'Goodfellas' Ray Liotta Was 'Just Being Himself' On Screen: LI Prof.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — Ray Liotta was an intense actor in his roles throughout his career. He died on Thursday in his sleep. He was 67.

Liotta was in numerous movies since the 1980s, but there's no denying his turn as mobster Henry Hill was his signature performance in "Goodfellas."

"In some ways, it stunted his career," Brian Cogan, a communications professor at Molloy College, a guest on a special edition of "Patch AM," said. "He would always be looked on as Henry Hill."

A year before "Goodfellas," Liotta had a memorable, supporting role, in "Field of Dreams" as Shoeless Joe Jackson. He was praised for an early performance in "Something Wild," a comedy where he showed depth and his ability to frighten.

"I would not call him a Method actor at all. I'd say he's a kind of natural actor," Cogan said. "He always looked and acted as though he was just being himself."

But it's "Goodfellas" that is the first line on his epitaph.

"He does such a good job of portraying someone that loves the lifestyle, but doesn't want to do the worst things," he said.

Watch the full interview below.