Ray Liotta biography, age and cause of death, daughter, height, family

Biography of Ray Liotta

Ray Liotta was a renowned American actor whose filmography spans over a hundred different projects. Most of these were action films, detective stories, crime dramas, and psychological thrillers. His most significant films include the legendary mafia epic "Goodfellas," "Revolver," "Hannibal," "Blow," "Identity," and "Smokin' Aces."

The star of more than a hundred films – the outstanding actor Ray Liotta

Childhood

Ray Liotta was born on December 18, 1954, in Newark. His biological parents, unable to care for him, placed him in an orphanage. When Ray was six months old, an Italian-American family with stable finances adopted both him and a girl named Linda. Ray's adoptive mother Mary worked as an office employee, while his father Alfred owned a small auto parts store. Both parents were also active in local politics, though they never held official positions.

Ray Liotta had a comfortable childhood. He and his sister wanted for nothing, enjoying privileges their peers could only dream of. In school, Ray was interested in athletics and even considered a professional sports career. His perspective shifted after visiting the University of Miami, where he enrolled following his 1973 high school graduation.

In his youth, Ray Liotta was a real sex symbol

He chose the drama department. He spent most of his time honing his craft and dreaming of an acting career. During this time, he made his debut on the stage of the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre.

Acting Career

After graduating, Ray moved to New York and quickly landed his debut role in the soap opera "Another World" (1978). Playing Joe Perrini, the rising actor captivated viewers for three years.

Ray Liotta's First Role – the series 'Another World'

This success led to roles in the series adaptation of "Casablanca" (1983), the medical drama "St. Elsewhere," and "Crazy Times," among others.

Best Of Ray Liotta On Another World

Ray's big break came in 1986 when he starred alongside Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels in the comedy-drama "Something Wild." Playing Ray Sinclair, the volatile ex-husband of the main character, he earned a Golden Globe nomination that put him firmly on Hollywood's radar.

Ray Liotta talks about his first film role in 1986 Something Wild

He then took on the role of young medic Eugene, forced to care for his mentally challenged brother ("Dominick and Eugene"), as well as Shoeless Joe, the legendary American baseball player, in the comedy "Field of Dreams" with Kevin Costner in the lead role.

'Field of Dreams': One of Ray Liotta's First Roles

That's when Martin Scorsese took notice of Ray Liotta while casting his biographical gangster drama "Goodfellas." Liotta snagged the lead role of Henry Hill, a real-life criminal known for his audacious heists. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci played his gangster associates, Jimmy Burke and Tommy DeSimone.

Young Ray Liotta in the Thriller 'Goodfellas'

The film was a massive hit, even going head-to-head with Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather Part III" that same year. "Goodfellas" raised the bar for every gangster film that followed, and Ray Liotta instantly became one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors.

The Ray Liotta Laugh in Goodfellas

The following year, Liotta teamed up with Kurt Russell in "Unlawful Entry," playing the menacing cop Pete Davis who transforms an ordinary couple's life into a living nightmare. Another significant role awaited him in 1994 as the courageous Captain Joe Robbins, who escaped from a future prison in the sci-fi action film "No Escape."

Throughout the late '90s and early 2000s, Liotta stayed busy with back-to-back projects. He headlined films almost every year, primarily action and crime thrillers: "Unforgettable," "Turbulence," "Cop Land," where his partner was Sylvester Stallone, "Phoenix," "The Rat Pack," "Forever Mine," and "Pilgrim." An exception to his usual genre was the touching drama "A Rumor of Angels," where Ray Liotta played a widowed man who had forgotten about his 12-year-old son.

A Shot from the Movie 'A Rumor of Angels'

The actor experienced a surge of popularity in 2001 with the thriller "Hannibal." The film served as an unofficial sequel to the cult classic "The Silence of the Lambs," with the inimitable Anthony Hopkins reprising his role, while Julianne Moore replaced Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling. Ray Liotta played Paul Krendler, an inspector from the Department of Justice—not a leading role, but definitely memorable.

Ray Liotta's Role in 'Hannibal' Was Spectacular

He also appeared in the epic drama "Blow," where Ray Liotta played Fred Jung, the father of Johnny Depp's character. Depp played one of the most notorious drug dealers in history.

Ray Liotta in Blow

In 2002, Ray Liotta voiced the main character in "GTA: Vice City," playing gangster Tommy Vercetti. The game became a hit, earning the actor the "G-Phoria" award for "Best Male Voice Performance."

Ray Liotta Voiced Tommy Vercetti from GTA Vice City

2003 brought another standout Ray Liotta film—the psychological thriller "Identity." He played a cop trapped with a dozen strangers. A string of mysterious murders destroys their trust in each other. The role demanded all of Ray Liotta's psychological depth and nuance, and his efforts paid off—the film earned high praise from critics and audiences.

In 2005, the actor appeared in the acclaimed TV series "ER" (episode "Time of Death"), which follows brave doctors willing to do whatever it takes to save their patients' lives. His portrayal of terminally ill patient Charlie Metcalf earned Ray an Emmy for "Best Guest Actor." That same year, Guy Ritchie's "Revolver" premiered, with Ray Liotta once again playing the villain—crime boss Dorothy Macha.

At age 52, he appeared in the crime thriller "Smokin' Aces." His companions were Ryan Reynolds, Andy Garcia, and Jeremy Piven. The film follows a former criminal who risks everything to testify against his boss in court. In 2007, Liotta played a fearless biker in the comedy "Wild Hogs." The story follows four friends living out their long-held dream of riding motorcycles.

In 2007, Ray Liotta Transformed into a Biker

From this point on, his filmography shifted toward more comedic roles. He appeared in an episode of the children's series "Hannah Montana" with a young Miley Cyrus, joined Seth Rogen in the film "Observe and Report," and starred in the touching family movie "Snowmen."

'Hannah Montana': Ray Liotta and Miley Cyrus

But he never forgot his "true calling." His final major works included the chilling story of serial killer Richard Kuklinski ("The Iceman," 2012), Robert Rodriguez's brutal masterpiece ("Sin City: A Dame to Kill For," 2014), and the complex CIA-drug trafficking thriller ("Kill the Messenger," 2014).

Ray Liotta in 'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For'

In 2015, Liotta appeared alongside Anthony Hopkins and Julia Stiles in the atmospheric psychological thriller "Blackway." The story follows Lillian, a woman who becomes the target of a rapist who's been terrorizing the town without consequence.

In 2016, Ray Liotta starred alongside Jennifer Lopez in the crime series "Shades of Blue," where he played the enigmatic Lieutenant Matt Wozniak.

Ray Liotta on the Set of 'Shades of Blue'

Ray Liotta's Personal Life

Ray Liotta kept his personal relationships largely private. In 1997, he married actress Michelle Grace, whom he met at a baseball game. Another story has them meeting on the set of "The Rat Pack," where Liotta played Frank Sinatra.

Michelle Grace and Ray Liotta in their youth

The following year, their daughter Karsen Liotta was born. The couple divorced in 2004, and Ray Liotta remained single afterward.

One notable aspect of Liotta's later years was his openness about cosmetic procedures. He underwent chin surgery, Botox injections, and a facelift, though at some point the changes became noticeably unnatural. Eventually, he stepped back from procedures and embraced aging naturally, which didn't diminish his appeal at all.

Ray Liotta before and after plastic surgery

Death

On May 26, 2022, Ray Liotta passed away at the age of 67. He died of a heart attack in his sleep at his hotel in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming "Dangerous Waters."

The official cause of death was respiratory failure caused by pulmonary edema. He was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark, and his Hollywood Walk of Fame star was unveiled posthumously.