Editing Ray Liotta (section)

==Career==
[[File:Ray Liotta, Winona Ryder, Michael Shannon TIFF 2012.jpg|thumb|Liotta, [[Winona Ryder]], and [[Michael Shannon]] at the [[2012 Toronto International Film Festival]] for the premiere of ''[[The Iceman (film)|The Iceman]]'']]
After graduating from the [[University of Miami]], Liotta moved to New York City, where he was hired as a bartender at the [[Shubert Organization]] and landed an agent within six months.<ref name="NJStarLedger-KillingSoftly-2012" /> One of his earliest roles was as Joey Perrini on the soap opera ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]'', on which he appeared from 1978 to 1981.<ref name="RespersMelas2022">{{cite news |last1=Respers |first1=Lisa France |last2=Melas |first2=Chloe |title=Ray Liotta, 'Goodfellas' star, is dead at 67 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/26/entertainment/ray-liotta-dead/index.html |access-date=May 27, 2022 |work=CNN |date=May 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526205455/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/26/entertainment/ray-liotta-dead/index.html |archive-date=May 26, 2022}}</ref> He left the show and moved to Los Angeles. He made his film debut in 1983's ''[[The Lonely Lady]]''. His first major acting role was ''[[Something Wild (1986 film)|Something Wild]]'' (1986),<ref name="LarryKingNow-Identical-2014" /><ref name="LATimes-Goodfellas-1990">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-16-ca-1277-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Nikki|last=Finke|title=Not Your Typical Wise Guy: Why Ray Liotta had a tough time getting a deal he didn't want to refuse—a leading role in Martin Scorsese's Mafia movie, 'GoodFellas'|date=September 16, 1990|access-date=November 18, 2012|archive-date=November 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101040843/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-09-16/entertainment/ca-1277_1_ray-liotta|url-status=live}}</ref> for which he received his first [[Golden Globe]] nomination, this nomination being for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.hfpa.org/browse/member/29970 |title=HFPA—Awards Search |access-date=July 7, 2009 |publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225714/http://www1.hfpa.org/browse/member/29970 |archive-date=September 26, 2007}}</ref> In 1989, Liotta played the ghost of baseball player [[Shoeless Joe Jackson]] in the [[Fantasy film|fantasy]]/drama film ''[[Field of Dreams]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/4/23/5640792/field-of-dreams-worst-baseball-film-of-all-time-25th-anniversary|title='Field of Dreams': Worst baseball film of all time|first=Steven|last=Goldman|date=April 23, 2014|website=SBNation.com|access-date=March 5, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044224/https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/4/23/5640792/field-of-dreams-worst-baseball-film-of-all-time-25th-anniversary|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1990, Liotta portrayed real-life mobster [[Henry Hill]] in [[Martin Scorsese]]'s universally praised and commercially successful [[Academy Award]] winning film ''[[Goodfellas]]''.<ref name="NJStarLedger-KillingSoftly-2012" /> In 1992, he starred as a psychopathic cop in the thriller ''[[Unlawful Entry (film)|Unlawful Entry]]''. He appeared in a leading role in the 1994 science-fiction/action film ''[[No Escape (1994 film)|No Escape]]''. In 1995, he starred in the war comedy film ''[[Operation Dumbo Drop]]''. In 1996, he starred in the sci-fi/thriller ''[[Unforgettable (1996 film)|Unforgettable]]''. Liotta earned critical praise for his turn in [[James Mangold]]'s 1997 film ''[[Cop Land]]'', and he received critical praise in 1998 for his performance as a compulsive gambler in ''[[Phoenix (1998 film)|Phoenix]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-04-ca-19288-story.html|title=Liotta Arises as a Winner in Hard-Hitting 'Phoenix'|last=THOMAS|first=KEVIN|date=September 4, 1998|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 7, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=October 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204222/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/sep/04/entertainment/ca-19288|url-status=live}}</ref>

Liotta portrayed singer [[Frank Sinatra]] in the 1998 TV film ''[[The Rat Pack (film)|The Rat Pack]]'' (for which he received a [[Screen Actors Guild]] award nomination). He starred as himself in the sitcom ''[[Just Shoot Me!]]'' in December 2001. In October 2002, he provided the voice of [[Tommy Vercetti]] for the 2002 video game ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City''. He appeared in the television drama ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'' in 2004, playing Charlie Metcalf in the episode "[[ER (season 11)|Time of Death]]".

