Ray Liotta To Be Honored By Union Co. Town Where He Grew Up: Report

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Ray Liotta, the beloved actor who died on May 26, spent his adolescence in Union Township.

Now that he is gone, the town wants to pay tribute to the actor who is best known for starring in "Godfellas" and "Field of Dreams." According to NJ.com, Union Township Mayor Manuel Figueiredo says that local officials are looking at possibilities for a remembrance of some kind that would honor Liotta.

The 67-year-old died in sleep in the Dominican Republic. At the time of his death, he was on location filming the movie "Dangerous Waters."

Figueiredo said in a statement following Liotta's death, "I was devastated to hear of Ray Liotta's passing earlier today. He will leave a void heavy on the hearts of those who knew him."

Figueiredo told NJ.com that they are allowing Liotta's family and loved ones to grieve before making any specific plans for his remembrance.

The Emmy-winning actor was originally born in Newark and was adopted when he was 6 months old by Alfred and Mary Liotta. Liotta's mother was a township clerk and Union, and his father owned an auto parts store and was president of a local Democratic club.

Liotta graduated from Union High School in 1973 and was inducted into both the school's hall of fame and the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Growing up, Liotta was an athlete who played multiple sports, including soccer, football, baseball and basketball, according to NJ.com.

A peer of Liotta's told NJ.com that he was a consistent honor roll student and that he appeared in one play his senior year of high school. But he did not really commit to performing until he studied acting at the University of Miami.

Liotta also spent his teen years working at a pizza shop that is now located in Cranford — Pizza House/Pizza Chef.

In fact, on a photo of the actor hanging on the wall at the pizzeria, Liotta has written, "I miss the best pizza on the East Coast!"

Read more: Ray Liotta Used To Work At This Pizzeria In Cranford

Liotta's most recent big-screen roles include Noah Baumbach's "Marriage Story" (2019), Steven Soderbergh's "No Sudden Move" (2021) and Alan Taylor's "The Many Saints of Newark" (2021).