Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty for AFI; Jamie McCarthy/Getty for Deadline
Martin Scorseseis remembering his friend and collaboratorRay Liotta.
Over a week after the actordied at age 67late last month, Scorsese, 79, penned an op-ed forThe Guardian, published Monday, about working with the late star, and how he wishes he and Liotta worked together more.
After sharing details about the behind-the-scenes process of working with Liotta onGoodfellas, which Scorsese directed, the Oscar winner said he and Liotta “had many plans to work together again but the timing was always off, or the project wasn’t quite right.”
“I regret that now,” Scorsese continued, before noting how Liotta’s role in the 2019 filmMarriage Storymade him want to work with the star again “at this point in his life.” He explained it would allow him “to explore the gravity in his presence, so different from the young, sprightly actor he was when I met him.”
Added Scorsese: “I wish I’d had the chance to see him just once more, too — to tell him just how much the work we did together meant to me. But maybe he knew that. I hope so.”
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Liotta died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic in May, PEOPLE previously confirmed. He was engaged toJacy Nittoloand was also dad to daughter Karsen, 23, with ex-wife Michelle Grace. A source told PEOPLE no foul play is suspected in his death and that Nittolo was with him when he died.
Nittolo releaseda statement on Instagram, payingtribute to her late fiancéalongside a series of shots of the pair from over the years.
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“My life these past couple of years have been nothing but truly magical. Ray and I share a deep love that I will cherish in my heart forever,” she wrote in her heartfelt post. “We laughed daily and we were inseparable. The chemistry was wild in the best way.”
Then writing that Liotta “was everything in the world to me,” Nittolo continued, “We couldn’t get enough of each other. The kind of real love that one dreams of.” She concluded, “He was the most beautiful person inside and out that I’ve ever known … and even that is an understatement.”
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“Playing Henry Hill inGoodfellaswas a tall order, because the character had so many different facets, so many complicated layers, and Ray was in almost every scene of a long, tough shoot,” Scorsese continued. “He absolutely amazed me, andI’ll always be proud of the work we did togetheron that picture. My heart goes out to his loved ones, and it aches for his loss, way too early.”
Sigourney Weaver, who previously starred with Liotta inHeartbreakers,told PEOPLElast week that her former costar was “a true original.”
“Loaded with charm and physical ease, Ray was a natural in comedy and just a doll to work with. We had such a good time,” the actress, 72, added of their work in the 2001 crime rom-com, which also starredJennifer Love Hewitt.
Aside from Scorsese and Weaver, Liotta’s past costarsJennifer Lopez,Kevin Costner,Jamie Lee Curtisand more also expressedtheir condolences and griefover the loss of the actor as well.
source: people.com