The ''ER'' role earned Liotta an [[Emmy Award|Emmy]] for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Liotta later spoofed himself and his Emmy win in ''[[Bee Movie]]''). Liotta starred in the 2006 [[CBS]] television series ''[[Smith (TV series)|Smith]]'', which was pulled from the schedule after three episodes. In 2012, Liotta appeared as himself in a purely vocal role for the "What a Croc!" episode of the [[Disney Channel]] comedy series ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Seemayer |first=Zach |date=September 20, 2013 |title=Exclusive: Remini Cleans Up on 'Phineas and Ferb' |url=https://www.etonline.com/tv/138640_Leah_Remini_on_Phineas_and_Ferb |work=[[Entertainment Tonight]] |access-date=September 12, 2014 |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926201032/http://www.etonline.com/tv/138640_Leah_Remini_on_Phineas_and_Ferb/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Liotta played the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] official Paul Krendler in the 2001 film ''[[Hannibal (2001 film)|Hannibal]]'' opposite [[Anthony Hopkins]] and [[Julianne Moore]]. Also in 2001, he played the father of drug dealer [[George Jung]] in the film ''[[Blow (film)|Blow]]''. In 2002, he appeared as Detective Lieutenant Henry Oak in the [[Joe Carnahan]]-directed film ''[[Narc (film)|Narc]]'', a role that led to an [[Independent Spirit Award]] nomination and a Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards nomination for Best Supporting Male.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hendrix |first=Steve |date=January 12, 2003 |title=Ray Liotta, Hanging Tough |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/2003/01/12/ray-liotta-hanging-tough/102ffdf1-5f63-48fa-a3dc-dbca1ed3db59/ |work=[[The Washington Times]] |access-date=September 12, 2014 |archive-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715102237/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/2003/01/12/ray-liotta-hanging-tough/102ffdf1-5f63-48fa-a3dc-dbca1ed3db59/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050323005567/en/Phoenix-Film-Festival-Announces-2005-Showcase-Events |title=Phoenix Film Festival Announces 2005 Showcase Events; Arizona's Largest Film Festival Celebrates its 5th Anniversary with Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Tom Arnold and More ... |date=March 23, 2005 |website=[[Business Wire]] |access-date=September 12, 2014 |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711205827/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050323005567/en/Phoenix-Film-Festival-Announces-2005-Showcase-Events |url-status=live }}</ref>

He reunited with director [[James Mangold]] in 2003, alongside [[John Cusack]] and [[Alfred Molina]], in the dark horror-thriller ''[[Identity (2003 film)|Identity]]''. In 2005, he narrated ''[[Inside the Mafia]]'' for the [[National Geographic Channel]]. In 2006, he appeared in ''[[Smokin' Aces]]''—reuniting with ''Narc'' director Carnahan, in which he portrayed an FBI agent named Donald Carruthers in one of the lead roles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=A. O. |date=January 26, 2007 |title=Smokin' Aces |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/movies/26smok.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=December 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208175759/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/movies/26smok.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2004, Liotta made his Broadway debut opposite [[Frank Langella]] in the [[Stephen Belber]] play ''[[Match (play)|Match]]''.