Ángel Salazar, a Cuban-American actor and comedian best known for portraying Al Pacino‘s sidekick in the iconic crime film Scarface, has died. A representative confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that Salazar was found dead in Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 11. A cause of death has not been confirmed. He was 68.
Born in Cuba on March 2, 1956, Salazar eventually immigrated to the United States and worked as an actor and comedian. Salazar’s breakthrough role was Scarface, which set his career in motion. Director Brian De Palma conceived the film as a remake of the 1932 crime movie of the same name, which was directed by Howard Hawks. That movie was set in Chicago and inspired by the life of Al Capone, even using one of his infamous monikers as the title. De Palma moved the story to ’80s Miami and used cocaine trafficking as the criminal centerpiece instead of prostitution and bootlegging.
Salazar played Chi-Chi, one of the Cuban refugees who accompanies Pacino’s Tony Montana to America and helps him build a criminal empire. Chi-Chi factors in one of the film’s most famous early scenes, when Montana is attacked by rival gangsters wielding chainsaws, and helps the protagonist escape. Scarface has become a cultural landmark, often referenced in hip-hop and visual art.
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Salazar went on to costar with Tom Hanks in the 1988 comedy Punchline, before reuniting with both Pacino and De Palma for the 1993 crime film Carlito’s Way, which focused on Puerto Rican gangster characters.
Salazar was also an accomplished comedian, appearing in the 2006 documentary Latin Legends of Comedy and various other comedy specials.
“Rest in peace Angel Salazar ‘Chi-Chi’ you were an amazing actor and good friend hermano,” tweeted Salazar’s friend, Latin musician Tito Puente, Jr.. “From Scarface to Carlito’s Way your characters and comedy will be forever missed.”
“RIP to my friend Angel Salazar. Worked together a few months ago. Comedy legend,” tweeted comedian Adam Hunter, alongside a picture of Salazar wearing a Scarface jacket.