Ray Liotta, Goodfellas’ star, has passed away in his sleep in a Dominican Republic hotel. He was 67 years old and had just finished filming another movie.
The legendary gangster actor passed away in bed on Thursday in Zona Colonial on the Caribbean island halfway through recording Dangerous Waters, about a sailing holiday spiraling out of control.
A member of the emergency services had entered the hotel to save him, but the body could not be saved. The body was then transferred to Santo Domingo’s forensic institute. It is not believed that foul play was suspected.
Liotta leaves behind his fiance Jacy Nittolo, 46, as well as his daughter Karsen, 23, who he had with ex-wife Michelle Grace.
Actor was seen in LA, March. Onlookers reported that he looked ‘noticeably pale’.
The source added he was ‘slow and steady on his feet’ and Nittolo had to help him by carrying all his bags from the car to the hotel. However, he appeared healthier in photos taken at the beginning of this month.
Tributes flooded in for the beloved film star – who also featured in Field of Dreams – with fellow actors and other celebrities paying their respects to him on Thursday afternoon.
His on-screen wife in Goodfellas Lorraine Bracco said she was ‘utterly shattered’, Josh Brolin posted ‘I always looked up to you’ and Seth Rogan remembered a ‘true legend of immense skill and grace’.
Liotta’s sudden death shocked fans as he was embarking on a huge resurgence in his career recent years, with him staring alongside Taron Egerton in Black Bird later this year.
His acting career has taken off, with him appearing in The Many Saints of Newark as well as Marriage Story and No Sudden Move.
He was most well-known for his performance in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 crime film Goodfellas. In that movie, he played Henry Hill and Robert De Niro played Jimmy Conway.
Goodfellas’ star Ray Liotta (left earlier this month, right in April), has died at home in Dominican Republic. He was filming Dangerous Waters.
Legendary gangster actor, pictured in LA at March’s end, died on the Caribbean island while recording Dangerous Waters. It was about a spiraling sailing holiday that went out of control.
Ray Liotta, the Goodfellas actor, has passed away in Dominican Republic. He was 67 years old and had been filming for a new movie. Photo: Ray Liotta in LA, March 31, 2009.
Ray Liotta and Karsen are pictured at the World Premiere for ‘Muppets Most Wanted’ on March 11, 2014. In Los Angeles
While it’s not clear when or what cause he died, his fiancée Jacy Nittolo and his daughter Karsen have been left behind.
Left: Liotta is pictured with his then wife and producer Michelle Grace. Right: Liotta is pictured with Michelle Grace in New York City in 2002.
His most famous performance is in Martin Scorsese movie Goodfellas (1990). He plays Henry Hill and Robert De Niro takes on Jimmy Conway.
He appeared to be shy about his fame during the 1990s. In recent years, however, he maintained a low profile and has experienced a rebound in popularity. Pictured: Goodfellas
According to Deadline, the star died in his sleep. However, he did not specify when or how. TMZ however stated that there had been no foul play.
Viewpoint’s Jennifer Allen, his publicist, stated that the actor passed away in Dominican Republic while filming Dangerous Waters. Nittolo had been on-location at the time.
The General Direction of Cinema of the Dominican Republic stated that they understood that the husband was with his wife. They asked that her grieving mother be respected.
DailyMail.com received a report from a source saying that Ray appeared slow and unsteady. The valet helped him put on his jacket. He looked pale. His fiancée was carrying all the bags to help him out.’
In an Instagram post, three weeks ago, the actor talked about his new film Cocaine Bear.
He wrote: ‘Cocaine Bear follows an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of the white powder and goes on a coke-fueled rampage seeking more blow — and blood.’
Liotta was a New Jersey native, born in 1954. His mother abandoned him at an orphanage. He was adopted six months later.
Adopted son of an auto-parts shop proprietor and town clerk, he insisted that he had never considered acting as a career while growing up in Newark.
Following graduation, he settled in New York City where he became a barman. He was then cast as Another World in 1980.
Liotta became famous as Ray Sinclair (an ex-con) in the 1986 black comedy Something Wild. He was nominated for a Golden Globe.
