Ray Liotta

He married Michelle Grace in 1997 with whom he starred in ‘The Rat Pack’. They have a daughter, Karsen, who was born in December, 1998.

Liotta was born in Newark, New Jersey to unmarried parents who put him up for adoption. When he just 6 months old, he was adopted by foster parents, Alfred and Mary.

Although he was not very good at academics, he stood out in high school for his performance in soccer and basketball. In his spare time, he helped his father with his business, and spent most of his holidays in Japan, Hawaii, and Europe.

He wasn’t interested in going to college, but enrolled at the University of Miami for acting. He auditioned for a play – forgot all his lines and gave a disastrous performance. He was still given a chance to appear in plays like ‘Taming of the Shrew' and ‘Cabaret’ in his yearly years.

Liotta started his acting career as Joey Perrini in ‘Another World’, a soap opera in which he acted from 1978 to 1981. The popularity of the show got him roles in made-for-TV movies and 20 other TV series.

His made his film debut with a controversial role in the offbeat classic, ‘The Lonely Lady’. Released in 1983, he essayed the role of a man who sexually assaulted the female lead in the movie.

In 1986, Liotta played the role of a jealous ex-husband, opposite Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels in ‘Something Wild’. This film earned him widespread critical acclaim for his on-screen portrayal of the volatile character.

In ‘Dominick and Eugene’, released in 1988, he played a sensitive medical student, who takes care of his brother. He then starred as ‘Shoeless Joe Jackson’ in ‘Field of Dreams’ that released in 1989. Following this movie, he convinced directors to cast him in likeable roles.

Throughout the 1990s, he played tough cops and mobsters - the most challenging role being that of Henry Hill in Scorcese’s film, ‘Goodfellas’, in 1992.

In 1989, his portrayal of ‘Shoeless Joe Jackson’ in the film, ‘Field of Dreams’ made him one of the most sought-after actors. The movie clocked in approximately $84 million worldwide.

In 2002, he played a bearded, overweight detective, Henry Oak in ‘Narc’. As the executive producer of the film, he faced several problems that almost prevented the screening of this movie. His stellar performance in the movie was highly appreciated.