Sports World Pays Tribute to ‘Field of Dreams’ Star Ray Liotta

The veteran actor who also starred in “Goodfellas” passed away Thursday at 67.

Renowned actor Ray Liotta, who starred as “Shoeless” Joe Jackson in the classic baseball movie Field of Dreams in 1989, has passed away at 67.

Liotta broke onto the scene in 1986 for his turn in Jonathan Demme’s action romantic-comedy Something Wild, and later gave what became the most iconic performance of his career in 1990’s Martin Scorsese gangster film Goodfellas. But in between, his portrayal of Jackson  immediately endeared himself to movie and baseball fans alike, and instantly joined the ranks of classic baseball movie characters of all time.

In the film, Jackson emerges from the cornfield of an Iowa farmer suffering a mid-life crisis and helps him repair his broken relationship with his late father. Liotta imbues Jackson with a softness and warmth, something the actor played off of in Goodfellas and other later roles in which he often played criminals or hardened law enforcement officers.

As the film industry sent condolences to honor the late actor, so too did members of the sports world. See some of their well-wishes below:

Ray Liotta, the actor who played Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, has passed away. RIP 🙏pic.twitter.com/HDFfzz3SXL

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 26, 2022

“I’ve had a lot of people come up to me and say because of [‘Field of Dreams’], they play with their kids more. You know? That time goes, and you’re busy working, and before you know it, time’s up.”

- Ray Liotta to the American Film Institute pic.twitter.com/Q9UWS7v6Nc

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 26, 2022

RIP to the great Ray Liotta. "Field of Dreams" is probably the movie I've seen the most. another gut punch. pic.twitter.com/fH4d7B3eJY

— Chris Brockman🎙️ (@chrisbrockman) May 26, 2022

RIP Ray Liotta. A horrible loss to us all.

Hope there’s a Field of Dreams up there. https://t.co/8zFJGjFgW8

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 26, 2022

"Hey, is this Heaven?"

"No, it's Iowa."

Rest in Peace Ray Liotta pic.twitter.com/vtuB57Js0V

— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) May 26, 2022

Actor Ray Liotta, who has died at the age of 67, starred in many movies over the decades.

But for us, he’ll always be Shoeless Joe from “Field of Dreams.” pic.twitter.com/JWBl79G7Ir

— ESPN (@espn) May 26, 2022