Mark Margolis passed away Thursday at the age of 83. The actor, known for his roles in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul," died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York after a brief illness. The Hollywood Reporter announced the news which was confirmed by the actor’s son, Knitting Factory Entertainment CEO Morgan Margolis:
Mark Margolis, Actor on ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul,’ Dies at 83 https://t.co/8RXb5pl2BB
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 4, 2023
Minutes later his manager, Robert Kolker, released a statement saying that "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."
Mark Margolis was born on November 26, 1939 in Philadelphia. However, he moved to New York as soon as he had the opportunity to pursue acting. He began his career in the theater where, according to Variety, he appeared in roles such as "Infidel Caesar," "Uncle Sam" and "The Golem," all of which were performed on Broadway.
He made the leap to the big screen in 1975. He performed in the film "The Opening of Misty Beethoven" and did not appear in any other film or series until 1979. From that moment on, he played several supporting roles in both films and series such as "Dressed to Kill" or "Diner." In 1982 he landed one of his greatest roles when he signed on for "Scarface." There he played the villain and bodyguard Alberto. He went on to appear in more than 70 roles, including the TV series "Star Trek," "The Equalizer," "Oz," "Kings" and "Gotham," as well as roles in the films "Noah," "Black Swan," "The Wrester" and "Pi."
However, he is most famous for his role in role in "Breaking Bad." He played Hector "Tío" Salamanca for several seasons and his performance earned him an Emmy nomination in 2012. After the series ended, Margolis went back and played the character for five seasons in "Better Call Saul," the spin-off of "Breaking Bad."
