Goodfellas director Martin Scorsese – who gave Ray Liotta his breakout role – paid tribute to the actor following his death on Thursday. He was 67.
‘I’m absolutely shocked and devastated by the sudden, unexpected death of Ray Liotta. He was so uniquely gifted, so adventurous, so courageous as an actor,’ the director, 79, wrote. ‘Playing Henry Hill in Good Fellas (sic) 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,’ he said, referring to Liotta’s famed role in the acclaimed 1990 gangster movie, according to Deadline.
The Goodfellas star died in his sleep at a hotel in the Dominican Republic, where he had been filming a new movie.
The legendary gangster actor passed away in bed at Casas del XVI in Zona Colonial on Thursday just weeks after filming started on Dangerous Waters.
An emergency service team had rushed to the building but he could not be saved, with his body transferred to the forensic institute of Santo Domingo. There is understood to be no suspicion of foul play.
People linked to the upcoming movie were spotted leaving the hotel with suitcases and props on Thursday afternoon after news of his death spread.
Liotta leaves behind his fiancée Jacy Nittolo, 46, as well as his daughter Karsen, 23, who he had with ex-wife Michelle Grace.
The actor had been spotted out and about in LA in March where onlookers said he appeared ‘noticeably pale’ and ‘needed help from the valet putting on his jacket.’
The source added he was ‘slow and steady on his feet’ and Nittolo had to help him by carrying his bags from the car to the hotel.
But he looked healthier in pictures taken at the start of this month as he strolled through Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles with his fiancée.
Liotta had been a smoker but started appearing in adverts for Chantix – a brand run by vaccine guru’s Pfizer – in 2018, with one saying: ‘I tried to quit smoking for years on my own. I couldn’t do it. I needed help.’
The cause of his death remains unclear and there is no suggestion the Hollywood superstar died of a smoking-related illness.
His sudden death shocked fans as he was embarking on a huge resurgence in his career recent years, with him staring alongside Taron Egerton in Black Bird later this year.
He also featured in The Many Saints of Newark, Marriage Story and No Sudden Move in more recent years as his acting took off again.
But he was best known for his incredible performance in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 gangster classic Goodfellas, where he played Henry Hill while De Niro, 78, took on the role of Jimmy Conway.
His publicist Jennifer Allen, from Viewpoint, said the actor died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming Dangerous Waters. Nittolo was on location at the time of his death.
A spokesman for the Dominican Republic’s General Direction of Cinema said: ‘We understand that he was accompanied by his wife and that the wife asks that you please respect her grief.’
He is believed to have passed away at the five-star Casas del VXI on the island, which boasts on its website for being ‘a unique collection of houses representing a new concept in fine travel lodging and the only one of its kind in hotels in Santo Domingo.’
It continues: ‘In the beautiful Colonial City, individual houses, some dating from the 16th century, combine into a single – and singular – hotel environment, which makes it suitable to provide privacy and safety to our discerned guests.
‘The meticulously restored Casas retain authentic elements of their past combined with modern comfort and distinguished hospitality that includes all the safety and health measures and protocols required in this day and age.
‘Come and experience timeless hospitality and elegance amid modern luxurious accommodations in this exclusive hotel, proud member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ #StaySmallStaySafe.
‘Casas del XVI will renew the spirit and move the soul long after your stay has ended.’
The hotel costs from $297 for a one-bed executive room per night and comes with housekeeping, butler and concierge service and a kitchen for the chef’s use.
The luxury doubles are 375 sq ft and are ‘the perfect fit for solo travelers or couples seeking a peaceful and lovely hotel,’ the website said.
A source who saw the actor in March told DailyMail.com how he looked frail and moved carefully.
They said: ‘Ray looked slow and unsteady on his feet. He was noticeably pale and needed help from the valet putting on his jacket. His fiancée was carrying all the bags to help him out.’
The actor most recently spoke on social media in an Instagram post three weeks ago where he plugged his new movie Cocaine Bear.