Ray Liotta Dies: ‘Another World,’ ‘ER’ & More Memorable TV Roles

Meredith Jacobs
8 Comments
Ray Liotta in Another World, Shades of Blue, ER
Everett Collection; Peter Kramer/©NBC/courtesy Everett Collection; © NBC/Courtesy of Everett Collection

Ray Liotta, known for his numerous film and TV roles, has died at the age of 67 in the Dominican Republic where he was shooting the movie Dangerous Waters. While many may recognize him for his work in Goodfellas and Field of Dreams, he has had some memorable roles on TV as well, including starring on the three-season NBC drama Shades of Blue.

“I definitely was looking to do a 13 episode kind of thing because that really is the rage right now and it really helps your film career and that, to me, is always what I wanted to do,” Liotta told us in 2016 ahead of its premiere. “Here when I started, if you’re doing a series, that’s it. You’re at the tail end. You’re not going to be doing movies. It was kind of like the last bastion.”

He continued, “even doing commercials. Now you do a commercial, it’s great. There’s so many actors doing them. I did one a couple years ago just because it sounded like the cool thing to do and now I’m seeing tons of people doing it. Not that I started it but there were a few that were doing it but I didn’t care. I had my reasons for wanting to do it and now everybody’s doing them. The same thing with these 13 episode series. It really helps your career in a lot of ways. It’s not the graveyard anymore.”

'ER' & 'West Wing' Star John Aylward Dies at 75
Related

'ER' & 'West Wing' Star John Aylward Dies at 75

At the time he also spoke about how much he enjoyed acting. “I just still love at 60 years old playing make believe. I love it. If things bother me that I don’t think is going right or I haven’t done this for so long, I let people know and they listen,” he said.

Scroll down for a look at some of his memorable TV roles, from Another World to his Emmy-winning work on ER to the more recent Hanna.

Ray Liotta and Bradley Bliss in Another World
Everett Collection

Another World (1978-1981)

Liotta started his acting career with his role as Joey Perrini in 36 episodes of this soap, set in the fictional town of Bay City and focusing on the melodrama between families of different classes and philosophies.

Ray Liotta in Our Family Honor
© ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Our Family Honor (1985)

In this one-season ABC series, Liotta played Officer Ed Santini, the partner of one of the members of two New York City families in competing family businesses, the NYPD and organized crime.

Ray Liotta in ER - 'Time of Death'
© NBC/Courtesy of Everett Collection

ER (2004)

Liotta guest starred as Charlie Metcalf in the Season 11 episode, “Time of Death.” The episode played in real time, showing the final 44 minutes of the alcoholic ex-con’s life. He won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work.

Ray Liotta in Smith
Norman Jean Roy / © Warner Bros. Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Smith (2006-2007)

Liotta played Bobby Stevens, the leader of a group of professional thieves struggling to keep their work separate from the rest of their lives, in this CBS series that was canceled after three episodes.

Miley Cyrus, Ray Liotta in Hannah Montana
Jaimie Trueblood / © Disney Channel / Courtesy Everett Collection

Hannah Montana (2010)

Liotta guest starred as Principal Luger in the Season 4 episode, “Hannah Montana to the Principal’s Office,” when Miley ran into problems with school registration.

Ray Liotta and Jennifer Lopez in the pilot of Shades of Blue
Peter Kramer/©NBC/courtesy Everett Collection

Shades of Blue (2016-2018)

Liotta played Matt Wozniak, a corrupt lieutenant close with Jennifer Lopez’s character, a single mother and NYPD detective forced to work for the FBI’s anti-corruption task force, in the three-season NBC drama series.

Ray Liotta, Mireille Enos in Hanna
Christopher Raphael / ©Amazon / Courtesy Everett Collection

Hanna (2021)

In the third and final season of the Prime Video series, Liotta played Gordon Evans, the Chairman of UTRAX and its founders, the Pioneer Group. The series followed a girl who was part of the CIA program that turned children into super-soldiers.

Another WorldERHanna (2019)Hannah MontanaShades of BlueRay Liotta



Conversation8 Comments

Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.

Register or sign in to join the conversation.

  1. G

    GoldTeepee

    I loved him ever since I first saw him on "Another World". Sorry to see him go.

    1. C

      CyanFries

      I loved him too on Another World and lots of movies after. Such a Loss . RIP ray

  2. J

    Jena

    Yes, I first saw Liotta on Another World, also. To me, he'll always be Joey Perrini.

  3. P

    PurpleFlame

    I first saw Ray Liotta on Another World as the character Joey loved him ever since. R.I.P. Ray Liotta🕊

  4. A

    Antonio Montealegre

    He also hosted "SNL" back in 2003...

  5. G

    GreenPretzel

    Same here! Saw him on Another world and was a big fan ever since. Coming from NY myself, Ray no matter what the character always gave you the feelings he was a hometown Italian Bronx real hometown kinda guy! ❤️❤️🙏🏻Rest In Peace Ray your fans loved you

  6. G

    GreenElephant

    The ER episode he was in was something else.

  7. O

    OrangeGuitar

    Wow I’m shocked that Ray Liotta died! He played such a good “bad guy”! It’s just so unexpected, I’m actually shocked that I’m so shocked by his passing TBH!! RIP RAY!! Xo