Ray Liotta, 'Goodfellas' and 'Field of Dreams' star, dies at 67

"Ray Liotta, the actor best known for portraying mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas" and bringing magnetically edgy energy to a gallery of crime dramas and thrillers, has died. He was 67.

Liotta died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming the movie "Dangerous Waters," according to his publicist, Jennifer Allen. No foul play is suspected, said Allen, who said Liotta's fiancée, Jacy Nittolo, was with him on the island.

Scorsese said in a statement: "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."

In an acting career that spanned four decades, Liotta established himself as one of the most dependable tough-guy performers in Hollywood, skilled at portraying cops and criminals in films like "Something Wild," "Cop Land" and "Killing Them Softly."

In the recent "Sopranos" prequel film, "The Many Saints of Newark," Liotta played a dual role, creating "two distinctly separate characters," according to "Sopranos" creator David Chase.

"I have been an admirer of Ray’s work since I saw him in 'Something Wild,' a movie he wrenched by the tail. I was so glad he worked on 'The Many Saints of Newark.' I believed strongly in my heart that he could play that double role," Chase said in a statement.

"We all felt we lucked out having him on that movie," he added.

Liotta had one daughter with his ex-wife, Michelle Grace."

https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/movies/ray-liotta-goodfellas-star-gifted-character-actor-dies-67-rcna30690