He would go on to play the role of Shoeless Joe Jackson, in Field Of Dreams in 1989. However, he is perhaps best remembered for portraying Henry Hill in Goodfellas alongside Robert De Niro (directed by Martin Scorsese)
But the actor did not shy away from fame, appearing to keep a low profile in the 1990s. He made a comeback however in more recent times.
While it’s not clear how or when he died, the cause of his death is believed to have been accidental. However, no foul play is suspected. Jacy, his fiancée, and Karsen (his daughter), who he was married to, are both his.
Liotta was spotted in LA, March. Onlookers reported that he looked ‘noticeably pale’.
Sources said that he was slow, steady, and able to walk. Nittolo helped him carry all of his belongings from his car to his hotel room.
DailyMail.com received a report from a source saying that Ray appeared slow and unsteady. As he put his jacket on, he was pale. His fiancée was carrying all the bags to help him out’
Three weeks ago, the actor spoke via social media. He posted an Instagram message in which he promoted his movie Cocaine Bear.
Liotta was a New Jersey native, but was left by his mother in an orphanage after he was born. He was adopted six months later. He is pictured with Nittolo in March
The star’s beloved friend Devon Sawa received many tributes on Friday. He said: “I try to not do the RIPs, but Ray Liotta truly was one of my favorite to watch.
Goddfellas is still tied with Aliens for my favorite movie. It stung me more than normal.
Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas Costar) was his wife and he said that Lorraine Bracco, his Goodfellas co-star, stated: “His Goodfellas counterpart Lorraine Bracco said, “I’m utterly shocked to learn this horrible news about Ray.
‘I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. They then ask me what the most rewarding part about making this movie. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta.’
Josh Brolin stated, “My friend.” My friend. You are so young! Why? I’ll miss you. You will always be in my thoughts, thinking about Gold’s and discussing what’s next.
‘I always looked up to you — the work was always so good, but the man you were always stood out among the rest of them. Your friendship will always be a part of my heart. I will miss you, pal. ‘Till we meet again.
Helena Christensen wrote: ‘Oh man what an immense actor he was ♥️.’ Joe Pantoliano said: ‘WHAT!!!! No! Omg! Ray came into my mind as I watered the lawn today. Oh no! RIP RAY RAY…’
Viola Davis stated: RIP Ray Liotta. I loved your work. Jamie Lee Curtis wrote: “His acting work showed his humanity as a person. A gentle man. This is so disappointing to hear.
Rosanna Arquette wrote that Ray Liotta died. His friendship was very close back in those days and that’s why it is so sad. Our friendship was full of laughter.
Jeffrey Wright said: ‘Ray Liotta. Man. I met this dude last year for the first-time. He is a great actor. It was a pleasure to be able to share that with him. RIP.’
Mangold said, “Shocked to learn of Ray Liotta’s death.” He was more than just a tough guy with tightly wound emotions and a strong exterior. He was also incredibly sweet and playful, and he was an excellent actor.
Former costars: Jennifer Love Hewitt, who worked with Liotta on the 2001 film Heartbreakers, shared a sweet tribute as she said, ‘I’m heart broken. It was a wonderful time and I treasure the memories that we shared. We will miss you. The actress posted a photograph of an olive tree and a broken heart emoticon.
His tribute to Ray: Lorraine Bracco (his Goodfellas co-star) said that she was shocked by the terrible news. I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. They then ask me what the most rewarding part about making that film. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta’; seen left in Goodfellas and right in 2012
The actor, who starred in more than 80 films, revealed more about his life in a rare interview with Esquire magazine in 2016.
He explained that he was an adopted child and didn’t realize who he really was. My mother and my father, who I consider to be Scottish and Italian, are both Scottish.
‘I did locate my birth mother, but she claimed she was an amalgam of several things. And when I tried to ask her about her Dad’s identity she would not even mention it. It seemed like nothing had ever happened.
He said, “If I had not become an actor, I would have gone into construction.” Construction was always what I envisioned. These were the jobs that I did during summer. A chain of auto stores was also owned by Dad.
“I did not know that my college professor wanted me to run the company until I had graduated. After I expressed an interest in another field, he told me that he was sick of this and that he would move into politics.
But I did not know that he was asking me to be his boss. He had it in his head, but I didn’t like it. It still bothers me to this day.
