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The world of film and TV is reeling following the unexpected passing of Goodfellas actor Ray Liotta. The 67-year-old was filming for his upcoming film titled Dangerous Waters in the Dominican Republic, when he reportedly passed while he was sleeping.
Liotta's publicist Jennifer Allen confirmed the sad news in a statement to CNN, saying in part, "Ray was working on a project in the Dominican Republic called Dangerous Waters when he passed in his sleep. He is survived by his daughter, Karsen and his fiancée, Jacy Nittolo." Allen also insisted in the statement that there was no suspicion whatsoever of any foul play in the actor's death.
Liotta started acting in the 1970s, and probably hit the zenith of his career with a brilliant performance in Martin Scorsese's 1990 biographical crime smash hit, Goodfellas. Interestingly, however, that would remain the one and only time that he got to work with the accomplished director for the rest of his career.
Both Liotta and Scorsese would go on to enjoy immense success individually after Goodfellas. As fate would seemingly have it, these accomplishments were enjoyed on divergent paths. It was not for the lack of desire on the part of the actor, however.
'Goodfellas' Is Considered One Of The Best Films Of All Time
Martin Scorsese is known for his frequent collaborations with actors he gelled with well. Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro are perhaps the most illustrious examples of this, having worked with them in the making of films like Raging Bull, Casino, and most recently, The Irishman.
De Niro and Pesci were also part of the cast of Goodfellas, where they joined Liotta in the main roles. The movie was adapted from the nonfiction crime book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, who would also pen the script for the picture. The story revolved around the life of American mafia boss Henry Hill, who also turned into a police informant.
As with most Scorsese projects, Goodfellas was very well received by audiences and critics alike. At the 1991 Academy Awards, the movie was nominated in six categories, with Pesci winning for Best Actor.
As time has passed, the legend of Goodfellas has continued to grow, to the extent that it is now considered one of the best motion pictures of all time.
Why Did Ray Liotta And Martin Scorsese Not Collaborate Again After 'Goodfellas'?
Ray Liotta sat down for an interview with the Guardian last year, and the question of why he had never joined hands with Martin Scorsese on any projects since Goodfellas was put to him. Like most other people, his answer was pretty much to the effect that there was no concrete reason for this turn of events.
"I don’t know why [it hasn't happened]," Liotta said when he was asked the question. "You’d have to ask him [Scorsese]. But I’d love to [work with him again]." That answer implied that there was no falling out between Liotta and Scorsese, at least not as far as the actor was concerned.
At some point, the New Jersey-born star did, however, have a reputation for being a bit rude and tough to work with. This too, was put to him in the Guardian interview, with a reference to an actress who had said that she had found out some 'not cool stuff' about Liotta.
"It’s all people telling stories, misinformation," Liotta responded to the allegations.
Ray Liotta Suffered A Tragic Experience While Shooting 'Goodfellas'
Working with the likes of Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci was the experience of a lifetime for Ray Liotta. Sadly, he was also having to deal with a tragic scenario in his private life as they filmed Goodfellas, given the fact that his birth mother was suffering from breast cancer.
Liotta was in fact abandoned at an orphanage as a baby, and was adopted by a couple called Alfred and Mary Liotta. When he grew up and became rich and famous, he hired a private detective to locate his birth parents.
He ended up being reconnected to his birth mother, but would end up losing her soon after the release of Goodfellas. The actor confirmed that he used this adversity to fuel his anger for his performance in the movie.
In an old interview with Larry King, Liotta explained that after meeting his birth mother, he was able to see her perspective. "I used to wear being adopted on my sleeve, 'how could you give up a kid,' that sort of thing, but realized when I met her that she had really valid reasons," said Liotta.