Ray Liotta

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About Ray Liotta

Ray Liotta , Liotta at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival Born (1954-12-18) December 18, 1954 (age 58), Newark, New Jersey, U.S. Alma mater University of Miami Occupation Actor Years active 1976-present Religion Roman Catholic Spouse(s) Michelle Grace, (1997 - 2004; divorced) Children Karsen Liotta Raymond Allen "Ray" Liotta (born December 18, 1954) is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in the crime-drama Goodfellas (1990) and for his role as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams (1989). He has won an Emmy Award and been nominated for Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards. Liotta is also known for starring as the protagonist, Tommy Vercetti in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002), and as Billy Handsome, a playable character in the Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies map, Mob of the Dead (2013). Early life edit: Liotta was born in Newark, New Jersey, and was adopted at the age of six months by Mary Liotta, an appointed township clerk, and Alfred Liotta, an auto parts store owner, personnel director, and the president of a local Democratic club. Both of his parents unsuccessfully ran for local office. Liotta's adoptive parents were of Italian ancestry; his biological parents were not of Italian descent. In 1973, Liotta graduated from Union High School in Union, New Jersey and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1992. Liotta studied acting at the University of Miami, where he performed at the university's Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. Career edit: One of Liotta's earliest roles was as Joey Perrini on the soap opera Another World; he appeared on the show from 1978 to 1981. He infamously made his film debut sexually assaulting Pia Zadora with a garden hose in the cult classic The Lonely Lady. In 1987, he earned his first Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of volatile ex-con Ray Sinclair in Jonathan Demme's film Something Wild (1986). In 1989, he costarred, along with Kevin Costner, in the fantasy/drama film, Field of Dreams. Liotta portrayed Shoeless Joe Jackson, the ghost of the famed baseball player. In 1990, Liotta portrayed real-life mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's film Goodfellas. In 1992, he costarred, along with Kurt Russell and Madeleine Stowe, in the thriller Unlawful Entry as a psychopathic cop. He also had a leading role in the sci-fi/action film No Escape. Liotta would earn more critical praise for his turn in James Mangold's film Cop Land, starring alongside Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, and Harvey Keitel. In 1998, he received critical praise for his performance as the compulsive gambler but decent policeman Harry Collins, in the crime film, Phoenix. In addition to his film roles, Liotta portrayed 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 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. That same year he appeared as Det. Lt. Henry Oak in the Joe Carnahan-directed film Narc, receiving an Independent Spirit Award nomination and a Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards nomination for Best Supporting Male, a praised performance that many critics considered to be Liotta's career best. He then reunited with director James Mangold in 2003, alongside John Cusack and Alfred Molina, in the dark horror-thriller Identity, remembered for its unique and clever twist. 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 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. Liotta has appeared in Battle in Seattle as the city's mayor, and in Hero Wanted playing a detective alongside Cuba Gooding Jr.. He was also in 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 for the first time in his career, Al Pacino. Liotta's recent movies include Date Night with Steve Carell, Charlie St. Cloud with Zac Efron, the independent drama Snowmen, and The River Sorrow, which stars Liotta as a detective alongside Christian Slater and Ving Rhames. In 2012, Liotta appeared in the hit Disney Channel comedy series Phineas & Ferb where he played the voice of himself in "What a Croc!" Personal life edit: Liotta married actress Michelle Grace in February 1997; they had met at her ex-husband (Mark Grace)'s professional baseball game. The couple co-starred in The Rat Pack, in which Liotta played Frank Sinatra and Grace played Judith Campbell Exner. Their