Taron Egerton has shared an affecting and heartfelt tribute to late actor Ray Liotta.
The Rocketman actor worked with the Goodfellas legend for upcoming Apple TV Plus series Black Bird – in which they play father and son – and recalled the ‘warm and easy connection’ they formed off-screen in a post on Instagram.
Next to an image of Liotta circa 1990, Egerton wrote: ‘I stepped on the set of Black Bird in May of last year deeply excited that I would be working with Ray Liotta and even more excited that he would be playing my father.
‘He was keeping himself to himself. Protecting his energy and his performance. I didn’t know how to approach him as I didn’t want to intrude.
‘He caught my eye and walked over to me and hugged me without saying a word. It was a long hug. But not uncomfortable. We only spoke to each other in character for that first day. I took my lead from him. I think he wanted us to be a father and son before we were colleagues.’
Egerton praised Liotta’s generosity and said he’d always be ‘proud’ of the scenes they filmed together and the ‘real relationship’ they created.
‘What ensued was a profound experience for me as an actor; I have never felt such an easy, warm connection with another performer. He was so generous. If I went one way he followed me. Always dancing. Always listening. Never self-generated,’ he continued.
‘I am extraordinarily proud of my next project. It was hard work and I was blessed to have a number of incredible scene partners, but I will always be most proud of my scenes with Ray; the relationship we built felt real in some strange way.
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‘When I first saw our show I text him telling him that I felt his performance was beautiful and that I was very proud of our work. His response was: “You made it easy to love my son.” Ray, the feeling was so, so mutual.
‘I will miss you.’
Liotta died aged 67 in his sleep in the Dominican Republic.
Deadline reported that the star had been filming a new movie, Dangerous Waters, in which he was starring alongside Odeya Rush, Eric Dane, and Saffron Burrows.
Apple TV’s Black Bird, which will arrive this summer, is inspired on by actual events, and follows the story high school football hero and decorated policeman’s son Jimmy Keene (Egerton) as he is sentenced to 10 years in a minimum security prison.
Black Bird will launch on Apple TV on July 8th.
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