Ray Liotta interview: ‘You’re playing pretend. That’s basically what I do’

Ray Liotta was almost Tony Soprano. He was showrunner David Chase’s first choice to play the New Jersey mob boss, but Liotta chose to focus on his film career, leaving E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt, Anthony LaPaglia and Michael Rispoli in contention. Two of those actors would appear in different roles in the show.

“I’ve always wanted to work with David Chase,” he says. “He came to Virginia to ask me to be a part of The Sopranos. And I just didn’t feel it was just the right time, or whatever. At that time I didn’t watch much television. But I always liked him. So when this came up I talked to my agent and told him to get me a meeting with David. There was no guarantee that I was going to get anything. So when I heard what David and the director Alan wanted me to do I was like, whoa.

Liotta’s first film role was in The Lonely Lady, an unlovely Pia Zadora vehicle from 1983. Three years later, his much-admired psychotic turn in Jonathan Demme’s Something Wild was shortlisted for a Golden Globe. He was a lot more Method during those early years, he recalls. Both his parents ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party but he enjoyed political rallies while growing up. Liotta remains faithful to his blue-collar New Jersey origins, and the four Newark chums he’s known from kindergarten. A gifted high-school athlete, he excelled in varsity soccer and basketball while working part-time in his dad’s auto supply shop.

After the success of Something Wild, Liotta studiously attempted to avoid typecasting by seeking out sensitive roles in Dominick and Eugene and Field of Dreams. It was Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese’s magnificent crime drama, that would forever frame him as a movie tough guy, an image he has lampooned in Bee Movie, SpongeBob SquarePants and Muppets from Space.Goodfellas’ Henry Hill proved a blessing and a curse. For much of the decade that followed, Liotta struggled to find satisfying work.

Liotta will soon touch down in Ireland to make Cocaine Bear. The film, directed by Elisabeth Banks and starring Liotta and Keri Russell, is inspired by a 1985 news story concerning a bear who ate 40 plastic bags of cocaine worth $15 million that had been stashed in Chattahoochee- Oconee national forest.

Entertainment Entertainment Latest News, Entertainment Entertainment Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Lorraine Bracco and more pay tribute to Ray LiottaThe actor's friends and former colleagues have been sharing their memories of the infamous star online. The Ray Liotta tributes have been pouring in overnight,...
Source: entertainmentIE - 🏆 23. / 51 Read more »

Ray Liotta: A cackling, rugged actor, too dangerous for romantic roles“I’d had such an up and down career,” Ray Liotta told The Irish Times just last September. That career ended unexpectedly yesterday as it was announced that the Goodfellas actor died in his sleep at the age of 67
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro praise Ray Liotta following actor’s deathMartin Scorsese said he would ‘always be proud’ of the work he did with Ray Liotta, adding the passing had come ‘way too early’.
Source: thejournal_ie - 🏆 32. / 50 Read more »

Acclaimed actor Ray Liotta has died, aged 67 | JOE.ieFor a generation of fans, he will of course be remembered for providing the voice of Tommy Vercetti in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Legend
Source: JOEdotie - 🏆 31. / 51 Read more »

'Goodfellas' star Ray Liotta dies at age 67Ray Liotta, known to a generation of film fans for his unforgettable lead role in Martin Scorsese's 'Goodfellas' has passed away aged 67.The actor died in his... Absolute acting legend 👏 He was awesome in Vice City
Source: entertainmentIE - 🏆 23. / 51 Read more »

Acclaimed actor Ray Liotta has died, aged 67 | JOE.ieAcclaimed actor Ray Liotta has died, aged 67 RIP 🙏🏻......a true legend👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 RIP...he was a good fella Very sad 🥺
Source: JOEdotie - 🏆 31. / 51 Read more »