<ref name="Playbill-Match-2003">{{cite news|last1=Gans|first1=Andrew|title=Frank Langella to Join Ray Liotta for Broadway's Match|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/frank-langella-to-join-ray-liotta-for-broadways-match|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140914193731/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/frank-langella-to-join-ray-liotta-for-broadways-match|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2014|work=[[Playbill]]|date=November 14, 2003}}</ref><ref name="Dramatists-Match-2004">{{cite web|title=Match – Stephen Belber|url=http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=3457|website=[[Dramatists Play Service]]|access-date=September 14, 2014|year=2004|archive-date=February 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209155413/http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=3457|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="USAToday-Match-2004">{{cite news|last1=Gardner|first1=Elysa|title=Langella, Liotta make almost perfect 'Match'|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/2004-04-08-match-review_x.htm|access-date=September 14, 2014|work=USA Today|date=April 8, 2004|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100134/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/theater/reviews/2004-04-08-match-review_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Ben Brantley]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' described Liotta as "compelling" but "doesn't have much to work with for his Broadway debut."<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/09/movies/theater-review-a-folksy-eccentric-who-s-got-a-secret.html|title= THEATER REVIEW; A Folksy Eccentric Who's Got a Secret|website= [[The New York Times]]|date= April 9, 2004|accessdate= May 30, 2022|last1= Brantley|first1= Ben}}</ref> That same year he appeared in an advertisement for [[Heineken]] in the UK. The ads were eventually pulled by [[Ofcom]] "in breach of the advertising code for implying that stronger alcohol is better."<ref name="Heinekin ad">{{cite news |last1=Whitehead |first1=Jennifer |title=Ray Liotta Heineken campaign breaks alcohol ad rules |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/ray-liotta-heineken-campaign-breaks-alcohol-ad-rules/218334 |access-date=May 27, 2022 |publisher=Campaign Live |date=August 2, 2004}}</ref>

In 2007, Liotta appeared with [[John Travolta]] in the film ''[[Wild Hogs]]'', and in ''[[Battle in Seattle]]'' as the city's mayor. In 2008, he starred in ''[[Hero Wanted]]'' as a detective alongside [[Cuba Gooding Jr]]. Also in 2008, he made a guest appearance on the ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' episode "[[What Ever Happened to SpongeBob?]]". In the episode, he voices the leader of a gang called the Bubble Poppin' Boys, who try to kill an amnesiac SpongeBob (voiced by [[Tom Kenny]]).<ref name="Release2">{{cite web|author=Moody, Annemary|title=Ray Liotta To Guest Star In SpongeBob Special Oct. 13|url=http://www.awn.com/news/television/ray-liotta-guest-star-spongebob-special-oct-13|publisher=[[Animation World Network]]|access-date=May 12, 2018|date=September 25, 2008|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203081015/http://www.awn.com/news/television/ray-liotta-guest-star-spongebob-special-oct-13|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ray Liotta guesting on Nickelodeon's 'SpongeBob SquarePants'|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/ray-liotta-guesting-on-nickelodeons-%CB%9Cspongebob-squarepants/|work=Media Life Magazine|access-date=May 12, 2018|date=September 26, 2008|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203025650/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/ray-liotta-guesting-on-nickelodeons-%CB%9Cspongebob-squarepants/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ray Liotta Voices Criminal on Spongebob Squarepants|url=http://www.babble.com/cs/famecrawler/2008/10/04/ray-liotta-voices-criminal-on-spongebob-squarepants/|website=[[Babble.com]]|access-date=May 30, 2013|date=October 4, 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628171934/http://www.babble.com/cs/famecrawler/2008/10/04/ray-liotta-voices-criminal-on-spongebob-squarepants/|archive-date=June 28, 2013}}</ref> In 2009 he appeared in ''[[Crossing Over (film)|Crossing Over]]'', co-starring [[Harrison Ford]]. Liotta played Detective Harrison in the 2009 [[Jody Hill]] comedy ''[[Observe and Report]]'' as [[Seth Rogen]]'s nemesis from the local police. In 2011, he starred in ''[[The Son of No One]]'', opposite [[Channing Tatum]] and [[Al Pacino]].