Martin Scorsese: Late ‘Goodfellas’ star Ray Liotta was ‘so uniquely gifted’

Film fans might have already forgotten, but almost 25 years ago, Martin Scorsese was looking at Tom Hanks to star as Dean Martin in a biopic about the iconic performer. The film was said to be written by Paul Schrader and would pull back the curtain on Martin’s time in the Rat Pack and, of course, in his comedic duo with Jerry Lewis.

Martin Scorsese is reflecting on his old friend and co-star Ray Liotta.The "Goodfellas" star, known for his role as Henry Hill, died in May at age 67 in the Dominican Republic. The director, 79, wrote an op-ed for the Guardian to pay tribute the late actor and shared that he has some regrets on not working with Liotta again before he died.

died late last month at the age of 67 in the Dominican Republic.The Oscar-winning director, 79, wrote an op-ed for The Guardian to pay tribute to Liotta and manifested his regret for not working with him enough during his lifetime.“We had many plans to work together again but the timing was always off, or the project wasn’t quite right. I regret that now,” Scorsese penned.The filmmaker directed the “Shades of Blue” star in the 1990 mob drama “Goodfellas.”Scorsese continued, “When I watched Ray as the divorce lawyer in ‘Marriage Story’ — he’s genuinely scary in the role, which is precisely why he’s so funny.”“I remember feeling that I wanted to work with him again at this point in his life, to explore the gravity in his presence, so different from the young, sprightly actor he was when I met him,” “The Departed” director went on.“I wish I’d had the chance to see him just once more, too — to tell him just how much the work we did together meant to me. But maybe he knew that.

Sigourney Weaver is paying tribute to her late co-star, Ray Liotta.

Ray Liotta’s death announcement shocked the film industry, with many actors and directors publicly sharing emotional messages remembering the star.It was announced that Liotta died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic at 67. He was on location filming the movie ‘Dangerous Waters’ and accompanied by his fiancee Jacy Nittolo.“We were deeply saddened to learn of Ray’s passing, it’s a tremendous loss and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, fiancé Jacy and daughter Karsen,” producers of the film shared to The Hollywood Reporter.The actor was known for his iconic roles throughout his successful career in Hollywood, from playing Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990), Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams (1989), to Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story (2019), Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move (2021) and Alan Taylor’s The Many Saints of Newark (2021).“He was so uniquely gifted, so adventurous, so courageous as an actor,” Martin Scorsese stated, sharing his experience working with him, “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,” the acclaimed director declared.“My heart goes out to his loved ones, and it aches for his loss, way too early.” Robert De Niro stated, “I was very saddened to learn of Ray’s passing.

Ray Liotta —  known for his iconic role as Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's film — started his career in Tinseltown in the 1980s. He skyrocketed to fame in "Goodfellas" when he portrayed a real-life mobster rising through the ranks of a crime family in Brooklyn.  Liotta went on to star in dozens of film and television projects, including "The Many Saints of Newark," "Hannibal," and "Shades of Blue," and worked with Johnny Depp in the 2001 movie "Blow." Behind the camera, Liotta was a doting dad to daughter Karsen, 23, whom he shared with ex-wife, Michelle Grace.  At the time of his death, Liotta was engaged to Jacy Nittolo.

Jennifer Lopez took to social media to publish a heartfelt message after learning about the passing of her good friend Ray Liotta, known for Field of Dreams and Goodfellas.According to the actor’s publicist, the star passed at 67 in his sleep. “Ray was working on a project in the Dominican Republic called ‘Dangerous Waters’ when he passed. He passed in his sleep,” Jennifer Allen told CNN.

Lorraine Bracco is speaking out following the sudden death of Ray Liotta.

Ray Liotta has died at the age of 67, according to a report by Deadline. The actor, best known for his leading role in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 crime classic Goodfellas, died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic while shooting a new project, Dangerous Waters.

Goodfellas co-star, Lorraine Bracco, and other past co-stars and celebrities following his passing. Liotta died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 67 on May 26 while on location in the Dominican Republic filming his upcoming project Dangerous Waters, the star's publicist Jennifer Allen told The Hollywood Reporter. The veteran actor rose to fame in 1986 with Jonathan Demme's Something Wild, playing Melanie Griffith's ex-convict husband.

Ray Liotta after it was reported the actor died suddenly on Thursday (26 May). He was 67.

Lorraine Bracco, Alessandro Nivola and Jamie Lee Curtis have led tributes to the late Ray Liotta. Messages of grief surrounding the death of the ‘Goodfellas’ star - who passed away, aged 67, while in the Dominican Republic shooting his new movie ‘Dangerous Waters’ - have poured in from his former co-stars and across the entertainment industry. Lorraine Bracco - who played his wife Karen Hill in the 1990 mob movie directed by Martin Scorsese - was “utterly shattered” by the “terrible news”.

Jennifer Lopez is reflecting on her relationship with her late co-star Ray Liotta.