Ray Liotta

Infobox actor


imagesize = 250 x 292
birthdate =birth date and age|1954|12|18
birthname = Raymond Liotta
birthplace = Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
yearsactive = 1978 - present
emmyawards = Outstanding Guest Actor - Drama Series
2005 "ER"

Raymond Liotta [ [http://www.eventguide.ie/articles.elive?session_id=1176456123892681&sku=070413101741 Film Interview – Ray Liotta / ‘Wild Hogs’ Not Just A Pithy Face] ] (born December 18, 1954) is an Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated American actor, best known for his starring role as Henry Hill in the 1990 film, "Goodfellas".

Biography

Early life

Liotta (pronounced "lee-OH-ta") was born in Newark, New Jersey and was adopted at the age of six months by Mary, an appointed township clerk, and Alfred Liotta, an auto parts store owner, personnel director, and the president of a local Democratic club. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/55/Ray-Liotta.html Ray Liotta Biography (1955?-) ] ] Both of his adoptive parents unsuccessfully ran for local office. [ [http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800023967/bio Ray Liotta Biography, Yahoo! Movies] ] Liotta believed his biological parents were of Scottish and Italian descent, [ [http://www.smokemag.com/0901/cover.htm SMOKE 09/01 - One-on-one with Ray Liotta ] ] but eventually reunited with his biological mother and discovered he is not Italian. [ [http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/10/06/ray_liotta_is_glad_he_met_his_biological/ Ray Liotta Is Glad He Met His Biological Mother - Starpulse Entertainment News Blog "he discovered he isn't Italian and that he has a half-brother." ] ] [ [http://movies.ign.com/articles/035/035941p1.html IGN: Interview with Ray Liotta "I myself am adopted, so I'm not Italian"] ] In 1973 Ray Liotta graduated from Union High School in Union, New Jersey and was inducted into the schools' Hall of Fame in 1992. While living in Union, Ray briefly worked at an A & P supermarket and at Cerami's Pizzeria. Liotta studied acting at the University of Miami, where he performed at the university's Jerry Herman Ring Theatre.

Career

One of Liotta's earliest roles was as Joey Perrini on the daytime program "Another World". He appeared on the show from 1978 to 1981. Infamously, he made his film debut sexually assaulting Pia Zadora with a garden hose in the cult classic "The Lonely Lady". Come 1987, however, he earned his first Golden Globe nomination [ [http://www1.hfpa.org/browse/member/29970 HFPA - Awards Search ] ] for his portrayal of volatile ex-con Ray Sinclair in Jonathan Demme's film "Something Wild" (1986) In 1990, Liotta portrayed real-life mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's film "Goodfellas". The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Liotta would earn more critical praise for his turn in the James Mangold directed film "Cop Land", starring alongside Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel.

In addition to his film roles, Liotta portrayed legendary singer Frank Sinatra in the 1998 TV movie "The Rat Pack" (for which he received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination) and provided the voice of Tommy Vercetti for the 2002 video game "". That same year he appeared as Det. Lt. Henry Oak in the Joe Carnahan-directed film "Narc", receiving an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male. He also narrated "Inside the Mafia" for the National Geographic Channel in 2005. Liotta had a memorable guest appearance that year on the television drama "ER" playing Charlie Metcalf in the episode "Time of Death". The role earned him an Emmy for "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series". Liotta would later spoof himself and his Emmy win in "Bee Movie". He starred in the 2006 CBS television series "Smith", which was pulled from the schedule after only three episodes had aired. He later appeared in "Smokin' Aces" (reuniting with "Narc" director Joe Carnahan), portraying an FBI agent named Donald Carruthers in one of the lead roles. He told ABC's Good Morning America in 2001 that he was offered the role of Tony Soprano by series creator David Chase but turned it down to focus on movies.

Liotta will appear in "Battle in Seattle" as the city's mayor and in "Hero Wanted" playing a detective alongside Cuba Gooding Jr.. He will also be in "Crossing Over",co-starring Sean Penn and Harrison Ford. He is currently filming "Night Job" with Mickey Rourke. He appeared with John Travolta in the movie "Wild Hogs" and with Johnny Depp in the 2001 film "Blow", portraying the father of drug dealer George Jung.