daughter, Karsen, was born in December 1998. The couple divorced in 2004. Liotta currently resides in Pacific Palisades, California. Filmography edit: Film Year Film Role Notes 1983 Lonely Lady, TheThe Lonely Lady Joe Heron 1986 Something Wild Ray Sinclair Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor, Nominated: Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture, Nominated: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor (3rd place), Nominated: New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor (3rd place) 1988 Arena Brains The Artist Short film Dominick and Eugene Eugene "Gino" Luciano 1989 Field of Dreams Shoeless Joe Jackson 1990 Goodfellas Henry Hill 1992 Article 99 Dr. Richard Sturgess Unlawful Entry Officer Pete Davis Nominated: MTV Movie Award for Best Villain 1994 No Escape Capt. J.T. Robbins Corrina, Corrina Manny Singer 1995 Operation Dumbo Drop Capt. T.C. Doyle 1996 Unforgettable Dr. David Krane 1997 Turbulence Ryan Weaver Cop Land Det. Gary "Figgsy" Figgis 1998 Phoenix Harry Collin Also Co-Producer Forever Mine Mark Brice 1999 Muppets from Space Gate Guard # 1 2000 Pilgrim Jack A Rumor of Angels Nathan Neubauer 2001 Hannibal Paul Krendler Heartbreakers Dean Cummano Blow Fred Jung 2002 Narc Det. Lt. Henry Oak Also producer, Nominated: Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, Nominated: Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor John Q Chief Gus Monroe Ticker FBI Agent Short film 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure Tuck Voice only 2003 Identity Rhodes 2004 Last Shot, TheThe Last Shot Jack Devine Control Lee Ray Oliver Direct-to-video 2005 Revolver Macha 2006 Comeback Season Walter Pearce 2007 Slow Burn Ford Cole Even Money Tom Carver Smokin' Aces Donald Carruthers Wild Hogs Jack Bee Movie Himself Voice only 2008 Local Color John Talia Sr. In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale Gallian Battle in Seattle Mayor Jim Tobin Hero Wanted Det. Terry Subcott Chasing 3000 Adult Mickey 2009 Crossing Over Cole Frankel Powder Blue Jack Doheny Observe and Report Det. Harrison La Linea Mark Shields Also executive producer Ticket Out Jim 2010 Youth in Revolt Lance Wescott Crazy on the Outside Gray Date Night Joe Miletto Charlie St. Cloud Florio Ferrente Snowmen Reggie Kirkfield 2011 Street Kings: Motor City Marty Kingston River Murders, TheThe River Murders Jack Verdon The Entitled Richard Nader Son of No One Captain Marion Mathers All Things Fall Apart Dr. Brintall 2012 Killing Them Softly Markie Trattman 2013 The Place Beyond the Pines Deluca The Iceman Roy DeMeo post-production Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Joey post-production Television Year Title Role Notes 1978-1981 Another World Joey Perrini #2 1980 Hardhat and Legs Family CBS Television movie 1983 St. Elsewhere Murray Episode: "Rain" 1983 Casablanca Sacha 1984 Mike Hammer Tony Cable Episode: "Kill Devil" 1985 Our Family Honor Officer Ed Santini 1990 Women and Men: Stories of Seduction Jerry Damon HBO television movie 1991 Women & Men 2: In Love There Are No Rules Martin Meadows HBO television movie 1995 Frasier Bob Episode: "Frasier Grinch" 1998 Rat Pack, TheThe Rat Pack Frank Sinatra Television movie, Nominated: Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie 2001 Family Guy Zack Episode: "Brian Does Hollywood" 2001.1 !2001-2002 Just Shoot Me Himself Episode: "Christmas? Christmas!", Episode: Liotta? Liotta!" 2002 Point of Origin John Leonard Orr/Aaron HBO television movie 2004 ER Charlie Metcalf Episode: "Time of Death", Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor - Drama Series, Prism Award for Best Performance in a Drama Series Episode 2006-2007 Smith Bobby Stevens 2008 SpongeBob SquarePants Trevor (voice) Guest appearance, Episode "What Ever Happened to SpongeBob?" 2010 Hannah Montana Forever Principal Luger Guest appearance 2011 The League Guest appearance 2012 Phineas and Ferb Himself Guest appearance, Episode "What A Croc!" 2012 NTSF:SD:SUV:: The Reader Season 2, Episode 12: Wasilla Hills Cop Video games Year Title Role Notes 2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Tommy Vercetti Voice Over, G-Phoria Award for Best Male Voice Performance, Spike Video Game Awards for Best Performance by a Human (2003) 2013 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Billy Handsome Uprising DLC, on the zombies map Mob of the Dead

Source: Wikipedia

Text from this biography licensed under creative commons license
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