Ray Liotta, 'Goodfellas' star and gifted character actor, dies at 67
Ray Liotta, the actor best known for playing mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's crime classic "Goodfellas," has died.
He was 67.
Liotta died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming a movie called "Dangerous Waters," according to his publicist, Jennifer Allen.
In an acting career that spanned four decades, Liotta established himself as one of the most dependable tough-guy performers in Hollywood, skilled at portraying cops and criminals in films like "Something Wild," "Cop Land" and "Killing Them Softly."
Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta in 'Goodfellas'. Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection
But he occasionally showed off a warmer side, endearing himself to audiences as the ghost of baseball giant Shoeless Joe Jackson in "Field of Dreams," opposite Kevin Costner.
"Goodfellas" was indisputably the high-water mark of his career, however, providing him with a juicy lead role in a decade-spanning mafia epic. He portrayed Henry Hill, a real-life mob associate who gets swept up in the thrill and glamour of the criminal underworld.t
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Daniel Arkin is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on popular culture and the entertainment industry, particularly film and television.
Diana Dasrath is entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms.