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Goodfellas star Ray Liotta dies suddenly while filming movie

Goodfellas star Ray Liotta has died in his sleep at age 67.

The actor, best known for his role in Martin Scorsese's classic Goodfellas and Field of Dreams, had been filming the new movie Dangerous Water in the Dominican Republic at the time of his death, Deadline reports.

His representative confirmed the news to several outlets.

Liotta found fame playing ex-con Ray Sinclair in the 1986 film Something Wild, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.

He went on to star as Shoeless Joe Jackson in the 1989 film Field Of Dreams and is best known for his portrayal of Henry Hill in Goodfellas.

Ray Liotta attends the 'MARRIAGE STORY' Special Presentation and Canadian Premiere.
Ray Liotta has tragically passed away at the age of 67. Source: Getty

Liotta was the adopted son of a town clerk and car-parts shop owner, who insisted he never contemplated acting while growing up in Newark, New Jersey.

After graduating he moved to New York City and worked as a barman until he was cast in the soap opera Another World in 1980.

In recent years Liotta appeared in The Many Saints Of Newark and starred alongside Taron Egerton in the Apple TV series Black Bird.

'I am utterly shattered'

Goodfellas actress Lorraine Bracco paid tribute to her co-star on Twitter, revealing she was devastated by the news.

"I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray," she wrote.

"I can be anywhere in the world and people will come up and tell me their favourite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the same… Ray Liotta."

A-lister Seth Rogan also posted on Twitter, saying he couldn't believe the news.

"He was such a lovely, talented and hilarious person. Working with him was one of the great joys of my career and we made some of my favourite scenes I ever got to be in. A true legend of immense skill and grace," he said.

Kevin Costner wrote that Liotta left an "incredible legacy".

"... he’ll always be 'Shoeless Joe Jackson' in my heart. What happened that moment in the film was real. God gave us that stunt. Now God has Ray," he said.

Liotta is survived by his daughter Karsen and fiancée Jacy Nittolo.

with AAP

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