Ray Liotta‘s daughter Karsen Liotta and his fiancée Jacy Nittolo have paid an emotional tribute to the late Goodfellas actor nine months after his death.
Liotta, who died in his sleep aged 67 in May 2022 while in the Dominican Republic filming a new movie, was honoured overnight with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, with the unveiling ceremony seeing Karsen, 24, Nittolo, 48, Taron Egerton and Elizabeth Banks share touching words about the actor.
A visibly emotional Karsen held up a portrait of her father with Nittolo, who was seen wiping tears from her eyes as they reflected on their happy memories with Liotta.
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“I’m so touched to be accepting this honour on behalf of my dad,” Karsen said at the ceremony, per multiple outlets.
“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 have asked for. I lucked out with you.”
“If you have a Ray in your life, you’re lucky. I love you so much. 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.”
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Meanwhile, Banks, who directed Liotta in Cocaine Bear, one of his final film projects, said: “I always admired his acting, but I genuinely enjoyed him as a human.”
“Although he’s known for playing tough guys, I found him to be charming and a little mischievous which made him charming as an actor and as a man, and truly perfect for Cocaine Bear,” she continued.
“When any actor of Ray’s calibre puts trust in you as a director, it’s a gift. But Ray gave me so much more. Ray’s respect for me as a director, as his boss on set, meant everything to me because if you can direct Henry Hill, you can do f—ing anything in this town.”
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Egerton, who worked on the 2022 miniseries Black Bird with Liotta, also paid tribute.
“He was one of those rare artists that brought all of himself into his work, all of his intensity, all of his vulnerability and, in the case of our show, all of his love,” he said.
”I was deeply inspired by Ray, he was the epitome of an actor’s actor.”
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Remembering the stars we’ve lost in 2023
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