<ref>{{cite news |last=DeFore |first=John |date=January 29, 2011 |title=SUNDANCE REVIEW: 'The Son of No One' Is a Buried-Secret Cop Drama Full of Holes |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/sundance-review-son-no-suffers-94230 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=July 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722205317/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/sundance-review-son-no-suffers-94230 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2010s, Liotta appeared in ''[[Date Night]]'' with [[Steve Carell]], in ''[[Charlie St. Cloud]]'' with [[Zac Efron]], the independent drama ''[[Snowmen (film)|Snowmen]]'', and ''[[The River Sorrow]]'', which stars Liotta as a detective alongside [[Christian Slater]] and [[Ving Rhames]]. He starred alongside Brad Pitt and [[James Gandolfini]] in the 2012 Andrew Dominik film ''[[Killing Them Softly]]''<ref name="NYTimes-KillingThem-2012">{{cite news|title=One Bad Turn Deserves Another|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/movies/killing-them-softly-with-brad-pitt-from-andrew-dominik.html|access-date=June 9, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 29, 2012|last=Scott|first=A. O.|archive-date=January 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110170643/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/movies/killing-them-softly-with-brad-pitt-from-andrew-dominik.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the 2012 [[Ariel Vromen]] film ''[[The Iceman (film)|The Iceman]]'' features Liotta as the character of [[Roy DeMeo]].<ref name="Guardian-Iceman-2013">{{cite news|title=Ray Liotta: 'I like Brad. I admire his whole career'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/06/ray-liotta-brad-pitt-iceman|access-date=June 9, 2013|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=June 6, 2013|author=Alex Godfrey|location=London|archive-date=September 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906132915/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/06/ray-liotta-brad-pitt-iceman|url-status=live}}</ref> He had a supporting role in ''[[Muppets Most Wanted]]'' (2014).<ref>{{cite news |last=Zuckerman |first=Esther |date=March 19, 2014 |title=A Guide to the Most Obscure 'Muppets Most Wanted' Cameos |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2014/03/guide-most-obscure-muppets-most-wanted-cameos/359341/ |work=[[The Atlantic]] |access-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711171802/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2014/03/guide-most-obscure-muppets-most-wanted-cameos/359341/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, he played a preacher in the faith-based film ''[[The Identical]]''.<ref name="HuffPo-Live-2014" /><ref name="HReporter-Deauville-Identical-2014">{{cite news|last1=Richford|first1=Rhonda|title=Deauville: Ray Liotta Reflects on Career, Box Office Beating of 'The Identical'|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/deauville-ray-liotta-reflects-career-731662|access-date=January 6, 2016|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-date=February 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218063223/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/deauville-ray-liotta-reflects-career-731662|url-status=live}}</ref> His other 2014 projects include ''[[Kill the Messenger (2014 film)|Kill the Messenger]]'' with [[Jeremy Renner]], ''[[Stretch (2014 film)|Stretch]]'' with [[Chris Pine]], and a [[David Guetta]] video.<ref name="HReporter-Deauville-Identical-2014" /> He starred in the Western miniseries ''[[Texas Rising]]'' for [[The History Channel]] in 2015. For his performance he earned a [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie]] nomination. From 2015 to 2016, he narrated the [[AMC Networks|AMC]] docu-series ''[[The Making of the Mob]]''.