Ray Liotta, the Emmy-winning actor best known for movies like Goodfellas and Field of Dreams, died on Thursday. He was 67. Following news of his death, co-stars, fans and friends took to social media to pay tribute to Liotta.
"He was so uniquely gifted, so adventurous, so courageous as an actor," Goodfellas director Martin Scorsese said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "Playing Henry Hill in Goodfellas was a tall order, because the character had so many different facets, so many complicated layers, and Ray was in almost every scene of a long, tough shoot. He absolutely amazed me, and I’ll always be proud of the work we did together on that picture. My heart goes out to his loved ones, and it aches for his loss, way too early."
Goodfellas co-star Robert De Niro said in a separate statement, "I was very saddened to learn of Ray’s passing. He is way too way young to have left us. May he Rest in Peace."
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"God is a Goodfella, and so is Ray," Joe Pesci said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
Lorraine Bracco, who plays Liotta's onscreen wife in Goodfellas, shared, "I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray. I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite 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."
Jennifer Lopez, who starred alongside Liotta for three seasons on NBC's Shades of Blue, posted, "The first thing that comes to mind is he so was kind to my children. 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. The original Goodfella.”
Additional tributes came from former co-stars Kevin Costner (Field of Dreams), Jamie Lee Curtis (Dominick and Eugene), Seth Rogen (Observe and Report), Adam Sandler (Hubie Halloween), Alessandro Nivola (The Many Saints of Newark) and Taron Egerton (Apple TV+'s upcoming Black Bird), among others.
Devastated to hear the news of Ray Liotta’s passing. While he leaves an incredible legacy, he’ll always be “Shoeless Joe Jackson” in my heart. What happened that moment in the film was real. God gave us that stunt. Now God has Ray. pic.twitter.com/JQmk1PsuSK
— Kevin Costner & MW (@modernwest) 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
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
Tremendous actor. Sweetheart of a dad. Such a great funny man to know. Prayers are with his whole family. pic.twitter.com/gBUkJ9MG4m
— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) May 26, 2022
RIP Ray Liotta. I feel so lucky to have squared off against this legend in one of his final roles. The scenes we did together were among the all time highlights of my acting career. He was dangerous, unpredictable, hilarious, and generous with his praise for other actors.Too soon pic.twitter.com/FvsV2NNHkw
— Alessandro Nivola (@SandroNivola) May 26, 2022
Read more reactions below.
Not Ray 💔
— James Caan (@James_Caan) May 26, 2022
Too sad to conceive that Ray Liotta has passed. If he’d only made Goodfellas, it would be a credit to retire on. But he was incredible in Cop Land, Narc, Marriage Story & much more, especially his searing debut in Something Wild. His entrance at the end of this scene? Perfection. pic.twitter.com/0IhbRuKx2b
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) May 26, 2022
Shocked and saddened to hear of Ray Liotta’s passing. Beyond the tough guy exterior and the tightly wound emotions of his signature characters, he was a sweet, playful and passionate collaborator and brilliant actor. RIP. pic.twitter.com/O5tueLlBMP
— Mangold (@mang0ld) May 26, 2022
RIP GOODFELLA Ray Liotta. I adored you. I love knowing you all those years ago. 😢
— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) May 26, 2022
Ray Liotta. Man. Just met dude for the first time last year. GREAT actor. Nice to have had a chance to say that to him. RIP.
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) May 26, 2022
I try not to do the RIPs but Ray Liotta was truly one of my favorites to watch. He just has this magnetic draw to his performances, which is part of the reason Goddfellas remains tied with Aliens as my favorite film(s) ever made.
— devon sawa (@DevonESawa) May 26, 2022
This one stung more than usual.
RIP the great Ray Liotta, who could make movies feel chaotic in the best way.
— Sean Fennessey (@SeanFennessey) May 26, 2022
This guy.
— Matthew Modine (@MatthewModine) May 26, 2022
This guy.
What a laugh.
What a joie de vivre. Gioia per la vita.
The stories and jokes we shared.
Godspeed friend. #RayLiotta RIP pic.twitter.com/wVKW3z2Hy2
A friend put it really well when he described Ray Liotta as a great 1970s leading man who had the misfortune to come of age during the 1980s instead. Farewell to an electrifying actor who Hollywood rarely knew what to do with. pic.twitter.com/Gg196OKNvW
— Zack Stentz (@MuseZack) May 26, 2022
‘Goodfellas’ Star Ray Liotta Dies at 67 – #RIP #RayLiotta We collaborated on #MartinCampbell’s #NoEscape, which is worth checking out for his terrific performance as a thoroughly engaging action star. He’s gone way too soon. #ThursdayThoughts https://t.co/xoCEAqx1ML
— Gale Anne Hurd (@GunnerGale) May 26, 2022
I remember seeing Something Wild for the first time. When Ray Liotta came on the screen you could feel the energy in the room shift. Dangerous. Magnetic. What a debut and what a damn fine actor. RIP and love to his family.
— Josh Charles (@MrJoshCharles) May 26, 2022
I’m really sad to hear that Ray Liotta has passed away. He was an friend back in the day and it’s very sad. We had a lot of laughs Rest In Peace My friend.
— ✌🏼rosanna arquette (@RoArquette) May 26, 2022
Although its been years since we worked together, each time we crossed each other’s paths, you were always sincere, kind, gracious, and a loving gentleman. You will be sorely missed, Ray Liotta. Fly with the Angels you insanely talented human being. You touched my life. pic.twitter.com/0tACq6gVdi
— Giancarlo Esposito (@quiethandfilms) May 26, 2022
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