Refresh for updates…Tributes to actor Ray Liotta have begun flooding in following the stunning revelation in Deadline of his death today at age 67, with colleagues remembering him not only for his artistic gifts, but also for his character, and a demeanor at odds with that of his most iconic characters.
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Goodfellas director Martin Scorsese wrote: “I’m absolutely shocked and devastated by the sudden, unexpected death of Ray Liotta. He was so uniquely gifted, so adventurous, so courageous as an actor. 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. He absolutely amazed me, and I’ll always be proud of the work we did together on that picture. My heart goes out to his loved ones, and it aches for his loss, way too early.”
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Lorraine Bracco, who played Liotta’s wife in Goodfellas, wrote: “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.”
Goodfellas star Robert De Niro said in a statement: “I was very saddened to learn of Ray’s passing. He is way too young to have left us.”
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Jesse Tyler Ferguson fondly remembered working with Liotta when the actor guest-starred in a 2016 episode of Modern Family. “He was one of the greatest actors of our generation,” Ferguson told Deadline. “The day he was on Modern Family was such a special day. We were really lucky to get a lot of great guest stars, and every once in a while there would be one of his stature that would come in a play with us for the day, and it made us feel so special that they wanted to take the time to come and be with us. He was a movie star, a huge movie star, and I’m just so grateful that he left behind such a beautiful body of work, because that is all we can hope to do with our time on this earth – leave behind something for people to remember us by. And he certainly left a wealth of beautiful performances for us to remember him by.”
“RIP Ray Liotta. I feel so lucky to have squared off against this legend in one of his final roles,” wrote The Many Saints of Newark‘s Alessandro Nivola. “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.”
“Shocking and saddened to hear of Ray Liotta’s passing,” wrote Ford v. Ferrari filmmaker James Mangold. “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. RIP.”
“Ray Liotta. Man. Just met dude for the first time last year. GREAT actor,” wrote Westworld star Jeffrey Wright. “Nice to have had a chance to say that to him. RIP.”
“Ray Liotta has died. His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being,” wrote Everything Everywhere All at Once‘s Jamie Lee Curtis. “A gentle man. So sad to hear.”
Then, there was The Princess Bride‘s Cary Elwes, who remembered Liotta as “an extraordinary talent whose remarkable performances left an indelible mark on the screen.”
Deadline hears that Liotta passed in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting the film Dangerous Waters. We will have share more reactions as they come in…
Too sad to conceive that Ray Liotta has passed. If he’d only made Goodfellas, it would be a credit to retire on. But he was incredible in Cop Land, Narc, Marriage Story & much more, especially his searing debut in Something Wild. His entrance at the end of this scene? Perfection. pic.twitter.com/0IhbRuKx2b
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) May 26, 2022
Ray Liotta was an absolute legend in film and TV — a Primetime Emmy Award Winner and a native of Newark, NJ. His onscreen work touched the lives of so many. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and many fans.https://t.co/HDYMi2IURM
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 26, 2022
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.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 26, 2022
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. pic.twitter.com/3gNjJFTAne— Lorraine Bracco (@Lorraine_Bracco) May 26, 2022
RIP Ray Liotta. I feel so lucky to have squared off against this legend in one of his final roles. 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 pic.twitter.com/FvsV2NNHkw
— Alessandro Nivola (@SandroNivola) May 26, 2022
Shocked and saddened to hear of Ray Liotta’s passing. 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. RIP. pic.twitter.com/O5tueLlBMP
— Mangold (@mang0ld) May 26, 2022
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.
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) May 26, 2022
Ray Liotta has died. His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad to hear.
— Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) May 26, 2022
Very sad to hear the news this morning about the passing of #RayLiotta. An extraordinary talent whose remarkable performances left an indelible mark on the screen. Our deepest condolences to his family. RIP Ray 🙏 https://t.co/WQSlkozT3A
— Cary Elwes (@Cary_Elwes) May 26, 2022
I’m really sad to hear that Ray Liotta has passed away. He was an friend back in the day and it’s very sad. We had a lot of laughs Rest In Peace My friend.
— ✌🏼rosanna arquette (@RoArquette) May 26, 2022
RIP Ray Liotta, 67.
Brilliant actor, loved him in Goodfellas. Sad news. pic.twitter.com/TV9BO419MM— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 26, 2022
RIP GOODFELLA Ray Liotta. I adored you. I love knowing you all those years ago. 😢
— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) May 26, 2022
When I was 19 I worked a Q&A screening for NARC at Arclight. Ray Liotta was incredibly kind to everyone, even the star-struck kid (me) who couldn't help but awkwardly talk to one of his favorite actors. The man is a legend & leaves a long legacy of incredible performances. RIP
— Peter Atencio (@Atencio) May 26, 2022
RIP Ray Liotta
— Jay Baruchel (@BaruchelNDG) May 26, 2022
I’ll never forget how terrifying #rayliotta was in SOMETHING WILD, the first time I’d seen him. Years later I directed him on FAMILY GUY and he was so sweet, almost shy. A magnificent actor. RIP
— David Zuckerman (@David_Zuckerman) May 26, 2022
I try not to do the RIPs but Ray Liotta was truly one of my favorites to watch. 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.
This one stung more than usual.
— devon sawa (@DevonESawa) May 26, 2022
RIP Ray Liotta. Hope they don't serve you egg noodles and ketchup in heaven pic.twitter.com/OeYNlD6MMS
— Matt Oswalt (@MattOswaltVA) May 26, 2022
We are saddened and shocked by the sudden death of SAG Award-nominee Ray Liotta. He gave us legendary performances in Good Fellas, Field of Dreams and so many other films. Our condolences go out to his daughter and fiancée.#sagaftramember since 1977 https://t.co/MjrWOLDsHg
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) May 26, 2022
We're very sad to hear the news of Ray Liotta's passing.
A great actor, Ray starred in #StickyNotes, which premiered at #EIFF in 2016, in a role almost completely unrecognisable from the gangster/mobster roles he was so famously associated with.
RIP Ray pic.twitter.com/Q40Z13tTvq
— Edinburgh Film Fest (@edfilmfest) May 26, 2022
That's range.
RIP Ray Liotta (1954-2022). pic.twitter.com/ALlMy2Saal
— Museum of the Moving Image (@MovingImageNYC) May 26, 2022
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of actor Ray Liotta whose career spanned 5 decades, including roles in Goodfellas, Hannibal and Marriage Story. pic.twitter.com/fwUyibtsub
— BFI (@BFI) May 26, 2022
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