Celebrity
‘Goodfellas Star’ Ray Liotta Died In His Sleep Next To His Fiancée
It’s not yet clear what he died of.
Ray Liotta has passed away in his sleep at Casas del XVI hotel in the Dominican Republic at 67. The Goodfellas star was filming a new movie titled Dangerous Waters at this location. An emergency service team had rushed to the building, but he couldn’t be saved, with his body now transferred to the forensic institute of Santo Domingo.
So far, it has been understood there’s no suspicion of foul play, and onlookers alleged the actor, spotted in LA in March, had appeared noticeably pale and needed help.


It’s also alleged the actor was slow and steady on his feet and that his fiancée Jacy Nittolo, 46, had helped him by carrying his bags from the car to the hotel. But Ray had looked healthier in photos taken at the beginning of this month as he strolled through Pacific Palisades in LA with Nittolo.

The leading cause of his death remains unclear, but there is a suggestion the Hollywood star died of a smoking-related illness.
Ray had been a smoker but started appearing in adverts for Chantix, a brand run by vaccine guru Pfizer in 2018. He had said in one of the adverts: “I tried to quit smoking for years on my own. I couldn’t do it. I needed help.” However, people linked to the upcoming movie had been spotted leaving with suitcases and props after the news of his death spread. Equally, tributes have flooded in, with fellow actors and other celebrities paying their respects to him.

Robert De Niro said: “I was very saddened to learn of Ray’s passing. He is way too way young to have left us.” David Chase said: “This is a massive, unexpected shock. I was glad he worked on The Many Saints of Newark.”



His On-screen wife in Goodfellas, Lorraine Bracco, said: “I’m utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about Ray.” Equally, Josh Brolin said: “My buddy. My friend. How so soon? Why? I’ll miss you. I will think about seeing you at Gold’s”. Seth Rogan said: “I can’t believe Ray Liotta passed away. He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person.” Jamie Lee Curtis added: “His work as an actor showed his complexity as a human being. A gentle man. So sad.”
Ray’s death has shocked his fans, especially as he was embarking on a resurgence in his career. Later this year, he was set to star with Taron Egerton in Black Birds.

The actor, featured in The Many Saints of Newark, No Sudden Move, and Marriage Story, was best known for his performance in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 gangster classic Goodfellas, where he played Henry Hill. This comes after the actor recently spoke on social media in an Instagram post where he plugged his movie Cocaine Bear.
He had written: “Cocaine Bear follows an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teen converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of white powder and goes on a coke-fueled rampage seeking more blow and blood.”
However, Ray leaves behind his fiancée Nittolo and daughter Karsen, 23, who had had with ex-wife Michelle Grace [both pictured below].


