Ray Liotta's Cause of Death Revealed
Ray Liotta's cause of death was revealed one year after the actor was reported to have "died in his sleep." Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Officials in the Dominican Republic have revealed the cause of death of award-winning actor Ray Liotta one year after he died.

According to official autopsy documents obtained by TMZ, Liotta's manner of death was determined to be "natural and nonviolent," citing heart and respiratory system problems.

The documents particularly noted that the "Goodfellas" actor's cause of death was respiratory insufficiency, pulmonary edema or fluid in the lungs, and acute heart failure.

Officials also discovered that Liotta suffered from atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the artery walls, which according to the Mayo Clinic, can lead to problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

Liotta was found dead in his hotel in Santo Domingo in May last year. The 67-year-old actor was in the Dominican Republic to film the movie "Dangerous Waters."

Liotta died peacefully in his sleep, a source close to him told TMZ. His body was eventually flown back to his family in the United States.

Ray Liotta Honored With Posthumous Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Ray Liotta's contributions to Hollywood were celebrated last February when he was honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

His fiancee Jacy Nittolo and his daughter Karsen Liotta accepted the award. During the ceremony, Karsen shared how proud she was of all his father's achievements.

"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 ask for," Karsen said.

She added: "If you have a Ray in your life, you're lucky. 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."

Ray Liotta Early Life and Career

Born in 1954 in New Jersey, Ray Liotta was adopted from an orphanage at the age of six months by a township clerk and an auto parts owner, according to NZ Herald.

During his youth, he enjoyed playing sports, such as baseball, and he was first introduced to the theater during his final year of high school.

This experience provoked his interest in acting, prompting him to pursue formal study on acting at the University of Miami. After graduation, Liotta landed his major break in the soap drama "Another World."

At 31, Liotta got his first film job, but it was not until Jonathan Demme's "Something Wild" that he made a name for himself and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor, GO BankingRates reported.

Liotta also appeared in various films such as "Hannibal," "Blow," and "Field of Dreams." His voice acting for Tommy Vercetti in the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" also gained immense popularity.

On television, Liotta made guest appearances on several shows, winning an Emmy for his work on "ER" and receiving a Screen Actors Guild nomination for his portrayal of Frank Sinatra in "The Rat Pack."

Liotta also co-starred with Jennifer Lopez in the NBC drama "Shades of Blue" as he plays Lieutenant Matt Wozniak.

Most recently, Liotta's career has risen due to his noteworthy performances in critically acclaimed films such as "Marriage Story" and "No Sudden Move," directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Ray Liotta was previously married to producer Michelle Grace, also the former spouse of Major League Baseball star Mark Grace. The couple was married from 1997 to 2004.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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