Ray Liotta's cause of death has been revealed almost a year after the news of his tragic passing aged 67.
Fans were left shocked when it was announced that the actor, best known for his roles in Cocaine Bear, Something Wild, and Field of Dreams, had died on May 26, last year.
At the time, it was reported that he was out in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, filming Dangerous Waters when he suffered a sudden heart attack and died in his sleep.
His girlfriend was the one that discovered his body.
As per documents by the country's officials which were obtained by TMZ, Liotta had suffered acute heart failure as well as fluid in the lungs, known medically as pulmonary edema.
This buildup of fluid leads to shortness of breath, thus putting strain on the heart which can lead to death.
It was also revealed that the Goodfellas star had suffered from atherosclerosis which, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a large build-up of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls. This can often lead to other big health issues such as blocked arteries and blood clots.
The documents also categorized Liotta's manner of death as natural and nonviolent, per TMZ.
With a career spanning over four decades, the 67-year-old was known as an icon in the industry.
One of his earliest roles in the late '70s saw him portray a blue-collared worker in a soap titled Another World before he embarked on bigger stints in films such as Dominick and Eugene, In the Name of the King, and Corrina, Corrina.
Beyond those major blockbusters, he also took on smaller, yet still incredibly iconic parts; anyone remember the principal on Disney Channel's hit show Hannah Montana? Yeah, bet you didn't know he was portrayed by Liotta, did you?
But perhaps his most notable role was none other than Henry Hill in Goodfellas, a crime drama starring other entertainment veterans including Robert De Niro and Lorraine Bracco.
In the wake of his death, Bracco offered some kind words about her co-star, saying that she was "utterly shattered".
"I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray," she wrote on Twitter. "I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas. Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the same... Ray Liotta."
Fellow actor, Jeffrey Wright also paid homage to the late star.
"Ray Liotta. Man. Just met dude for the first time last year. GREAT actor. Nice to have had a chance to say that to him. RIP," he wrote.
The producers of Dangerous Waters also issued a statement expressing their shock and sadness over the tragic news.
"We were deeply saddened to learn of Ray’s passing, it’s a tremendous loss and our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, fiancee Jacy and daughter Karsen," it read, as per Metro.
In addition to Dangerous Waters, Liotta had two other films in production at the time of his death: April 29, 1992 and The Substance.
Our thoughts continue to go out to Ray's family, loved ones, and fans at this time.
