Ray Liotta

Today on The Neil Haley Show, Neil Haley interviews Ray
Liotta Intense was the word for Ray Liotta. He
specialized in psychopathic characters who hide behind a
cultivated charm. Even in his nice-guy roles in Field of
Dreams (1989) and Operation Dumbo Drop (1995), you get
the impression that something is smoldering inside of him. He was
born in Newark, New Jersey, and was adopted by Mary (Edgar), a
township clerk, and Alfred Liotta, an auto parts store owner. He
studied acting at the University of Miami, where he became
friends with Steven Bauer (Scarface (1983), Thief
of Hearts (1984)). He spent his first years acting in
TV: Another World (1964), a TV movie and several short-lived
series. He broke into movies with the black comedy Something
Wild (1986), which garnered him rave reviews. Originally unable
to get a reading, he was recommended for the part by Melanie
Griffith (then married to Bauer).
Following the success Something Wild (1986), he
received more offers in the "psycho" vein, but refused them to
avoid being typecast. Instead, he made "little movies"
like Dominick and Eugene (1988), which earned him standing
as an actor's actor, and Field of Dreams (1989), whose
success always surprised him. When he heard Martin
Scorsese was casting Goodfellas (1990), he lobbied hard
for the part of Henry Hill. The film's huge success brought him
wide popularity and garnered him star billing in future films
such as Article 99 (1992), Unlawful Entry (1992),
and Unforgettable (1996).