Lorraine Bracco and More React to Ray Liotta's Death: 'Utterly Shattered'

Stars from across Hollywood shared fond memories of Ray Liotta on Thursday after news broke that the Goodfellas and The Many Saints of Newark actor had died in his sleep while filming a movie in the Dominican Republic.

Lorraine Bracco, who played Liotta’s embattled wife Karen in Goodfellas and later starred as Tony Soprano’s therapist in The Sopranos, wrote that she was “utterly shattered” over Liotta’s death.

“I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray,” she wrote on Twitter Thursday. “I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta.”

Also Read: How the Goodfellas Tracking Shot at the Copacabana Scene Got Comically Botched

Alessandro Nivola — who played Dickie Moltisanti in The Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark opposite Liotta as both his father, “Hollywood Dick” Moltisanti, and “Hollywood Dick”‘s twin brother, Salvatore “Sally” Moltisanti — also expressed gratitude that he had the chance to act alongside Liotta.

“RIP Ray Liotta. I feel so lucky to have squared off against this legend in one of his final roles. The scenes we did together were among the all-time highlights of my acting career. He was dangerous, unpredictable, hilarious, and generous with his praise for other actors. Too soon,” Nivola wrote.

Seth Rogen, who acted with Liotta in the 2009 black comedy Observe and Report, wrote, “I can’t believe Ray Liotta has passed away. He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person. Working with him was one of the great joys of my career and we made some of my favorite scenes I ever got to be in. A true legend of immense skill and grace.”

“Shocked and saddened to hear of Ray Liotta’s passing. Beyond the tough guy exterior and the tightly wound emotions of his signature characters, he was a sweet, playful and passionate collaborator and brilliant actor. RIP,” wrote filmmaker James Mangold, who directed Liotta in 1997’s Cop Land.

Robert De Niro, Liotta’s Goodfellas co-star, wrote in a statement to Deadline, “I was very saddened to learn of Ray’s passing. He is way too young to have left us.”

Halloween actress Jamie Lee Curtis also expressed her sadness, writing, “Ray Liotta has died. His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad to hear.”

“RIP Ray Liotta!! Loved your work,” wrote Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom actress Viola Davis.

Pulp Fiction actress Rosanna Arquette wrote, “I’m really sad to hear that Ray Liotta has passed away. He was a friend back in the day and it’s very sad. We had a lot of laughs. Rest In Peace my friend.”

“Ray Liotta. Man. Just met dude for the first time last year. GREAT actor,” wrote The Batman actor Jeffrey Wright. “Nice to have had a chance to say that to him. RIP.”

Last Night in Soho director Edgar Wright wrote, “Too sad to conceive that Ray Liotta has passed. If he’d only made Goodfellas, it would be a credit to retire on. But he was incredible in Cop Land, Narc, Marriage Story & much more, especially his searing debut in Something Wild. His entrance at the end of this scene? Perfection.”

Geraldo Rivera also expressed his condolences, writing, “RIP Ray Liotta terrific actor, the original Goodfella, wonderful career, premature death. Condolences to his family. He died doing what he loved, with his boots on, making movies.”

 

 

 

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Main Image: Ray Liotta in 1997’s Cop Land.

 

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