Ray Liotta's Death Will 'Leave A Void,' Union Co. Mayor Says

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Besides playing iconic roles in "Godfellas" and "Field of Dreams," Ray Liotta was also New Jersey resident and grew up in the Township of Union.

Union Mayor Manuel Figueiredo expressed his grief over Liotta's recent death. The 67-year-old died on Thursday in his sleep while in the Dominican Republic. He was in the middle of shooting a movie called "Dangerous Waters" on the island.

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

Although he was born in Newark, Liotta was also a Union High School Class of 1973 graduate. His adoptive mother, Mary Liotta, served as Township Clerk, and his father, Alfred, was an auto parts store owner and the president of a local Democratic club.

In 1993, Ray was inducted into the Union High School Hall of Fame, showcasing his accomplishments. Later that year, Liotta participated in the Township’s Annual
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in December.

He even used to work at Pizza House/Pizza Chef in Cranford during his teen years.

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

“Ray was an extraordinary talent whose remarkable performances left a mark on
the screen,” Figueiredo said. “May he rest in peace.”

Some of his memorable roles included “Goodfellas” (1990) and “Field of Dreams” (1989). His recent big-screen roles included “Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story” (2019), Steven Soderbergh’s “No Sudden Move” (2021) and Alan Taylor’s “The Many Saints of Newark” (2021).