Rex Features Liotta with Robert De Niro in Goodfellas

After being abandoned at an orphanage as a baby, he was adopted at six months by township clerk Mary and auto-parts store owner Alfred Liotta. 

He also played Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field Of Dreams and Tommy Vercetti in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. In a 1998 TV film, The Rat Pack, he portrayed the legendary singer and actor Frank Sinatra.

His Broadway debut came in 2004 in dramatic comedy Match, while he also appeared in Muppets From Space and Muppets Most Wanted.

His career was still very much active. Recent projects included The Many Saints of Newark, Marriage Story and No Sudden Move.

Speaking in 2016, Liotta said he had regrets about the course of his career - including turning down the chance to audition for Tim Burton's Batman film.

"I wish I'd handled my career differently but, you know, hindsight…" he commented.

"When I did my first movie, Tim Burton was getting ready to do Batman, and he was interested in me because he wanted it to be edgy and real.

"I thought, 'Batman? That's a stupid idea,' even though he had just done one of my favourite movies of all time, Beetlejuice. So, yes, I regret not auditioning for that."

Goodfellas remained the film for which he was best known - something he was comfortable with.

"People ask if I'm bothered by that, but no, Goodfellas will be a top 10 movie for years and years, it seems," he said.

"I have kids coming up to me like the movie's just come out that week… That and Field Of Dreams. I get a lot of Field Of Dreams lovers too."