LOS ANGELES: Actor Ray Liotta, who starred in Martin Scorsese’s gangster classic “Goodfellas,” has died in the Dominican Republic, the country’s cinema authority said Thursday. He was 67.
Liotta, whose blistering turn as real-life mobster Henry Hill in Scorsese’s crime masterpiece won universal admiration, was shooting a new film in the country when he died, a spokeswoman for the Dominican Republic’s General Direction of Cinema said.
“We understand that he was accompanied by his (fiancee) and that the (fiancee) asks that you please respect her grief,” the spokeswoman told AFP.
Liotta’s publicist in Los Angeles confirmed his death, saying the actor died in his sleep and that there were no suspicious circumstances.
He was working on a movie called “Dangerous Waters” at the time of his death.
Liotta’s breakout came in 1990 when he was cast alongside Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in what is widely considered one of the greatest films of the 20th century.
“Goodfellas” won one Oscar, and was nominated for five others, and scenes from the movie continue to resonate as cultural touchstones more than three decades later.
A year before “Goodfellas,” Liotta had played baseball star “Shoeless Joe” Jackson in beloved sports movie “Field of Dreams,” opposite Kevin Costner.
The film was nominated for three Oscars, including best picture.
Tributes began to be paid soon after news of Liotta’s death broke, with “Goodfellas” co-star Lorraine Bracco, who played his on-screen wife, Karen, saying she was “utterly shattered to hear this terrible news.”
“I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas,” she tweeted.
“Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the same... Ray Liotta.”
Despite branching out to show his breadth as an actor, Liotta had recently returned to the world of mob films, with roles in Steven Soderbergh’s “No Sudden Move” and “The Sopranos” prequel “The Many Saints of Newark.”
Liotta was born in Newark, on the US East Coast, in December 1954.
Variety reported he was left at an orphanage at birth and adopted when he was six months old.
At the University of Miami he performed in musicals, and after graduating landed a role in a soap opera that would provide him with three years’ work to 1981.
His first movie came in 1983, but it wasn’t until 1986’s “Something Wild” opposite Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels that he came to wider attention.
The comedy-action-romance was screened at Cannes and scored Liotta a Golden Globe nomination for supporting actor.
‘Goodfellas’ actor Ray Liotta dead
https://arab.news/r3ugv
‘Goodfellas’ actor Ray Liotta dead
- Ray Liotta’s publicist in Los Angeles confirmed his death, saying the actor died in his sleep and that there were no suspicious circumstances
- Liotta, whose turn as mobster Henry Hill in Scorsese’s crime masterpiece, ‘Goodfellas,’ won universal admiration, was shooting a film in the Dominican Republic when he died
REVIEW: ‘F1: The Movie’ — high-octane entertainment and old-school charm
DUBAI: There’s a moment in “F1: The Movie,” where you’ll feel like you're flying, all while strapped into a tiny metal box hurtling at a speed you can't comprehend. This is when you realize this isn’t just another sports drama; it’s a sleek love letter to Formula 1, anchored by Brad Pitt’s enduring star power and a surprisingly effective dynamic with relative newcomer Damson Idris.
Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a grizzled former driver lured back to the thrills of the pit lane for one last go. He’s all swagger and scars, but yes, he’s still got it. Pitt’s presence brings gravitas to a film that flirts with the edges of cheesiness but never forgets its emotional core. Whether he’s behind the wheel or delivering motivational growls in the garage, he sells it — and then some.
Opposite him is Idris as Joshua Pearce, a rising star struggling to reconcile his love for the sport with the noise that comes with the fame and money, who becomes Sonny’s reluctant protege. Idris brings a fresh, fiery intensity that balances Pitt’s seasoned cool. The strained mentor-mentee trope has been done to death, but it’s portrayed with sincerity and the right amount of tension here.
Additionally, Kerry Condon delivers a sharp, emotionally solid performance as the team’s no-nonsense engineer, anchoring the high-octane chaos with quiet authority. Her scenes with Pitt crackle with wit and chemistry, and deliver some of the bigger laughs.
Director Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) brings his signature high-octane style to the film, especially the race sequences. The sound design is impeccable, the cinematography breathtaking. And composer Hans Zimmer's layered, gorgeously synth-drenched background score goes well with a soundtrack that thumps out rock one minute and smooth R'n'B next.
The film builds toward a final showdown in Abu Dhabi, and while the climax is predictable, it’s executed with such unapologetic flair that you can’t help but cheer. The Yas Marina circuit has never looked more cinematic — it’s the perfect backdrop for a finish that’s equal parts cheesy and thrilling.
“F1” isn’t rewriting the sports-movie playbook, but it really doesn’t need to. It’s crowd-pleasing, adrenaline-fueled, masterfully executed entertainment with more than enough heart to keep it grounded.
Kneecap ‘welcome’ at Glastonbury
- Irish hip-hop trio have publicly spoken out against Israel’s war on Gaza
- Some UK politicians, including PM, want group to be axed from iconic festival
LONDON: Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap are “welcome” at the Glastonbury music festival despite objections by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the event’s co-organizer has said.
The band, which have publicly spoken out against Israel’s war on Gaza, are scheduled to play at the iconic British festival this week.
