Ray Liotta Picks His Top Four Unforgettable Film Roles
Ray Liotta looks back on his standout performances, from Goodfellas to Muppets Most Wanted, sharing which roles meant the most to him and why.
Ray Liotta’s name is often the first that comes to mind when you think of classic gangster films, and for good reason. His portrayal of Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas left a mark on cinema that’s hard to ignore. While Liotta had already appeared on screen before, it was this role that really put him on the map. He once said,
“As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a gangster,”
echoing the film’s famous opening line and cementing his place in film history. Although he didn’t like to play favourites with his work, he admitted in a Reddit AMA that some roles did stand out, and Henry Hill was certainly one of them.
Landing the part wasn’t a walk in the park. Scorsese had met with Liotta years before the film came out, keen to get him involved. But the studio wasn’t convinced, since Liotta wasn’t exactly a household name at the time. Warner Bros wanted a bigger star, but in the end, Liotta got the gig and delivered a performance that punters still talk about. Reflecting on his career, he wrote,
“Obviously Henry in Goodfellas.”
Beyond the Gangster: Liotta’s Other Standouts
Liotta didn’t just stick to mobsters and tough blokes. He was especially proud of his work in Narc, a gritty neo-noir where he played a detective on the hunt for a cop killer. Directed by Joe Carnahan, the film didn’t have a massive budget, but it packed a punch and earned Liotta a nod for Best Supporting Male at the Independent Spirit Awards. He looked back on the 2002 release with fondness, even if it didn’t rake in heaps at the box office.
Not every project was a critical darling, though. The Identical, a musical about twins separated at birth, was panned by critics and flopped at the cinemas. Liotta played the father of the twins, one of whom becomes a rock ‘n’ roll star in the style of Elvis. Despite the film’s poor reception, Liotta still counted it among his most memorable roles, though it’s anyone’s guess why he signed on for it.
Having a Laugh: Muppets and Musical Numbers
One of Liotta’s more light-hearted picks was his turn in Muppets Most Wanted. He played Big Papa, an inmate, and got to share the screen with Kermit and the rest of the gang. Liotta wrote,
“Dancing with Kermit and everybody in Muppets Most Wanted, singing and dancing with Danny Trejo and The Muppets is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
It wasn’t a huge role, but the chance to muck about with the Muppets was enough for him.
Liotta’s choices show he wasn’t afraid to mix things up, from hard-hitting dramas to family-friendly fun. Whether he was chasing crooks or having a boogie with puppets, he brought something unique to every part he played.