While filming on location for Dangerous Waters in Dominican Republic, he fell asleep and died.
Along with Odeya Rush, Saffron burrows and Euphoria Rush, the feature movie starred Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy) as Eric Dane. They were announced only a few weeks earlier, around the start of May.
According to the synopsis, the film is about a sailing trip that spirals out of control when a teenager discovers the dark past of her father’s boyfriend.
Deadline reports that producers were reportedly pitching their project to potential buyers at the Cannes Film Festival this month.
Dangerous Waters wasn’t the only project on Liotta’s docket at the time he died.
You can see him in Black Bird’s upcoming TV drama. He also recently finished two movies, El Tonto (Cocaine Bear) and El Tonto (El Tonto).
Ray was also involved in Dangerous Waters and two additional films: The Substance (April 29, 1992) and The Substance (April 29, 1992). His role in Dangerous Waters is not certain. It’s also unclear whether his filming has been finished.
Tragic: Jacy Nittolo, a mother of four who Ray got engaged to in December 2020, was said to be with the film star while Dangerous Waters was being recorded
Liotta is pictured here in December together with his acting instructor. Liotta also appeared in The Many Saints of Newark and Marriage Story, as well as No Sudden Move.
Liotta is pictured here with Frankie Avalon February. He rose to stardom, became an international celebrity for Goodfellas. In which he played Henry Hill, a crook who was infiltrated with the Italian-American Mafia.
Liotta (pictured October) was born New Jersey, 1954. He was left by his mother in an orphanage. Six months later, Liotta was adopted.
TV: And he worked from 2016 until 2018 on the NYPD cop show Shades Of Blue with Drea de Matteo (pictured) and Jennifer Lopez
Also a TV Star: From 2016 to 2018, he worked on Shades Of Blue, the NYPD cop series with Jennifer Lopez. Right, seen in an embrace back in 2016.
He spoke out about his regrets in 2016 regarding the way he managed his career. This included turning down an audition to Tim Burton’s Batman film.
‘I wish I’d handled my career differently but, you know, hindsight…’ he said at the time. When I was making my first movie, Tim Burton had just finished Batman. Burton wanted the film to feel real and serious.
‘I thought, ‘Batman? He had just finished Beetlejuice, which is one of my favorite movies. It’s true, it was a regretful decision not to audition for this.
A varied career was his, including a 1998 TV film The Rat Pack in which he played Frank Sinatra.
2004 was the year Liotta’s Broadway debut with dramatic comedy Match. He also appeared in comedies like 2010’s Date Night, two Muppets movies and in dramas such as 2012’s The Iceman or 2014’s Sin City : A Dame To Kill for.
Henry Hill, despite his vast career, is still an actor that audiences continue to be familiar with. The actor didn’t mind the association, saying to PA, “People ask me if that bothers you but Goodfellas is a top-10 movie for many years.”
‘I have kids coming up to me like the movie’s just come out that week… That and Field Of Dreams. Field Of Dreams is a favorite of mine.
Liotta was a regular in Marriage Story and No Sudden Move, and she starred with Taron Egerton and Taron in Apple TV’s upcoming series Black Bird.
Sky’s Shades Of Blue also featured him. It was a drama about a New York detective, Jennifer Lopez. Lopez plays a single mom to a teenage girl who is caught by the FBI in an incriminating situation.
After turning down an original role, Liotta appeared in 2021’s Sopranos prequel film The Many Saints Of Newark.
Recently, he completed filming Cocaine Bear directed by Elizabeth Banks. It is expected to be released next February.
The Substance star, which will also feature Demi Moore as Margaret Qualley was also reported to be the New Jersey-born actor.
Liotta was not only an actor, but he also served as the narrator on documentary series The Making Of The Mob. Liotta starred in several music videos, including David Guetta’s Lovers On The Sun.
Liotta is leaving behind Karsen his daughter with Michelle Grace and Nittolo.
Lorraine Bracco played Karen Friedman Hill’s role in Goodfellas. She said that she was shocked to learn the terrible news about her ex-star.
Sharing a photo of them on Twitter, she added: ‘I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas.
“Then, they ask me what the most rewarding part about making this movie. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta.’