TV - Movies
Why You Didn't
See Ray Liotta
Much During
the End of
His Career
By MICHILEEN MARTIN
Ray Liotta, the actor best known for his role in Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas," died May 26th at the age of 67. Unfortunately, due to luck, typecasting, some regrettable casting choices on Liotta's part — and at least a couple of public gaffes — Liotta never became the in-demand leading man we expected.
For many people, Liotta will forever be Henry Hill, the gangster they watch rise through the ranks of the mafia in “Goodfellas” which kept him from being recognized for his softer performances. Liotta took this in stride stating at one point "I'm [still] getting recognized: 'Hey, you're the Goodfellas guy.' And that's great."
Pigeonholed
In July 2016, Ray Liotta admitted one of his biggest career regrets was that he was offered the chance to audition for the role of Batman, and he passed on it. Missing out on big blockbuster films definitely kept Liotta from the A-list stratosphere he so rightly deserved to be a part of.
Regrettable Choices
In 2001, Liotta told the “Today” show that he was offered the role of Tony Soprano in the now-classic series “The Sopranos” but turned it down because he wanted to focus on movies. However, unlike his mistake with “Batman,” he was granted something of a second chance when he was able to appear in “The Sopranos” prequel film “The Many Saints of Newark.”
Another Missed Opportunity
When asked to name his dream director, Liotta chose Woody Allen, and after being reminded of the sexual assault allegations against Allen, Liotta didn't change his mind. Stating, "I believe what he says. I don't think he did what they accuse him of.” For an actor who already had trouble landing leading roles, defending Woody Allen in 2018 may not have been the best move.
Misguided Support
During his career, he made over 60 movies, so if you felt you hadn’t heard from Liotta in the years leading up to his death, it may be because you're not watching the right flicks. In the end, Liotta left a legacy of 126 IMDb credits that span four decades in film and TV, so fans have plenty of choices to watch him at his craft.
Watch the Right Movies