Ray Liotta was about to play a role in proposed third sequel of Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather". After Coppola & Mario Puzo decided to go for filming the third sequel in 1998, Ray Liotta showed interest to do a suitable role suggested by both Coppola and Puzo. Coppola & Puzo started the script jointly which also found some other roles approached by Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia and Leonardo DiCaprio. After Mario Puzo died in 1999, Coppola closed all preparations over the film and since then the plan for the third sequel of "The Godfather" remained officially closed. It's still not confirmed that whether this film will be made or not.Fact|date=May 2008

Personal life

Liotta married actress Michelle Grace in February 1997. They met at her ex Husband's (Marc Grace) baseball game "they also co-stared inThe Rat Pack", in which Liotta played Frank Sinatra and Grace played Judy Campbell. Their daughter, Karsen, was born in December 1998. The couple divorced in 2004. Liotta currently resides in Pacific Palisades, California and is dating actress Catherine Hickland.

A baseball pitcher bearing his name is currently in the Kansas City Royals system. The two Ray Liottas are distant cousins. [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060221&content_id=1318066&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb Liotta one of the Sox Goodfellas] , accessed 1/16/2008]

On February 17, 2007, Liotta was arrested in the Highlands of Pacific Palisades after crashing his Cadillac Escalade into two parked cars on Palisades Drive, approximately one-half mile from his residence. He was charged with a misdemeanor DUI. Liotta was released on $15,000 bail and a court date was planned for March 2007. Liotta was alone in his car, and no one was injured in the crash. Liotta also supports English football team Tottenham Hotspur F.C. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070219/ap_en_mo/people_liotta] [ [http://people.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1265518.php/Ray_Liotta_arrested Ray Liotta arrested - People ] ]

Quotes

"I’ve only seen "Goodfellas" three times. The first time I didn’t even feel like I was doing it. I was numb and overwhelmed by it all. I was looking at what they did with the camera. By the third time I got a feel for it. But to this day when it’s on TV or something… I don’t watch myself. Some actors can do that, but I cannot. I don’t think you can be objective".
-Liotta in a March 2007 Interview with "Maxim" [cite news |last= |first= |url=http://www.maximonline.com/articles/index.aspx?a_id=7468&src=cl27 |title=Ray Liotta: American Gangster |publisher="Maxim Online" |date=March 2007 |accessdate=2007-02-22]

Filmography

*"The Lonely Lady" (1983)
*"Something Wild" (1986)
*"Dominick and Eugene" (1988)
*"Field of Dreams" (1989)
*"Goodfellas" (1990)
*"Article 99" (1992)
*"Unlawful Entry" (1992)
*"Corrina, Corrina" (1994)
*"No Escape" (1994)
*"Operation Dumbo Drop" (1995)
*"Cop Land" (1997)
*"Turbulence" (1997)
*"Phoenix" (1998)
*"The Rat Pack" (1998)
*"Muppets From Space" (1999)
*"Unforgettable" (1999)
*"Pilgrim" (2000)
*"Hannibal" (2001)
*"Heartbreakers" (2001)
*"Blow" (2001)
*"" (2001)
*"Narc" (2002)
*"John Q" (2002)
*"Point of Origin" (2002)
*"" (Voice) (2002)
*"Identity" (2003)
*"Control" (2004)
*"Revolver" (2005)
*"Local Color" (2006)
*"Comeback Season" (2006)
*"Smokin' Aces" (2007)
*"Even Money" (2007)
*"Wild Hogs" (2007)
*"Slow Burn" (2007)
*"Battle in Seattle" (2007)
*"Bee Movie" (2007)
*"In the Name of the King" (2008)
*"Hero Wanted" (2008)
*"Chasing 3000" (2008)

Upcoming

*"Crossing Over" (2008)
*"Powder Blue" (2008)
*"La Linea" (2008)
*"Observe and Report" (2009)
*"Crazy on the Outside" (2009)
*"Youth in Revolt" (2009)

References

External links

*imdb name|0000501|Ray Liotta
* [http://www.ncaaticketsnow.com/miami-tickets.asp University of Miami: Famous Alumni]