Scarface star dies in his sleep at 68
Angel Salazar had quite a few films under his belt. But undoubtedly, none is as iconic as the 1983 mafia epic "Scarface". In the film, the actor played one of the loyal henchmen of gangster boss Tony Montana, portrayed by Al Pacino. Sadly, Salazar has passed away.
Angel Salazar has died. The actor, known particularly for his role in "Scarface", passed away on Sunday at the age of 68. His spokesperson and close friend, Ann Wingsong, confirmed his death to the US celebrity website "TMZ". Salazar died in his sleep at a friend's house in Brooklyn.
His friend found the Cuban-American actor dead in bed in the morning, Wingsong said. The exact cause of death was not immediately known. However, Wingsong revealed that Salazar had been suffering from heart problems.
The 1956-born Salazar made his film debut in 1979 with a small role in the gangster film "Boulevard Nights". Four years later, he landed his most famous role in a classic of the genre - alongside Al Pacino. In "Scarface", he played Chi Chi, a loyal henchman of the exiled Cuban gangster Tony Montana, portrayed by Pacino.
Between Gangster and Comedian
In 1988, Salazar appeared in front of the camera with another superstar: Tom Hanks. In the comedy "Punchline - The Knockabout", Hanks played a stand-up comedian. A world that Salazar was very familiar with. Besides his acting career, he also performed as a comedian.
However, his main field of activity remained gangster films. In 1993, he reunited with Al Pacino on screen. They starred together in "Carlito's Way", directed by "Scarface" director Brian De Palma.
In recent decades, Salazar has appeared in numerous small films, mostly horror or gangster films. However, there are no well-known titles among them. With "The Brooklyn Premiere", he shot his last film just this year.
The role in "Scarface" brought Angel Salazar considerable fame. His comedic skills were also showcased in the film "Punchline - The Knockabout" alongside Tom Hanks.
