'Scarface' actor ángel Salazar dies at 68

Anika Reed, USA TODAY
·2 min read

Actor ángel Salazar, best known for his role as Tony Montana's friend in the lauded crime drama "Scarface," has died. He was 68.

Salazar's rep Roger Paul confirmed his death in an emailed statement to USA TODAY Monday, saying the actor "passed away in his sleep." Salazar's cause of death was not immediately released.

Salazar acted alongside some of Hollywood's greats during his decades-long career, including with Tom Hanks in the 1988 comedy drama "Punchline" as Rico and twice with director Brian De Palma and Al Pacino in 1983's "Scarface" as Chi Chi and a decade later in 1993's "Carlito's Way" as Walberto.

In "Scarface," Salazar is forever memorialized as the trusted sidekick and soldier of Pacino's hotheaded Tony, with both starring alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer, F. Murray Abraham and late actors Robert Loggia and Mark Margolis.

Actor Angel Salazar arrives at an event celebrating the release of "Scarface" on Blu-ray at the Belasco Theatre on Aug. 23, 2011, in Los Angeles.
Actor Angel Salazar arrives at an event celebrating the release of "Scarface" on Blu-ray at the Belasco Theatre on Aug. 23, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Salazar's nearly 50 acting credits span television and film across 45 years, with his earliest role in Michael Pressman's 1979 reflection on Los Angeles gang life, "Boulevard Nights," according to IMDb.

His other notable films include 1980's "Where the Buffalo Roam," 1982's "A Stranger Is Watching" and 1988's "Hot to Trot." He also appeared in episodes of the sketch comedy show "In Living Color," "Heart of the City," "Jersey Mafia Chronicles," "The New $treetz Seriez" and "On Our Own."

Actors F. Murray Abraham, Al Pacino, Steven Bauer and Angel Salazar arrive at an event celebrating the release of "Scarface" on Blu-ray at the Belasco Theatre on Aug. 23, 2011, in Los Angeles.
Actors F. Murray Abraham, Al Pacino, Steven Bauer and Angel Salazar arrive at an event celebrating the release of "Scarface" on Blu-ray at the Belasco Theatre on Aug. 23, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Salazar also worked in standup comedy, appearing on "Last Comic Standing."

At the time of his death, Salazar had multiple roles across projects in various stages of production, according to IMDb.

Industry colleagues and friends remembered Salazar after his death.

Bandleader and artist Tito Puente Jr. recalled Salazar's iconic roles, sharing on X, "Rest in peace Angel Salazar 'chichi' you were an amazing actor and good friend hermano."

Comedian Adam Hunter wrote, "RIP to my friend Angel Salazar. Worked together a few months ago. Comedy legend."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Angel Salazar dead: 'Scarface,' 'Carlito's Way' actor was 68

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