Ray Liotta Dead at 67: 5 Things to Know About His Fiancee Jacy Nittolo

Credit: Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

Ray Liotta Dead at 67: 5 Things to Know About His Fiancee Jacy Nittolo

A heartbreaking ending to a beautiful love story. Ray Liotta is survived by his fiancée, Jacy Nittolo, and his daughter, Karsen, after dying at the age of 67. The Goodfellas actor was filming the movie Dangerous Waters in the Dominican Republic when he passed away in his sleep, his publicist told NBC News. Liotta and Nittolo, 47, got engaged in December 2020. "Christmas wishes do come true," the Field of Dreams actor wrote via Instagram at the time. “I asked the love of my life to marry me, and thank God she said yes!!!" Liotta was previously married to actress Michelle Grace from 1997 to 2004. They welcomed Karsen, 23, one year after tying the knot. In 2007, the Something Wild actor opened up to The Guardian about his experience with dating post-divorce. "I had a relationship after I got divorced and it didn't feel as equal as I would have liked. I was more vulnerable based on the experience I'd just been through. Everybody brings the dynamics of the previous relationships they were in. It's been a few years now … Dating, I haven't really gotten into that at all. I've only had one or two dates in the past couple of years. It's either going to happen, or not. I'm hoping that it is,” he said at the time. [jwplayer HC8q4egi-zhNYySv2] Liotta and Nittolo were first spotted out and about together in 2019. The late actor's fiancée often shared photos of them together via Instagram. In September 2021, she posted a photo of Liotta holding a cigar up to her mouth. “Smoking hot,” she captioned the picture. In December 2020, she shared a snapshot in honor of the Shades of Blue actor's birthday. “Happy birthday to the love of my life,” she wrote. Although she found happiness with Liotta, Nittolo has tragedy in her past. Her father, Stewart Woodman, was convicted of hiring hitmen to kill his parents — her grandparents — in 1985. The tragedy became known as the Yom Kippur murders as Gerald and Vera Woodman were shot to death upon arriving home from a meal celebrating the conclusion of the Jewish holiday. Nittolo's father died in prison in October 2014. Despite her strained relationship with her father, Nittolo has a strong bond with her own four children — Dax, 24, Chazz, 22, Jade, 19 and Joey, 11 — whom she shares with her ex-husband Joey Nittolo. "They complete me," she captioned a May 2019 Instagram photo of her with her kids. Nittolo has yet to publicly comment on Liotta's death. Scroll down for five things to know about the late actor’s fiancée: [podcast_block]

Credit: Courtesy of Jacy Nittolo/Instagram

1. What Is Her Family Life Like?

Nittolo has a tragic family backstory: Her father — who died in prison in 2014 — and her uncle were convicted of hiring hitmen Steve and Robert Homick to kill their parents in September 1985.

She also revealed via Instagram that her brother was in a severe car accident in 2000. “Severe brain damage from a car accident that wasn’t his fault. 10 weeks in a coma, 2 brain surgeries later, living at Northridge Hospital for months, years of every kind of physical therapy you can imagine, and a family that had been through enough s—t to know to never give up hope no matter what. He’s a true testament to how we roll.... no matter what they say... we will survive and come out ahead and he did. Married with a beautiful family and living a quality of life that most dream of,” she captioned a throwback picture of her and her brother from 1978.

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2. How Did She Meet Liotta?

During a September 2021 appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan, the Hannibal actor revealed that his daughter, Karsen, set him up with Nittolo.

Liotta told hosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest that his daughter met Nittolo through her son Chazz, and told her, “I want you to go out with my dad. I think you’d be perfect for my dad.”

The Newark native explained that Nittolo had reservations about the setup at first and told Karsen, “I want nothing to do with an actor.” Liotta admitted he, too, was skeptical because of the 20-year age difference and because Nittolo’s children were still young. “When you’re in your 60s, the last thing you want is a 10-year-old. Luckily this kid is very cool,” he said on the show about Nittolo’s youngest son, Joey.

Credit: Courtesy of Jacy Nittolo/Instagram

3. How Is Her Relationship With Liotta's Daughter?

Nittolo has Karsen’s name in her Instagram bio, along with the names of her four biological children.

On Mother’s Day in 2021, Nittolo shared a photo via Instagram of her with her children and wrote in the caption, “missing @karsen_liotta.” In September 2020, Karsen shared photos via Instagram of her taking a road trip with Nittolo and her daughter, Jade.

Credit: Courtesy of Jacy Nittolo/Instagram

4. Was She With Liotta When He Died?

Liotta's publicist told NBC News that the Killing Them Softly actor died in his sleep while filming a movie called Dangerous Waters in the Dominican Republic. Nittolo was with him on the trip.

Credit: Courtesy of Jacy Nittolo/Instagram

5. What Does She Do for Work?

Nittolo is a former hairstylist. She got her professional license in barbering and cosmetology in 1994.