“He headed straight for me” – Taron Egerton shares great Ray Liotta story at Walk of Fame event

Simon Kelly

The Goodfellas actor was awarded his star just short of a year from his untimely death.

Ray Liotta, who suddenly passed away in May of last year at the age of 67, was celebrated on Friday in Hollywood as friends and family unveiled his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Liotta’s 24-year-old daughter Karsen accepted the honour on her father’s behalf.

“I’m so touched to be accepting this honour on behalf of my dad. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He was a one-of-a-kind actor and the best friend, brother, and father anyone could have asked for. I lucked out with you.”

“If you have a Ray in your life, you’re lucky. I love you so much. Thank you for your work and the imprint you left on me and all of those who love you. Everyone deserves a Ray in their life.”

"He was the epitome of an actor's actor." Taron Egerton honors Ray Liotta at the late actor's posthumous Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. https://t.co/I4cqaX87jc pic.twitter.com/vMoKvNkJCg

— Variety (@Variety) February 24, 2023

Welsh actor Taron Egerton, who starred alongside Liotta in one of his last onscreen performances in the miniseries Black Bird, made an emotional speech honouring the effect the actor had on his career.

“When I watch those scenes [in Black Bird], I know they are the best acting of my career. That is because of Ray. It’s because he was that kind of rare artist that brought all of himself to his work. All of his intensity, all of his vulnerability and, in the case of our show, all of his love.”

Liotta was known for his piercing stare and tough-guy persona, something Egerton was well aware of upon first meeting him. The Rocket Man star said he was initially “quite scared” of Liotta but went on to share the story of how they first met, revealing a more tender side to the actor.

“I had been trying to figure out a way to approach him when he saw me, headed straight for me and hugged me without saying a word. It sounds insignificant but it wasn’t. It instantly put me at ease and a bond formed between us that I have always found quite hard to describe.”

Also in the crowd at the unveiling was actor and director Elizabeth Banks, who directed Riotta’s last on-screen performance in the recently-released Cocaine Bear. In the comedy flick, Liotta plays Syd White, a drug kingpin. The film is dedicated to his memory.

“When any actor of Ray’s calibre puts trust in you as a director, it’s a gift. But Ray gave me so much more… Ray’s respect for me as a director, as his boss on set, meant everything to me, because if you can direct Henry Hill, you can do f—ing anything in this town. I am very grateful Ray Liotta blessed my life, because I will carry the confidence he gave me forever.”

Liotta shot to fame in the late 80’s and early 90’s with his roles in the sports drama Field of Dreams and the crime drama Goodfellas, the latter giving him his most iconic part as Henry Hill. The New Jersey actor went on to become well-regarded in crime, drama and comedy films. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1986 for his role in Something Wild.