Conversations with Ray Liotta (2017)

Career Q&A with Ray Liotta.  Moderated by Stacey Wilson Hunt, New York Magazine.

Ray Liotta currently stars on the NBC drama “Shades of Blue” as Lt. Matt Wozniak.

Liotta started his career with a Golden Globe-nominated performance in Jonathan Demme’s “Something Wild” and followed that by co-starring opposite Tom Hulce in “Dominic and Eugene.” He’s also well-known for the iconic role of Shoeless Joe Jackson in the Oscar-nominated film “Field of Dreams.”

 

But perhaps the film that brought Liotta his most widespread acclaim was his portrayal of real-life mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s epic movie “Goodfellas” starring opposite Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. His performance helped the film earn a Best Picture nomination and solidified Liotta's status with critics and the public alike.

Liotta continued to create notable performances in films such as “Copland,” opposite Robert De Niro and Harvey Keitel for director James Mangold; “Hannibal,” opposite Anthony Hopkins for director Ridley Scott; “Heartbreakers,” co-starring Sigourney Weaver; and “Blow,” opposite Johnny Depp.

Liotta then produced and starred in the intense cop drama “Narc” for director Joe Carnahan. The film received critical acclaim and earned Liotta an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Additional film credits include “Place Beyond the Pines,” starring opposite Ryan Gosling; “The Iceman,” opposite Michael Shannon and Winona Ryder; “Killing Them Softly,” for director Andrew Dominik with Brad Pitt; “The Details,” opposite Tobey Maguire; and “Wanderlust, directed by Judd Apatow.

Liotta won an Emmy as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama in 2005 for a memorable appearance on “ER.” He also earned a SAG Award nomination for Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries for the 1998 HBO telepic “The Rat Pack” playing Frank Sinatra.

In 2015 Liotta co-starred on the A&E miniseries “Texas Rising,” co-starring Brendan Fraser and Bill Paxton, and directed by Roland Joffe. Liotta was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries.

For his 2004 Broadway debut opposite Frank Langella in Stephen Belber's “Match,” Liotta received a Distinguished Performance honor at the Drama League Awards.

A New Jersey native, Liotta began acting while a student at the University of Miami.