“Black Bird,” which began airing this Friday on Apple TV+, marks Ray Liotta’s final role in a series. Its creator Dennis Lehane, and its star Taron Egerton remembered the actor at the microphone of AlloCiné.
Legendary actor of Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, Ray Liotta died on May 26 while filming the film Dangerous Waters. Before his death, the actor had been able to finish boxing the Apple TV + series Black Bird, in which he plays the father of the main character played by Taron Egerton.
The latter confided in AlloCiné about their collaboration. “I will have so many fond memories of Ray. He was someone who was always joking and also had a great sense of humor about himself. It was such a pleasure to work with someone like him, so professional and so generous”, thus remembered the interpreter of the convict Jimmy Keene.
And to clarify:I think he was perfect for this role with his assertive masculinity. Masculinity which is also at the heart of this series and which is under examination for its abuses. I learned, no doubt, to focus better and to seize the present moment thanks to Ray. I had a unique chance to be able to work with him and to be paid more for it.”
A nuanced actor
Dennis Lehane, the creator of the series, remembered the beginning of the career of the comedian: “I will always remember being shocked when I saw Ray Liotta on screen for the first time in Jonathan Demme’s Dangerous in All Reports.
It was in 1986 and I was 20 years old. The first part of the film is a comedy. But halfway through the movie, when Ray appears, the movie takes a big turn and goes ultra black. I loved his electric character in the heart of which we could recognize the injured child.” Then to continue:
When I continued to watch Ray Liotta’s films I realized that whenever he plays a villainous role, you can sense the goodness in him, nonetheless. And when he plays a nice role you can feel the danger he inspires.
“Even in the movie Dream’s End with Kevin Costner, you might think he can kill Costner with a baseball; it is nevertheless a nice role. I also loved Ray as Johnny Depp’s father in Blow. He plays a good guy there and that’s what interested me with the role of Big Jim who is a good guy but who can explode at any time.“, he added.
A role written for him
A role of loving father that Dennis Lehane absolutely wanted to entrust to the late actor. “Ray was perfect for this role, I really wrote it for him. Besides, that was the only role that anyone tried to challenge me. In the end, he accepted my offer and it was a pleasure to work with him. He was so professional, with a great sense of improvisation“, he said before concluding with a sad anecdote:
“Three weeks before his death, we spoke to each other again. As I was contemplating the idea of giving him another role he said to me: ‘Don’t forget, this time, to give me a bigger role!’. This was our last exchange.”
To see Ray Liotta one last time in a series, go every Friday on Apple TV+.