USA Film Fest - Tribute to Ray Liotta (CANCELED)

He’s the embodiment of the word "intense" — on-screen, anyway. Ray Liotta has made a name for himself playing edgy characters on both sides of the law, but is paradoxically himself a homebody; the actor also happens to be considered one of the nicest guys in Hollywood by his co-stars. After struggling in daytime soap operas throughout his 20s, Liotta made his feature film debut doing unpleasant things to Pia Zadora in The Lonely Lady. Not surprisingly, he quickly found himself typecast as a lovable but psychotic and violent charmer, and just as quickly fought against said typecasting in order to assert himself and prove his mettle. His tenacity and desire to challenge himself as an actor eventually earned him the lead in Martin Scorsese's classic mob drama Goodfellas in 1990, putting him in the unenviable position of having to hold his own opposite Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. Liotta delivered the goods, and made a name for himself in the process. He has continued to branch out over the course of his stunning career, so that even though it’s often his no-holds-barred, scary-as-hell performances -- in Something Wild, Unlawful Entry, Cop Land, Hannibal, and Narc, among others -- that sometimes get the most attention, it’s his quirky, comedic, romantic, and daunting roles in the likes of Field of Dreams, Heartbreakers, Wild Hogs, Bee Movie, and an Emmy Award-winning appearance on "ER" in 2004 that frequently overshadow those hard-bitten characters. It’s a testament to the man’s skill and accomplishments that his projects currently in the works include two comedies (Youth in Revolt and Crazy on the Outside), a thriller (13), a drama (Ticket Out), and a family flick (Snowmen). Liotta's so busy that he was able to turn down an offer to appear on "The Sopranos" for two years. Not bad for a crazy guy.

Information provided by the festival