<ref name="M&C-Mob-2015">{{cite news|last1=Neale|first1=April|title=AMC's 8-Part Event 'Making Of The Mob: New York' With Ray Liotta Kicks Off 'Mob Mondays'|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/amcs-8-part-event-making-of-the-mob-new-york-with-ray-liotta-kicks-off-mob-mondays|access-date=January 6, 2016|work=Monsters & Critics|date=April 10, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103122353/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/amcs-8-part-event-making-of-the-mob-new-york-with-ray-liotta-kicks-off-mob-mondays/ |archive-date=January 3, 2016}}</ref> Liotta starred opposite [[Jennifer Lopez]] in ''[[Shades of Blue (TV series)|Shades of Blue]]'' between 2016 and 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hammond |first=Pete |date=June 16, 2016 |title=Jennifer Lopez & Ray Liotta on Redefining Police Procedurals With 'Shades of Blue' -Emmys |url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/shades-of-blue-jennifer-lopez-ray-liotta-nbc-emmy-interview-1201772882/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616231516/http://deadline.com/2016/06/shades-of-blue-jennifer-lopez-ray-liotta-nbc-emmy-interview-1201772882/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/jennifer-lopez-pays-tribute-to-ray-liotta/|title=Jennifer Lopez Remembers Her Late 'Partner in Crime' Ray Liotta: 'I Felt Lucky to Have Him'|work=People|first=Joelle|last=Goldstein|date=May 26, 2022|access-date=June 8, 2022}}</ref> In 2018, he became a spokesperson for [[Pfizer]]'s [[Chantix]] advertising campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fiercepharma.com/actor-ray-liotta-joins-pfizer-s-ad-campaign-for-chantix-featuring-real-people-who-quit-smoking|title=Goodfellas star Ray Liotta's new line? A quit-smoking pitch for Pfizer's Chantix|last=Bulik|first=Beth Snyder|publisher=FiercePharma|date=July 6, 2018|access-date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=May 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505195350/https://www.fiercepharma.com/actor-ray-liotta-joins-pfizer-s-ad-campaign-for-chantix-featuring-real-people-who-quit-smoking|url-status=live}}</ref>

Liotta appeared as Charlie Barber's ([[Adam Driver]]) second divorce attorney, Jay Marotta in the 2019 [[Noah Baumbach]] film ''[[Marriage Story]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=October 31, 2019 |title=Ray Liotta & Laura Dern Praise Noah Baumbach For Netflix's 'Marriage Story' – The Contenders London Video |url=https://deadline.com/video/marriage-story-ray-liotta-laura-dern-david-heyman-praise-noah-baumbach-contenders-video/ |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The film received critical acclaim and earned six [[Academy Award]] nominations including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]. Liotta received praise for his performance with Peter Bradshaw of ''[[The Guardian (website)|The Guardian]]'' declaring, "what a thrill to hear his syrupy-gravelly voice again". ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' described Liotta as being in "fine, mischievous form".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/marriage-story-review-1234560/|title= Marriage Story Review|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date= August 29, 2019|accessdate= May 30, 2022}}</ref>  In 2021, he played twin brothers "Hollywood Dick" Moltisanti and Salvatore "Sally" Moltisanti in the film ''[[The Many Saints of Newark]]'', a prequel to the HBO crime drama series ''[[The Sopranos]]''.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 4, 2021 |title=Ray Liotta Explains Why He's Playing Two Roles in 'The Many Saints of Newark' After Passing on a 'Sopranos' Role |url=https://decider.com/2021/10/04/ray-liotta-the-many-saints-of-newark-sopranos-role/ |website=[[Decider (website)|Decider]]}}</ref>

Liotta appeared in ''[[Cocaine Bear]]'', a [[thriller film]] based on the true story of an American black bear that ingested a duffel bag full of cocaine in 1985. The movie, released in theaters in February 2023, is directed by [[Elizabeth Banks]] and traces the aftermath of a drug runner's cocaine disappearing in a plane crash and being devoured by a bear.<ref name="RespersMelas2022" /><ref name="empire">Horner, Al. "Beyond the Chaos of ''Cocaine Bear''" – [[Elizabeth Banks]]: "[Ray] gave a beautiful speech when we wrapped about how special it was to be in Ireland. He's so known for being Italian but he'd done his heritage tree and found out he was actually Irish. The speech he gave brought some members of the crew to tears." ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'', January 2023 (cover-dated February 2023).</ref> The movie was dedicated to his memory.