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Ray Liotta Biography  Ray Liotta Quote: I know when I go to a movie I want to experience something, whether to laugh, to cry, to feel bad. --------Ray LiottaEarly life Ray was born on December 18th, 1955 in Newark, New Jersey. Ray's biological parents were unmarried, poor, and decided it was going to be too hard to raise a child so his parents decided to put him up for adoption when Ray was only six months old. He was adopted by Mary and Alfred Liotta. May was an appointed township clerk, and Alfred owned a chain of auto parts stores, he was also a personnel director, and the president of a local Democratic club. Alfred and Mary Liotta later adopt a daughter, Linda. One of Ray's earliest childhood memories was helping his parents pick out Linda, his sister, at an orphanage when he was 3 years old. After his adoption, Ray lead a very comfortable life in Union, New Jersey. He attended high school there, although Ray wasn't much on academics, he was a major jock. He played soccer and basketball. In his spare time, he helped out at one of his father's automotive stores. Ray and his family also enjoyed many exotic family holidays to Japan, Hawaii, and Europe. College After graduating high school, Ray didn't want to attend college or want a future working with his father at the auto part stores. His father, Alfred, persuaded Ray to continue his education, so he enrolled at the University of Miami. At college, Ray was part of the basketball team but disliking the harsh discipline of his coach, he dropped out of the team and soon took up Drama classes. Ray had a few debuts, Cabaret, West Side Story, and A Streetcar Named Desire. Ray then decided to major in Theatre. While at college he made on very important friend, Steven Bauer. Ray eventually graduated the University of Miami with a degree in Fine Arts. He soon moved to New York. After three days of arriving in New York, he landed a TV ad for K-Tel's Love Song of The 50's. One day later, he had a manager, a week later he had an agent. After a month, he screen tested for several movies, also working in his spare time as a bartender in theaters. Acting Career Liotta's big break came in 1978, he landed a role as soap star, Joey Perrini, on the popular program Another World. Ray appeared on the show for three years. His first film debut was in The Lonely Lady, he was portrayed as a psycho, assaulting Pia Zadora with a garden hose. Next came his role in Something Wild in 1986, where he played ex-con Ray Sinclair which earned him his first Golden Globe nomination. Liotta's most famous and memorable role was portraying real life mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese's film Goodfellas in 1990. Goodfellas was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The films huge success brought Ray Liotta popularity and enabled him to get more movie roles. Ray later starred in Article 99 in 1992 opposite of Kiefer Sutherland, Unlawful Entry in 1992 opposite of Kurt Russell, No Escape in 1992, Corrina Corrina in 1994 opposite of Whoopi Goldberg, and Cop Land in 1997 opposite of Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, and Harvey Keitel. In addition to his movie roles, Ray portrayed the legendary singer Frank Sinatra in the made for TV movie, The Rat Pack (1998). For his portrayal of Frank Sinatra Liotta received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Another TV role for Liotta was his guest appearance in 2004 on the very popular television drama ER. He played Charlie Metcalf in the episode titled, "Title of Death". The role earned Ray an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series". Personal Life In February 1997, Liotta married actress Michelle Grace. The couple had a daughter, Karsen Liotta, born in December 1998. Ray and Michelle Grace divorced in 2004. Liotta currently resides in Pacific Palisades, California. | ||||||||||
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