Goodfellas star Ray Liotta, 67, dies in his sleep

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars are “shattered” at the news Goodfellas star Ray Liotta has died suddenly while making a new movie.

Actor Ray Liotta, whose career breakout came in the Martin Scorsese crime classic Goodfellas, has died.

The 67-year-old passed away in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was shooting the film Dangerous Waters, entertainment website Deadline reports.

The legendary actor was reportedly halfway through recording the movie about a sailing holiday spiralling out of control. It is not yet clear what he died of or when but there is understood to be no suspicion of foul play.

Liotta leaves behind a daughter, Karsen, who he shares with his ex-wife. He was engaged to Jacy Nittolo, a mum of four.

Liotta announced their plans to marry on Christmas in 2020

“Christmas wishes do come true. I asked the love of my life to marry me, and thank God she said yes!!!” he wrote on Instagram at the time.

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Actor Ray Liotta has died. Picture: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images.

Ray Liotta attends the "Marriage Story" New York Premiere at Paris Theatre on November 10, 2019. Picture: John Lamparski/Getty Images.

Liotta embarked on a huge career resurgence in recent years, staring alongside up and coming thespians such as Taron Egerton.

But he was perhaps best known for his standout performance in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 classic Goodfellas, where he played Henry Hill alongside Robert De Niro who took on the role of Jimmy Conway.

Goodfellas: Ray Liotta (left) with director Martin Scorsese (second from right) and Robert De Niro (centre) with Joe Pesci (right) and Paul Sorvion (back).

Ray Liotta unveils his cabin sign as a tribute for his career along the Promenade des Planches during the 40th Deauville American Film Festival on September 9, 2014 in Deauville, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

He also featured in The Many Saints of Newark, Marriage Story and No Sudden Move in more recent years.

Liotta recently spoke about how his personality differed from the tough-guy roles he played in TV and film. “I have never been in a fight at all, except for during sports, and that’s just pushing and goofy kid stuff,” he told People magazine in November.

“It’s weird how this business works, because I’ve definitely had a career that’s up and down. For some reason, I’ve been busier this year than I have in all the years that I’ve been doing this. And I still feel I’m not there yet. I just think there’s a lot more.”

Ray Liotta in 2014. (Photo by ROBYN BECK / AFP)

Tributes to Ray Liotta pour in

The beloved film star’s sudden death has shocked fans, fellow actors, celebrities and politicians, with many flooding social media to pay tribute to him on Thursday afternoon.

Lorraine Bracco, who starred with Liotta in Goodfellas said she was “utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray”.

We are saddened and shocked by the sudden death of SAG Award-nominee Ray Liotta. He gave us legendary performances in Good Fellas, Field of Dreams and so many other films. Our condolences go out to his daughter and fiancée.#sagaftramember since 1977 https://t.co/MjrWOLDsHg

— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) May 26, 2022

I can’t believe Ray Liotta has passed away. He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person. Working with him was one of the great joys of my career and we made some of my favorite scenes I ever got to be in. A true legend of immense skill and grace.

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 26, 2022

Ray Liotta has died. His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad to hear.

— Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) May 26, 2022

so sad to hear of the passing of @rayliotta ... he was so kind to me... praying for his family pic.twitter.com/TiQfOhSIFp

— Harry Connick Jr (@HarryConnickJR) May 26, 2022

One of the sweetest men I ever met. Such a sad loss.

Ray Liotta, "Goodfellas" Actor and Emmy Winner, Dead at 67 https://t.co/XnR9TAO5wS

— Harvey Fierstein (@HarveyFierstein) May 26, 2022

“I can be anywhere in the world and people will come up and 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.”

Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson worked with Liotta on a 2016 episode of the sitcom.

“He was one of the greatest actors of our generation,” he told Deadline.

“I’m just so grateful that he left behind such a beautiful body of work, because that is all we can hope to do with our time on this earth – leave behind something for people to remember us by”.

Seth Rogen said Liotta was “a lovely, talented and hilarious person. A true legend of immense skill and grace”.