The entertainment industry mourns the loss of Mark Margolis, renowned for his portrayal of Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad and its spin-off series Better Call Saul.
The actor passed away at age 83 on Thursday, August 4, after a brief illness, per The Hollywood Reporter. The sad news was announced by his son, Morgan Margolis, CEO of Knitting Factory Entertainment, stating that his father died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
With an illustrious career spanning decades, Margolis' performance as Hector Salamanca earned him immense popularity among fans and critical acclaim.
This Netflix success story bagged him an Emmy nomination for the outstanding guest actor in a drama series in 2012. His captivating portrayal left such a lasting impression that he was brought back to reprise the role in the spin-off series Better Call Saul.
In 2016, Margolis reflected on his return as Hector and expressed surprise at the affection fans held for his character. He said, as per The Hollywood Reporter, "I was only coming onto Breaking Bad as far as I knew for that one episode, but there’s no accounting for taste, and the fans took a fancy to me."
He playfully addressed the queries about his ability to portray such a loathsome character by saying, "Somebody asked me recently, ‘How did you manage to play such a horrible guy?’ and I said, ‘Have you talked to my friends?’ They’ll tell you I’m pretty miserable to begin with."
The news of his passing has deeply affected fans and industry professionals alike, as they remember Margolis' significant contributions to the entertainment world.
Margolis, acclaimed for his compelling performances in illustrious films such as Requiem For A Dream, Scarface, and Black Swan, leaves behind an unforgettable legacy in the cinematic universe.
Known for his portrayal of iconic characters like Alberto "The Shadow" in Scarface, he shared the big screen with powerhouses like Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Al Pacino.
Born into a modest family in 1939 in Philadelphia, Margolis's journey towards becoming an esteemed actor started at an early age. With a decorator mother and a factory worker father, Margolis took his first acting class at Temple University when he was just 14. Thereafter, he moved to the cultural hub of New York to study drama under the legendary Stella Adler at The Actors Studio.
In an Inside the Gilliverse interview with Eric Broadbent in December 2020, Margolis reflected on his experience learning from Stella Adler. He said, "My first impression of her was, ‘If God is a woman, this is him.' She was larger than life. Everything that I know [about acting] came from Stella."
Before rising to fame as Alberto in Scarface in 1983, Margolis had various minor roles. His acting career took a brief pause post-Scarface, a reality many actors encounter.
He disclosed, "I am just a journeyman actor. Truth to tell, six months after Scarface, I had to take a job with a real estate development friend for a few months just to get by."
Despite the ebb and flow of his career, Margolis continued to craft memorable characters, leaving an indelible mark on the world of film.
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