R.I.P. Ángel Salazar: ‘Scarface’ Actor Dead At 68

Actor and comedian Ángel Salazar died on Sunday (Aug. 11). He was 68.

Roger Paul, Salazar’s talent agent, confirmed the news of Salazar’s passing to DECIDER.

TMZ was first to report the news. Ann Wingsong, the late actor’s representative and longtime friend, informed the outlet that Salazar was at his friend’s home in Brooklyn, where said friend had discovered him dead in bed on Sunday morning. His cause of death has yet to be confirmed, though TMZ reports that Salazar experienced heart problems.

As noted by TV Insider, Salazar kicked off his work on screen with Boulevard Nights (1979). However, Salazar may be best known for his portrayal of Chi Chi in the 1983 crime thriller Scarface, which also starred Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and F. Murray Abraham.

In 1988, he appeared in Punchline, starring Tom Hanks and Sally Field, and would later take on a role in Carlito’s Way, which premiered in 1993. Among the other films he acted in were The Wild Life (1984), Sylvester (1985), Maniac Cop 2 (1990), and Counterpunch (2013 ).

With respect to TV, Salazar earned credits on Heart of the City (1986), In Living Color (1991), The Familia: The Rise of Don Pedro (2014), and On Our Own (2020-2021).

Outside of his own comedy specials and stand-up performances, he also appeared on Showtime at the Apollo and Last Comic Standing, per TV Insider.

Among those who have paid tribute to Salazar on social media are comedians Gary Owen and Adam Hunter, and musician Tito Puente Jr., the last of whom wrote, in part, that his “characters and comedy will be forever missed.”