Member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with a terrorism offense last year after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a show in London. The band said the charge was a “distraction.”
Some politicians, including opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, have called for the trio’s performance at Glastonbury — set for Saturday — to be axed. Starmer this week said Kneecap’s presence at the event would not be “appropriate.”
Emily Eavis, Glastonbury’s co-organizer, told the BBC: “We’re just focusing on bringing the best festival to the people who want to come here … We remain a platform for many, many artists from all over the world and … everyone is welcome here.”
Kneecap responded to Starmer in a social media post, saying: “You know what’s ‘not appropriate’ Keir?! Arming a f***ing genocide.”
Rachel Zegler stands by support for Gaza despite backlash
DUBAI: US actress Rachel Zegler has responded to the backlash she received for speaking out in support of Palestine, saying, “Nothing is worth innocent lives.”
The “West Side Story” star, who played the lead in Disney’s 2025 live-action remake of “Snow White,” came under fire during the film’s press tour for her political posts about the war in Gaza. In a new interview with i-D, she addressed the vitriol she faced — not just for her stance on Palestine, but also the widespread online narrative blaming her for the film’s poor box office performance.
Zegler pushed back against the idea that actors should stay silent on humanitarian issues for fear of professional fallout.
“I can really only echo Hannah Einbinder in saying that a platform becomes a responsibility, and that responsibility is ours to use as we please,” Zegler said, referencing the “Hacks” actor’s powerful remarks at a Human Rights Campaign dinner earlier this year, in which Einbinder criticized Israel’s assault on Gaza and emphasized the need for public figures to speak up.
“My compassion has no boundaries, is really what it is, and my support for one cause does not denounce any others. That’s always been at the core of who I am as a person. It’s the way I was raised,” Zegler continued.
“There are obviously things that are at stake by being outspoken, but nothing is worth innocent lives. My heart doesn’t have a fence around it, and if that is considered my downfall? There are worse things.”
In August 2023, “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” actor expressed support for Palestine when she shared the first official “Snow White” trailer on X. She thanked her fans for their support, before adding in a separate post: “And always remember, free Palestine.”
Lebanese dance troupe Mayyas take to the stage with Beyonce
DUBAI: Lebanese dance group Mayyas, winners of Season 17 of “America’s Got Talent,” once again shared the stage with US singing sensation Beyonce for her Paris show of the “Cowboy Carter Tour.” The troupe performed alongside her during “Protector,” stepping in for her usual dancers.
“Honored to share the stage for the second time with the Queen,” posted the group on Instagram after the show on the weekend.
Choreographer Nadim Cherfan also took to Instagram to talk about the significance of the show.
“Proud to witness my choreographies come to life on the world tour of the biggest star of the century - @Beyonce - a dream turned reality on the global stage. During the darkest days of war in Lebanon, when everything around us felt like it was falling apart, we turned to creation. In silence and uncertainty, I poured my soul into these choreographies — never knowing they would one day shine on the biggest stage in the world.
“To the incredible dancers @mayyasofficial who stood by me through the chaos, your dedication and strength are etched into every step. This is our victory,” he added.
The Mayyas previously performed alongside Beyonce at the opening of Atlantis The Royal in Dubai in 2023.
“Beyonce has been my dream since I was a child,” Cherfan said in an earlier interview with Arab News. “She is the artist of my life, and working with her made my dream come true. Since then, it has been really hard to work with any other artist because, as we all know, the queen has set the standard really high. It was an experience I will never forget.”
Review: Toronto Arab Film Festival screens searing ‘Arze’
DUBAI: The Toronto Arab Film Festival, running from June 20- 29, screened the scathing yet poignant Lebanese film “Arze,” directed by Mira Shabib.
The ambitious “Arze” — which means "cedar" in Arabic — follows the story of Arze, a single mother supporting her teenage son and love-struck sister through a homemade pie delivery business. In an effort to improve their lives, she steals and sells her sister’s jewelry to buy a scooter for her son to use for deliveries. But when the scooter is stolen, mother and son embark on a frantic journey across Beirut to recover it.
On the surface, “Arze” tells a story that resonates deeply with many Lebanese families caught in financial limbo. It explores the emotional toll of such hardship, with questions arising as to whether one should leave the country or give up remnants of a once-comfortable life to survive Lebanon’s shifting socio-economic landscape.
Beneath the family drama lies sharp satire. Even the film’s title that references the cedar tree, a national symbol of Lebanese identity, carries layered meaning. Like the character herself, that identity appears fragmented, constantly lost amid the country’s sectarian divides. This is where the film truly shines: Arze, portrayed with emotional depth by Diamand Abou Abboud, dons various religious symbols and disguises to navigate Beirut’s fractured neighborhoods.
Shabib excels in exposing the farce of sectarianism, insinuating that Lebanon’s religious divisions are not deeply rooted but socially constructed and performative. Arze’s ability to blend into different communities simply by changing her appearance highlights how fragile and superficial these boundaries truly are.
In this sense, the film excels in its portrayal of a fourth main character: Beirut itself. Through Shabib’s lens, we are taken on a tour of a city so diverse it borders on overwhelming. Yet this diversity, rather than being a source of division, becomes a stage for a pointed critique, one that targets society’s fixation on appearances and its preference for the performative over lived reality.
