Legendary actor Mark Margolis has died at the age of 83. He passed away yesterday in a New York hospital after suffering from a short illness.
Margolis' work spanned decades, first appearing in films in the late 1970s. However, he is best known for his famed performance in the Breaking Bad universe, playing the villainous Hector Salamanca from 2009 to 2022.
Margolis was born on November 26, 1939. He died yesterday, August 3, although the exact cause of death has not been made public (as reported by The Hollywood Reporter).
Throughout the years, he would appear in multiple Darren Aronofsky films, such as Scarface, Requiem for a Dream, and Black Swan. Yet it is one of his final roles that has come to define his career, as he played the Salamanca patriarch over a 13-year period.
This was no small feat. The role of Hector Salamanca was incredibly demanding, requiring remarkable versatility. Introduced as an older man unable to walk or talk, Margolis nonetheless portrayed Salamanca's rage, cunning, and pure hatred for his rivals with ease. As his character was expanded upon in flashbacks and the prequel, Better Call Saul, Margolis would have to play both a much younger version of the character, as well as the crime boss right before his heart attack that would remove much of his mobility.
Yet no matter what state Salamanca was in, Margolis would always steal the show. His are some of the most iconic scenes in the Breaking Bad universe, whether it be assassinating longtime enemy, Gus Fring, or working alongside his violent nephew, Lalo Salamanca. Margolis received an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of the Salamanca boss in Breaking Bad.
Margolis is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; son, Morgan; and grandchildren, Ben, Aidan and Henry.