Ray Liotta’s cause of death revealed after Goodfellas star ‘dies in his sleep while filming new movie’
RAY Liotta’s cause of death has been revealed a year after the American actor suddenly died in his sleep.
The Goodfellas star was found dead in a hotel in May 26 last year in at the age of 67 while shooting a film in the Dominican Republic.
The Golden Globe nominee’s cause of death was not revealed at the time – but authorities have now said heart and respiratory issues were behind it.
In the documents, obtained by TMZ, the actor’s death was categorised as “natural and non-violent”.
Instead, it was said to be connected to respiratory insufficiency (fluid in his lungs) and pulmonary edema (acute heart failure).
According to reports, he also suffered from atherosclerosis – which is a thickening of arteries that often leads to diabetes and other health problems, including heart attacks and strokes.
The 67-year-old was in the middle of filming “Dangerous Waters” starring Eric Dane and Odeya Rush when he tragically died.
His fiancée Jacy Nittolo was with him while he was filming and his body was flown back to the US.
Born in 1954, most of Ray Liotta’s early life was cantered in Newark, New Jersey.
In 1978, he graduated with a degree in acting from the University of Miami and moved to New York City afterward.
While living in the big apple, Liotta landed one of his first acting gigs on the soap opera, Another World.
After appearing in the daytime program from 1978 to 1981, he moved to Los Angeles, California in favour of a motion picture career.
His mainstream breakthrough came courtesy of the 1986 action-comedy, Something Wild.
But Liotta’s career reached new heights following the release of Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas in 1990.
He portrayed former Lucchese crime family member turned rat Henry Hill.
The 90s masterpiece featured the likes of Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Lorraine Bracco.
It’s widely considered one of the greatest films of all time and received six Academy Award nominations and one win after its release.
Liotta’s later roles included Texas Rising, Shades of Blue, Marriage Story, Hannibal, and The Place Beyond The Pines.
In 2021, he starred alongside Alessandro Nivola, Vera Farmiga, and Michael Gandolfini in the Sopranos prequel, The Many Saints Of Newark.
That same year, he also acted in Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move with Don Cheadle, Jon Hamm, and Julia Fox.
As his death was announced last year, tributes flooded in from a star-studded crowd of industry legends.
In February, 2023 the iconic actor was honoured with a posthumous star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Liotta’s fiancée Jacy Nittolo and his daughter Karsen attended the ceremony with his daughter accepting his award.
She said: “I’m so touched to be accepting this honour on behalf of my dad. I couldn’t be more proud of him.
“He was a one-of-a-kind actor, and the best friend, brother and father anyone could ask for. I lucked out with you.
“If you have a Ray in your life, you’re lucky. Thank you for your work, and the imprint you left on me and all of those who love you. Everyone deserves a Ray in their life.”