Ángel Salazar, known for his role in “Scarface,” has passed away at the age of 68. The actor and comedian, who played the friend of the gangster portrayed by Al Pacino in the film, died last Sunday. His spokesperson and close friend, Ann Wingsong, confirmed his death to the U.S. entertainment site “TMZ.”
According to Wingsong, Salazar passed away in his sleep at a friend’s house in Brooklyn. The friend discovered the Cuban-American actor dead in bed the following morning. The cause of death is currently unknown, but Wingsong mentioned that Salazar had been suffering from heart problems.
Ángel Salazar made his film debut in 1979 with a small role in the gangster film “Boulevard Nights.” His most famous role came four years later in a classic of the genre. He was part of the cast of “Scarface,” alongside Al Pacino, where he played Chi Chi, one of the loyal henchmen of Pacino’s character, the exiled Cuban and gangster Tony Montana, also known as Scarface.
Stand-up comedian and gangster film specialist
In 1988, Ángel Salazar appeared on screen with another superstar, Tom Hanks. In the comedy “Punchline,” Hanks played a stand-up comedian, a world Salazar was very familiar with. In addition to his acting career, Salazar also performed as a comedian.
However, his main focus remained on gangster films. In 1993, he reunited on screen with Al Pacino in “Carlito’s Way,” directed by “Scarface” director Brian De Palma. In the last few decades, Ángel Salazar appeared in numerous small films, mostly horror or, naturally, gangster films, though none of them gained significant recognition. His final film was shot this year, in which he played a character named Chi Chi in “Brooklyn Premiere.”
