known for being Italian, but he did a heritage tree and found that he mostly has Irish ancestry.{{Contradictory inline|date=February 2025}}
Death
Liotta died in his sleep on May 26, 2022, at age 67, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, during the filming of Dangerous Waters.{{cite news |date=May 26, 2022 |title=Goodfellas star Ray Liotta dies aged 67 |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61600212 |access-date=May 26, 2022}}{{Cite news |title=Ray Liotta: A cackling, rugged actor, too dangerous for romantic roles |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/2022/05/26/ray-liotta-a-cackling-rugged-actor-too-dangerous-for-romantic-roles/ |access-date=January 20, 2023 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} At the time of his death, he was engaged to Jacy Nittolo. An autopsy report released in 2023 concluded that Liotta's cause of death was respiratory failure, pulmonary edema, and heart failure, with atherosclerosis cited as an underlying issue.{{cite news |first=Gina |last=Martinez |title=Ray Liotta's cause of death revealed in autopsy report |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ray-liotta-cause-of-death-revealed-atherosclerotic-disease-heart-respiratory-failure/ |newspaper=CBS News |access-date=May 11, 2023 |date=May 8, 2023}}
Liotta was posthumously recognized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 24, 2023, with his daughter collecting the recognition on his behalf.{{Cite news |last=Gilchrist |first=Todd |date=February 23, 2023 |title=Elizabeth Banks, Jennifer Lopez Remember "Original Good Fella" Ray Liotta Ahead of Star's Walk of Fame Honor |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/ray-liotta-walk-of-fame-star-goodfellas-1235530819/ |access-date=March 5, 2023}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
=Video games=
| class = "wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| 2002
| |
| 2013
| Billy Handsome | Character featured in the Mob of the Dead zombies map | {{cite news |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/call-of-duty/a470770/black-ops-2-uprising-dlc-features-ray-liotta-michael-madson/ |title='Black Ops 2: Uprising DLC' features Ray Liotta, Michael Madson |first=Matthew |last=Reynolds |work=DigitalSpy.com |date=April 5, 2013 |accessdate=May 26, 2022}} |
| 2021
| Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition | Tommy Vercetti | Archival recordings | |
=Theater=
| class = "wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Venue ! Ref. |
|---|
| 2004
| Match | Mike |
=Music videos=
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
- {{IMDb name|501}}
- {{IBDB name|117313}}
- [https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a43051745/ray-liotta-tributes/ Ray Liotta: An Oral History] at Esquire magazine
- {{cite news|last1=Tarshis|first1=Joan|title=One on One with Ray Liotta|url= http://www.smokemag.com/0901/cover.htm|access-date=September 14, 2014|work=Smoke Magazine|date=Fall 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205844/http://www.smokemag.com/0901/cover.htm|archive-date=October 29, 2013}}
- {{cite web|url=http://ca.ign.com/articles/2001/03/01/interview-with-ray-liotta| title=IGN: Interview with Ray Liotta|date=March 1, 2001|access-date=July 7, 2009| publisher=IGN.com|last=Keier|first=Helen}}
- {{discogs artist|Ray Liotta}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{EmmyAward DramaGuestActor}}
{{Portal bar|New Jersey|Theatre|Film|Television|United States}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liotta, Ray}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male soap opera actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male video game actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American people of Scotch-Irish descent
Category:American people of Scottish descent
Category:Catholics from New Jersey
Category:Deaths from atherosclerosis
Category:Deaths from congestive heart failure in the United States
Category:Deaths from pulmonary edema
Category:Deaths from respiratory failure
Category:Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute alumni
Category:Male actors from Newark, New Jersey
Category:People from Union Township, Union County, New Jersey
Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners
Category:Spike Video Game Award winners