Hollywood has paid tribute to Goodfellas actor Ray Liotta and his “incredible legacy” following the news of his sudden death at the age of 67.
Liotta’s representative confirmed the news, saying the actor had died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming his latest film Dangerous Waters.
Liotta found fame playing ex-con Ray Sinclair in 1986 film Something Wild, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.
He went on to star as Shoeless Joe Jackson in the 1989 film Field Of Dreams and is best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese.
Liotta was the adopted son of a town clerk and car-parts shop owner, who insisted he never contemplated acting while growing up in Newark, New Jersey.
After graduating, he moved to New York City and worked as a barman until he was cast in soap opera Another World in 1980.
In recent years Liotta appeared in The Many Saints Of Newark and starred alongside Taron Egerton in the Apple TV series Black Bird.
Egerton spoke of the “profound experience” he had collaborating with Liotta, playing his son in the series.
“I have never felt such an easy, warm connection with another performer,” he wrote.
“He was so generous. If I went one way he followed me. Always dancing. Always listening. Never self-generated.”
Egerton said he was “most proud” of his scenes alongside Liotta.
“When I first saw our show I text him telling him that I felt his performance was beautiful and that I was very proud of our work. His response was: ‘you made it easy to love my son.’
“Ray, the feeling was so, so mutual. I will miss you.”
Goodfellas costar Lorraine Bracco said she was “shattered” to hear of Liotta’s death.
“I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas,” she wrote.
“Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta.”
Liotta’s Field of Dreams costar Kevin Costner shared a heartfelt message, alongside a now-iconic scene from the film.
“While he leaves an incredible legacy, he’ll always be “Shoeless Joe Jackson” in my heart,” he wrote.
“What happened that moment in the film was real. God gave us that stunt. Now God has Ray.”
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Comedian Seth Rogan, who starred alongside Liotta in 2009 flick Observe and Report, said he “can’t believe” he had passed.
“Working with him was one of the great joys of my career and we made some of my favourite scenes I ever got to be in. A true legend of immense skill and grace.”
Liotta also starred in crime show Shades of Blue from 2016 to 2018 alongside triple-threat Jennifer Lopez.
Lopez paid tribute to her “partner in crime” on social media.
“Ray was the epitome of a tough guy who was all mushy on the inside … I guess that’s what made him such a compelling actor to watch,” Lopez wrote.
“He was complicated, sincere, honest and so very emotional. Like a raw nerve, he was so accessible and so in touch in his acting and I will always remember our time together fondly.”
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Video game production house Rockstar also shared their condolences, the actor having lent his voice to the Grand Theft Auto series, playing the role of Tommy Vercetti.
Liotta leaves behind his daughter Karsen and his fiancee Jacy Nittolo.
-with AAP
