Intense was the word for Ray Liotta. He specialized in psychopathic characters who hide behind a cultivated charm. Even in his nice-guy roles in
Field of Dreams (1989) and
Operation Dumbo Drop (1995), you get the impression that something is smoldering inside of him. He was born in Newark, New Jersey, and was adopted by Mary (Edgar), a township clerk, and Alfred Liotta, an auto parts store owner. He studied acting at the University of Miami, where he became friends with
Steven Bauer (
Scarface (1983),
Thief of Hearts (1984)). He spent his first years acting in TV:
Another World (1964), a TV movie and several short-lived series. He broke into movies with the black comedy
Something Wild (1986), which garnered him rave reviews. Originally unable to get a reading, he was recommended for the part by
Melanie Griffith (then married to Bauer).
Following the success
Something Wild (1986), he received more offers in the "psycho" vein, but refused them to avoid being typecast. Instead, he made "little movies" like
Dominick and Eugene (1988), which earned him standing as an actor's actor, and
Field of Dreams (1989), whose success always surprised him. When he heard
Martin Scorsese was casting
Goodfellas (1990), he lobbied hard for the part of Henry Hill. The film's huge success brought him wide popularity and garnered him star billing in future films such as
Article 99 (1992),
Unlawful Entry (1992), and
Unforgettable (1996).
Liotta died on May 26, 2022, aged 67, in his sleep while filming on location in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.