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

Biography of Ray Liotta

Ray Liotta is a famous American actor with a filmography that includes over a hundred different projects. Most of these are action films, detective stories, crime, and psychological thrillers. Some of the most significant films featuring Ray Liotta include the legendary mafia film "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 support him, left him at an orphanage for homeless children. When Ray was six months old, a family with Italian roots and a stable financial situation adopted 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. Additionally, both parents actively participated in the city's political life, although they never held any official positions.

Ray Liotta's childhood wasn't difficult. He and his sister lacked nothing; they had everything their peers could only dream of. In school, Ray was interested in athletics and even considered a professional sports career. His perspective on life changed after visiting the University of Miami, where he enrolled after graduating high school in 1973.

In his youth, Ray Liotta was a real sex symbol

He chose the drama department. Most of his time was spent honing his skills 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, where he soon debuted in the soap opera "Another World" (1978). Transforming into Joe Perrini, the budding actor delighted the series' viewers for three years.

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

This was enough for the young actor to be offered a role in the series adaptation of "Casablanca" (1983), the TV show about the daily life of doctors "St. Elsewhere," the drama "Crazy Times," and others.

Best Of Ray Liotta On Another World

A significant breakthrough occurred in 1986 when Ray Liotta appeared alongside Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels in the comedy-drama "Something Wild." He played Ray Sinclair, the recently released ex-husband of the main character. This role earned him a Golden Globe nomination, which didn't go unnoticed in the world of "big cinema."

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

At this point, Martin Scorsese noticed Ray Liotta while casting for his new film, the biographical gangster drama "Goodfellas." The actor landed the leading role of Henry Hill, a criminal famous for a series of daring heists. His gangster friends, Jimmy Burke and Tommy DeSimone, were played by Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.

Young Ray Liotta in the Thriller 'Goodfellas'

The film was a resounding success, even competing with the third part of "The Godfather" by Francis Ford Coppola, released the same year. "Goodfellas" set a high standard for the many gangster films that followed, and Ray Liotta quickly became one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood.

The Ray Liotta Laugh in Goodfellas

The following year, Liotta met Kurt Russell on the set of "Unlawful Entry," transforming into the ruthless cop Pete Davis, who turned an ordinary couple's life into a 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."

In the late '90s and early 2000s, the actor spent a lot of time on set. Films where he played the lead were released every year, mostly 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'

A new wave of popularity hit the actor in 2001 with the release of the thriller "Hannibal." The film was an unofficial sequel to the cult movie "The Silence of the Lambs," with the inimitable Anthony Hopkins reprising his role, while Jodie Foster was replaced by Julianne Moore as Clarice Starling. Ray Liotta played Paul Krendler, an inspector from the Department of Justice—a not leading but memorable character.

Ray Liotta's Role in 'Hannibal' Was Spectacular

Viewers also saw him 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, while working on the game "GTA: Vice City," Ray Liotta voiced the main character, gangster Tommy Vercetti. The game was successful, and the actor was awarded the "G-Phoria" prize for "Best Male Voice Performance."

Ray Liotta Voiced Tommy Vercetti from GTA Vice City

In 2003, another notable film with Ray Liotta was released—the psychological thriller "Identity." He portrayed a cop trapped with a dozen strangers. A series of mysterious murders forced them to lose trust in each other. For this role, Ray Liotta had to use all his psychological tricks and nuances, but the efforts were not in vain—the film was highly praised by critics and viewers.

In 2005, the actor appeared in the acclaimed TV series "ER" (episode "Time of Death"), which tells about brave doctors ready to do everything possible to save their patients' lives. For the role of terminally ill patient Charlie Metcalf, Ray was awarded an Emmy as "Best Guest Actor." The same year, Guy Ritchie's "Revolver" premiered, where Ray Liotta once again transformed into a "bad guy," crime boss Dorothy Macha.

At 52, he appeared in the crime thriller "Smokin' Aces." His companions were Ryan Reynolds, Andy Garcia, and Jeremy Piven. Viewers were invited to plunge into a story about a former criminal who dared to testify against his boss in court. In 2007, Liotta took on the role of a fearless biker in the comedy "Wild Hogs." The plot revolved around four friends fulfilling their long-held dream of riding motorcycles.

In 2007, Ray Liotta Transformed into a Biker

From this point, his filmography began to feature 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

However, he didn't forget his "true calling." Among his last major works are the story of the highly original serial killer Richard Kuklinski ("The Iceman," 2012), Robert Rodriguez's masterpiece full of brutality and violence ("Sin City: A Dame to Kill For," 2014), and the intricate tale involving the CIA and drug traffickers ("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 plot follows a woman named Lillian who becomes the victim of a rapist terrorizing the entire town with impunity.

In 2016, Ray Liotta and Jennifer Lopez took on the lead roles in the crime series "Shades of Blue," playing the enigmatic Lieutenant Matt Wozniak.

Ray Liotta on the Set of 'Shades of Blue'

Ray Liotta's Personal Life

Little is known about the relationships of the talented actor Ray Liotta. In 1997, he married actress Michelle Grace, whom he met at a baseball game. According to another version, they met on the set of the movie "The Rat Pack," where Liotta played Frank Sinatra.

Michelle Grace and Ray Liotta in their youth

The following year, a wonderful girl named Karsen Liotta was born. The couple divorced in 2004, and since then, Ray Liotta has enjoyed the status of a bachelor.

As for the intriguing details of Ray Liotta's life, it is known that the actor has frequently sought the help of plastic surgeons. He had chin surgery, Botox injections, and a facelift, and at some point, the changes became too obvious and unnatural. After that, the actor slowed down and embraced aging, which, by the way, did not diminish his charm in the least.

Ray Liotta before and after plastic surgery

Death

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

The cause of death was attributed to respiratory failure triggered by pulmonary edema. The actor was buried in Newark, at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, and his star on the Walk of Fame was unveiled posthumously.