He was 83 years old when Saul Call Better and Bad Breaking actor Mark Margolis, known for his commanding performance as the vindictive drug runner Hector Salamanca, died. Mark Margolis, a journeyman actor, left a lasting impression on fans of Saul Call Better and Bad Breaking.
Informed Margolis, Morgan Margolis, Chief Executive Officer of Knitting Factory Entertainment and performer, his offspring, passed away on Thursday at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City after a brief sickness.
In the HBO series Oz, Nappa Antonio played the role of a mob boss who was infected with HIV from 1998 to 2003. In the movie Scarface directed by Brian De Palma, Margolis also stood out as Alberto, the henchman of Shadow, the Bolivian assistant to Scarface. Additionally, in Detective Pet Ventura: Ace in Rent, Mr. Shickadance, the gravelly voiced landlord, was portrayed by the legendary acting teacher’s personal assistant and protégé, Stella Adler’s duty double, A.
In the movie Noah (2014), he portrayed a “fallen celestial being”; in Black Swan (2010), as a supporter of ballet; in The Wrestler (2008), he took on the role of Randy “The Ram” Robinson’s (Mickey Rourke) landlord; in The Fountain (2006), he played the character of a clergyman; in Requiem for a Dream (2000), he portrayed the individual who repeatedly sells Mrs. Goldfarb’s (Ellen Burstyn) television back to her; and in Pi (1998), he portrayed an elderly mathematics instructor for Darren Aronofsky.
“He eventually compensated me. Afterwards, I warned that I would contact his mother, who was in charge of providing refreshments on the movie set. I pursued him relentlessly for a period of three months because he continuously deceived me regarding the time frame for receiving my payment. I began working with him on his inaugural film, the $60,000 Pi, back when he was not yet renowned. He jestingly responded with a touch of irony when questioned by The Hollywood Reporter in a 2012 interview about why Aronofsky continued to employ him, stating that he believes he has a sense of duty!”
A brass service bell is attached to his wheelchair, and his character, who is paralyzed and can only communicate through facial expressions, serves as an enforcer for Mexican crime boss Don Eladio (played by Steven Bauer). In March 2009, Margolis, who portrayed “Tio” Salamanca on Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad, made his debut on the second episode of the AMC drama’s second season. Despite not speaking Spanish, this marked his first appearance.
In the 2012 series drama, he received an Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actor and played the role of Hector Salamanca, a kingpin drug dealer seeking revenge on Gus Fring. He even got his own tribute on his website for the spectacular season-four finale episode “Off Face,” which aired in October 2011.
In 2016, Saul Margolis got a second chance to play in the Salamanca play as a younger man before he became incapacitated, called Better Call Saul, the prequel to the second season of Breaking Bad.
He stated, “I’m quite unhappy to start off.” They will inquire, ‘Have you conversed with my acquaintances?’ And I responded, ‘How did you succeed in portraying such a detestable character?’ A person inquired of me recently, “but preferences are subjective, and the fans inexplicably developed an affection for me,” he remarked. “I was under the impression that I was only appearing on Breaking Bad for that solitary episode.”
Margolis, who was born on Nov. 26, 1939 in Philadelphia, came from a Jewish family. His mother, Fanya, was a decorator employed by a wallpaper company and specialized in painting. His father, Isidore, worked as a factory laborer.
Everything I know [about acting] came from Stella. She was incredibly charismatic. In an interview with Eric Broadbent in 2020, he described his initial reaction to her as, “If God is a woman, this is the embodiment.” He became a lifelong devotee, learning drama under Adler’s guidance at The Actors Studio. After spending a year at Temple University, he relocated to New York and enrolled in his inaugural acting course at the age of 14.
During the time when she organized a gathering, he inspected outer garments for visitors, transported her purchases to her residence across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and procured taxis for her, functioning as Adler’s dedicated aide for almost three years in return for educational sessions.
He shared with The Observer in 2012 that she was incredibly arousing to him, at the time he was 19 years old while she was 60. He also admitted to having a genuine obsession with her.
In 2016, he said, “I built geodesic domes and theatrical installations in countries all around the world because I loved listening to music.” Although he didn’t have any money, he managed a coffee house on MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village where Richie Havens would often sit all night and let him stay because they enjoyed listening to his music. He had trouble making ends meet and drifted away from acting, but later studied with Lee Strasberg’s rival, Margolis, for about a year.
Tony Pacino killed Alberto before his nasty Scarface in Montana (1981) and Dressed to Kill (1980) by De Palma in Style in Going. He had small roles in Beethoven Misty’s Opening The X-rated then (1979) before finally making his onscreen debut as a surly passenger airplane in Arthur (1981).
He previously stated, “I am merely a skilled actor.” “To be honest, I had to accept employment with an acquaintance involved in real estate development for a temporary period in order to sustain myself, half a year following my involvement in Scarface.”
Margolis landed a recurring role from 1985-89 as the surveillance expert Jimmy on the CBS crime drama The Equalizer, starring Edward Woodward.
He said, “It was that, but I thought it was something from The Exorcist, resembling a voice they desired for Mr. Shickadance.” Although he had never watched The Exorcist, he mentioned, “They desired a voice resembling something from The Exorcist.” It was director Tom Shadyac who named a character in Jim Carrey’s Ace Ventura after his actual landlord.
In order to portray the quiet character of Salamanca, Margolis mentioned that he drew inspiration from his deceased mother-in-law, Shirley.
He stated, “Shirley, who was in fact a performer in the 1930s Earl Carroll Follies, serves as a tribute to the character I frequently mention. I sort of appropriated that idea from her. Almost as if she was chewing tobacco, her lips would protrude where the left side of her mouth would consistently contort, and she would become thrilled whenever we entered the room. However, she was unable to speak, and we would visit her. Unfortunately, after experiencing a stroke, she resided in a nursing home in Florida for numerous years.”
Gilligan phoned Margolis to inform him that they were planning on killing Hector in a bad way, but he said that if they were to do it, he would have a lot of problems.
His body of work includes the movies The Cotton Club (1984), The Secret of My Success (1987), 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), I Shot Andy Warhol (1996), Absolute Power (1997), The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), End of Days (1999), The Tailor of Panama (2001), Hardball (2001), Gone Baby Gone (2007), Defiance (2008), and Stand Up Guys (2012), along with television shows like Santa Barbara, Law & Order, Californication, Person of Interest, American Horror Story, The Affair, and Your Honor.
On Twitter, Peter Gould, writer-producer of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, expressed on Friday that we are deeply saddened by the loss of Mark Margolis. Mark, who was an exceptional storyteller with countless anecdotes, was both humorous and brilliant. I already feel his absence.
Thank you and Mark for your exceptional work ethic and friendship. Now take a break… He really enjoyed sharing a good joke. Despite his calm demeanor, his mischievous nature and curious mind revealed his hidden energy. In the case of breaking bad and dishonoring your name, he was both engaging and fun, both on and off set. Margolis Mark was truly a wonderful human being and a talented actor. Bryan Cranston, star of Breaking Bad, added him on Instagram.
He lived in Tribeca for many years. Survivors of Margolis include his wife Ann and his brother Jerome and his grandson Henry. His grandsons Aidan and Ben are also survivors. He married Jacqueline in June 1962, and she is his wife. Heide is his son’s wife and she is also a survivor of Margolis.
Instead of sending flowers, individuals have the option to contribute donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
He explained, “They don’t realize that the most difficult part of my life has been the struggle.” Margolis, in his interview with The Observer, said that he met the fans on the street and thought, “Making movies is a way of making money, and I believe that I’m somewhat of a rich guy in that sense, like Angelina Jolie.”