Last updated on: July 29, 2025
Let’s be honest: When you hear the name Ray Liotta, your mind probably goes straight to mobsters, intense stares, and Goodfellas quotes you can’t help but repeat. I get it—I’ve done it too. But here’s something that might surprise you…
Some of his most soul-stirring, versatile, and downright unforgettable performances didn’t happen on the big screen. They happened on TV.
Yep, TV.
And if you’ve never seen Ray Liotta the television actor, you’re missing a side of him that’s just as brilliant—maybe even more personal, more raw. Whether he was playing a corrupt cop, a dying man, or even himself, Ray brought the same commitment and emotional truth that made him a legend in Hollywood.
Why You Should Care About Ray Liotta’s TV Work
You know what’s funny? For someone who dominated movies for decades, Liotta slipped into TV like he’d been doing it all along.
But here’s the thing: TV gave him time. Space. A chance to slow down and let characters breathe. It wasn’t about the car chases or shootouts (though there were a few). It was about who the character was when the world wasn’t watching. The broken man behind the badge. The father who didn’t know how to say “I’m proud of you.” The villain who smiled too calmly.
TV gave Ray Liotta something movies didn’t always offer: depth without a deadline.
And the result? Pure gold.
1. Black Bird (2022)
Let me start with the one that hit me the hardest.
In Black Bird, a true-crime drama on Apple TV+, Ray plays Big Jim Keene—a retired cop watching his son spiral into prison after a drug conviction. Now, this isn’t a big action role or some flashy character with killer lines. It’s something else entirely.
He’s just… a dad. A father with guilt written across his face, trying to hold it together while watching his son face the unthinkable.
You can see the pain in his eyes in every scene. The kind of pain you can’t fake. The kind of pain that probably comes from a lifetime of regrets, both real and fictional.
What makes this performance even more powerful is the timing. Ray Liotta passed away not long after filming it. So when you watch Black Bird, you’re not just watching a character—you’re watching a man say goodbye, in his own quiet, beautiful way.
It’s haunting. It’s intimate. And it will stay with you.
2. Modern Family (2010)
Okay, let’s lighten it up for a sec.
Did you know Ray Liotta played himself on Modern Family? Yep. And not the humble, serious version either. He went full Hollywood—“Ray Liotta with a mansion and ego the size of New Jersey.”
In the episode “Treehouse,” Mitch and Cam discover that their new neighbor is, well, Ray freaking Liotta. And instead of just showing up for a quick “Hi, I’m famous” bit, he leans into it. He’s petty. He’s vain. He’s ridiculous. And he’s hilarious.
What made it so good? He wasn’t afraid to poke fun at his tough-guy image. It’s like seeing a lion wear a clown nose—but in a good way. You realize this man, known for playing stone-cold killers, could actually laugh at himself—and make you laugh too.
For a moment, he wasn’t Henry Hill or some morally gray detective. He was just Ray. And honestly, I loved that.
3. ER (2004)
Let me paint you a picture.
You’re watching an episode of ER, and this middle-aged guy named Charlie is wheeled into the emergency room. He’s dying—alcoholic, liver failure, alone. He knows it. The doctors know it. And you, the viewer, are strapped in for what’s essentially a 45-minute countdown.
That man is Ray Liotta.
The episode is called “Time of Death,” and it’s filmed in real time. The camera barely leaves Liotta’s face. And what he does in that single episode? It’s devastating. You watch a man confront his past—his failures, his regrets, his broken relationships—with no time to fix any of it.
I remember sitting there, stunned, as the credits rolled. I didn’t cry, exactly. But I felt hollow—like I’d just said goodbye to someone I knew.
Ray won an Emmy for that role. And he earned every second of it.
4. Hanna (2021)
Let’s switch gears.
In the third season of Hanna, the Amazon Prime series about a genetically enhanced teenage assassin, Ray Liotta steps in as Gordon Evans—a high-level CIA puppet master with cold eyes and a colder heart.
He’s smart. Polished. And scary calm. The kind of villain who doesn’t yell—he just looks at you and you feel like running.
Here’s what made it cool: Most actors try to play evil by going big. Not Liotta. He was subtle. Controlled. He let the silence do the talking. It reminded me of those chess players who smile while trapping you five moves ahead.
Even in a supporting role, Liotta stole every scene. You didn’t cheer for him—but you couldn’t stop watching him. That’s power.
5. Shades of Blue (2016–2018)
This one’s a hidden gem.
In NBC’s Shades of Blue, Ray plays Lt. Matt Wozniak, a tough-as-nails NYPD detective with a moral compass that spins like a roulette wheel. He’s not a villain. But he’s not a hero either.
He’s… complicated.
And that’s exactly why you can’t stop watching him. He’s mentoring Jennifer Lopez’s character, Harlee, while leading a crew of dirty cops. One minute he’s protecting his team like a father figure, the next he’s crossing lines you didn’t even know existed.
Here’s the thing: Wozniak could’ve been cartoonish in another actor’s hands. But Ray brought layers. You could see the pain behind the eyes. The betrayal. The buried conscience clawing its way up.
This wasn’t just another crime show. It was a deep dive into loyalty, guilt, and blurred lines—and Ray Liotta was the emotional core of it all.
So… What’s the Takeaway Here?
Ray Liotta didn’t just act. He disappeared into his characters.
We remember him for Goodfellas—as we should. But if you stop there, you miss out on something special. You miss the man who:
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Made you laugh as himself on Modern Family
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Broke your heart in Black Bird
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Made you rethink what “bad guy” even means in Hanna
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And reminded us, in ER, what it feels like to be human and afraid
TV gave us a chance to see Ray Liotta in full color—not just the gangster, not just the growl. But the pain, the humor, the complexity.
And if you’ve never seen these performances? You’re in for something unforgettable.
Final Thoughts
Ray Liotta didn’t just leave behind a legacy. He left behind lessons—on how to act, how to feel, and how to leave everything on the screen.
