Jennifer Lopez, Kevin Costner & More Pay Tribute To The Late Ray Liotta

Celebrities have taken to Twitter to pay tribute to Ray Liotta, after the actor's tragic passing yesterday (May 26, 2022). Liotta was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1954. He began acting whilst attending the University of Miami, where he performed in musicals such as Cabaret and The Sound of Music. After moving to New York, Liotta's first major role was in Something Wild, a 1989 action-comedy starring Jeff Daniels and Melanie Griffith, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe. The first of his famous roles came after that however, when he played Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, which remains an iconic performance.

 

Among his many famous roles, Liotta is perhaps best known to many for his performance as Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s classic gangster film Goodfellas, which catapulted him into the realm of superstar. After Goodfellas, the actor appeared in number of acclaimed pictures, usually playing some shade of villain, although he wasn’t construed to one kind of character. Liotta's turn in Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story again showed off his ability to play complicated characters. The actor was also capable of impressive comedic roles, with cameo appearances in shows like Modern Family. Yesterday, it was reported that Liotta had passed away at the age of 67, having died in his sleep while filming a new movie in the Dominican Republic. So far, no official statement from Liotta's family or representatives has been released.

Now, co-stars, collaborators and celebrity fans pay tribute to Liotta on social media. Liotta’s co-star on Shades of Blue

Jennifer Lopez posted a lengthy and touching tribute, describing the actor as the “epitome of a tough guy who was all mushy on the inside.” This was echoed by Adam Sandler, Liotta’s Hubie Halloween co-star, who describes him as a “Sweetheart of a dad.” Other actors who starred alongside Liotta, such as Lorraine Brasco and Seth Rogen, also tweeted tributes. His Field of Dreams co-star Kevin Costner tweeted the famous clip from the film in which Liotta’s Jackson hits the baseball right back at Costner’s feet, saying “God gave us that stunt. Now God has Ray.” See these tweets, along with other tributes, below:

 

 

It’s clear from the tributes that Liotta will be fondly remembered for many years to come, as both a phenomenal talent and as a kind-hearted and generous co-star. Interestingly, while Liotta’s turns in Goodfellas, Field of Dreams and The Many Saints of Newark are certainly iconic, the actor also once had an opportunity to don the cowl and cape of the Dark Knight. In 2016, Liotta revealed that he was offered the chance to audition for Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film, which he turned down and later regretted. However, Liotta enjoyed countless classic roles in its place, and cemented his place as an industry icon.

For movie fans across the world, news of Ray Liotta’s death is certainly a sad shock. The actor was a true Hollywood veteran, delivering critically-acclaimed and varied performances wherever he appeared. What's more, he brought some of cinema’s most iconic characters to life, and will be forever remembered by generations of audiences. Liotta will be sorely missed by his loved ones, co-stars and fans. RIP.

Source: Twitter (various, see above links)