The late Ray Liotta received a well-deserved Emmy nomination for Black Bird

Ray Liotta was an actor who was never limited by gender, but his reputation as the "Goodfellas" led to a healthy career playing heavyweight. But despite the tough exterior, there was always a palpable warmth and passion in all of his performances. "He just brought that level of focus, tenderness and vulnerability to the part that was just beautiful," co-star Taron Egerton told Entertainment Weekly. He also noted that Liotta's scenes in the limited series "are kind of the heart of the show, really". Indeed, it seems the Television Academy would agree.

"It's a very dysfunctional relationship, but it's a love-filled relationship and Ray really delivered that," Egerton said. "I absolutely loved working with him. It was one of the most special experiences of my career." Liotta's daughter, Karsen Liotta, thanked the Television Academy for the honor in a statement to People Magazine, saying, "I am so grateful to the members of the Television Academy for honoring my father with this nomination. He was so incredibly proud of his performance in 'Black Bird,' and it would mean the world to him to be nominated alongside Taron and Paul."

Liotta's nomination means he now joins a handful of other actors who have received nominations posthumously, including (but certainly not limited to) Chadwick Boseman ("What If.. .?"), Norm MacDonald ("Nothing Special") and Jessica Walters ("Archer") in 2022. The honor is well deserved albeit heartbreaking, as it's a sign that we have truly come to the end of the career by Liotta. Fortunately, we will always have his wonderful work to remember him by.