Actor Ray Liotta has passed away at the age of 67.
Deadline reports the Goodfellas icon died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting his latest film Dangerous Waters.
TMZ was told by a source close to the actor that there is nothing suspicious about his death and no foul play is suspected.
His representative Jennifer Craig confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Liotta was shooting a movie and died in his sleep. She did not have any other details.
He was engaged to be married to Jacy Nittolo who is believed to have accompanied him to the Caribbean set of Dangerous Waters.
Liotta’s breakout role came as wannabe mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorcese’s classic gangster flick Goodfellas.
He starred in Field of Dreams, Youth in Revolt, Guy Ritchie’s Revolver and Marriage Story.
His death came as his acting career was experiencing a resurgence winning critical acclaim for starring as the jazz-loving prisoner Uncle Sal and his twin in the recent Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark.
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
He also starred in Steven Soderbergh‘s No Sudden Move alongside Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, David Harbour and Jon Hamm last year.
He had just finished filming the Elizabeth Banks-directed Cocaine Bear and was due to star in the Working Title film The Substance opposite Demi Moore.
Liotta burst onto the scene in Goodfellas pushing aside heavyweights Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci to take on the lead role in Goodfellas.
“As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster”, the iconic line he will be remembered for in the opening scene as he took on the role of narrator, the blue-eyed and ruggedly handsome Henry Hill.
Liotta’s full acting chops were on show as he portrayed Hill’s rise as a young hood, being put into hysterics by his mobster pals over lavish dinners all the way to his cocaine-fuelled paranoid downfall as the FBI closed in.
The actor didn’t mind people coming up to him asking him to redo famous lines, he said: “People ask if I’m bothered by that but no, Goodfellas will be a top 10 movie for years and years, it seems.
“I have kids coming up to me like the movie’s just come out that week... That and Field Of Dreams. I get a lot of Field Of Dreams lovers too.”
Lorraine Bracco, who played his wife in the hit 1990 movie, said: “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 favourite 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.”
Actress Rosanna Arquette added: “I’m really sad to hear that Ray Liotta has passed away. He was a friend back in the day and it’s very sad. We had a lot of laughs Rest In Peace My friend.”
Liotta leaves behind his daughter Karsen, whom he shares with his ex-wife Michelle Grace, and his fiancee Nittolo.
