Ray Liotta

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16 Feb 2024

Ray Liotta

Raymond Allen Liotta (Italian: [liˈɔtta]; December 18, 1954 – May 26, 2022) was an American actor. He gained initial attention for his performance in the film Something Wild (1986), which earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination. However, he became best known for his roles as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams (1989) and Henry Hill in Goodfellas (1990). Liotta appeared in a wide range of other films, including Unlawful Entry (1992), Cop Land (1997), Hannibal (2001), Blow (2001), John Q. (2002), Identity (2003), Killing Them Softly (2012), The Place Beyond the Pines (2012), and Marriage Story (2019).
In addition to his film work, Liotta won a Primetime Emmy Award for his guest role in the television series ER in 2005. He portrayed 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. Liotta also starred in the series Shades of Blue (2016–2018) and Black Bird (2022), the latter earning him a posthumous Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role as Big Jim Keene at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. He had a prominent voice acting role as Tommy Vercetti in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002).

Raymond Allen Liotta was born in Newark, New Jersey, on December 18, 1954. He was adopted at the age of six months by Mary and Alfred Liotta, who were township clerk and auto-parts store owner, respectively. His adoptive parents, of Scottish and Italian descent, were not successful in local political endeavors. Liotta grew up with an adopted sister, Linda, in Union, New Jersey, in a Roman Catholic household, although religion didn't play a significant role in their lives. He attended church and received sacraments but wasn't particularly devout. After graduating from Union High School in 1973, Liotta went on to study acting at the University of Miami, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1978. During his time at the university, he participated in various theatrical productions.

After college, Liotta moved to New York City, where he worked as a bartender at the Shubert Organization while actively pursuing acting. Within six months, he secured representation and began landing roles. One of his early roles was as Joey Perrini on the soap opera Another World, where he appeared from 1978 to 1981. He then made his film debut in 1983's The Lonely Lady. However, it was his role in Something Wild (1986) that garnered significant attention and earned him his first Golden Globe nomination.
In 1989, Liotta portrayed Shoeless Joe Jackson in the fantasy/drama film Field of Dreams. His breakthrough came the following year when he portrayed real-life mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's acclaimed film Goodfellas. Throughout the 1990s, Liotta continued to deliver notable performances in films such as Unlawful Entry (1992), Cop Land (1997), and Hannibal (2001).

Liotta's versatility was showcased in various genres, from thriller to drama to comedy. He portrayed singer Frank Sinatra in the TV film The Rat Pack (1998) and provided the voice of Tommy Vercetti in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002). His role as Justice Department official Paul Krendler in Hannibal (2001) and as the father of drug dealer George Jung in Blow (2001) further solidified his reputation as a versatile actor.
In the 2000s and beyond, Liotta continued to appear in films and television series, including the dark horror-thriller Identity (2003), the crime comedy Smokin' Aces (2006), and the action comedy Wild Hogs (2007). He also made his Broadway debut in the play Match (2004) and appeared in various television shows, including ER and SpongeBob SquarePants.
His career spanned across decades, showcasing his range and talent in a variety of roles, from dramatic to comedic, solidifying his status as a respected actor in Hollywood.

In the 2010s, Liotta continued to maintain a busy and diverse acting career, appearing in a range of films and television projects. He starred alongside Steve Carell in the comedy Date Night (2010) and appeared in the drama Charlie St. Cloud (2010) with Zac Efron. He also had roles in independent films such as Snowmen and The River Sorrow, where he portrayed a detective alongside Christian Slater and Ving Rhames.
In 2012, Liotta starred in the crime thriller Killing Them Softly alongside Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini, as well as in the biographical crime thriller The Iceman, where he portrayed the character Roy DeMeo. He also had a supporting role in the comedy film Muppets Most Wanted (2014).
Liotta's versatility was further showcased in various projects, including the faith-based film The Identical (2014), the crime thriller Kill the Messenger (2014) with Jeremy Renner, and the action-comedy Stretch (2014) with Chris Pine. He also starred in the Western miniseries Texas Rising (2015) for The History Channel and narrated the AMC docu-series The Making of the Mob (2015-2016).

From 2016 to 2018, Liotta starred opposite Jennifer Lopez in the crime drama series Shades of Blue, portraying a corrupt NYPD detective. In 2019, he delivered a memorable performance as divorce attorney Jay Marotta in Noah Baumbach's acclaimed film Marriage Story, earning praise for his portrayal.
Liotta continued to be active in film, portraying twin brothers in the crime drama The Many Saints of Newark (2021), a prequel to The Sopranos. He also appeared in Cocaine Bear (2023), a thriller directed by Elizabeth Banks, based on a true story about a bear that ingested cocaine. The film was dedicated to Liotta's memory following his passing in May 2022. Throughout his career, Liotta left a lasting impact on audiences with his versatile performances across various genres.