American actor Mark Margolis, famous for his portrayal of former drug kingpin Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has passed away at the age of 83. Margolis died after a brief illness at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, surrounded by his wife, Jacqueline, and son, Morgan.
Throughout his impressive five-decade career, Margolis appeared in over 60 films, including notable works such as Scarface, Ace Ventura, and The Wrestler. However, it was his role as Salamanca that brought him widespread recognition and popularity. In Breaking Bad, Salamanca was a vengeful ex-drug lord who communicated solely through a brass bell attached to his wheelchair. Margolis’s performance was so exceptional that he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2012.
Born in Philadelphia in 1939, Margolis moved to New York to pursue his acting career. He honed his craft under the tutelage of Stella Adler and began his journey on stage. Margolis made a name for himself in the theater world, appearing in over 50 off-Broadway plays. One of his notable roles was portraying Bernie Madoff in a 2010 regional production of Imagining Madoff, as reported by Deadline.
Robert Kolker, Margolis’s manager, paid tribute to the late actor, saying, “He was one of a kind. We won’t see his likes again. He was a treasured client and a lifelong friend. I was lucky to know him.” Margolis’s versatility and talent left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, and his presence will be deeply missed.
