Mark Margolis (/mɑːrˈɡlɪs/, mar-GOH-liss; November 26, 1939 – August 3, 2023) was an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the character Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad (2009–2011) and Better Call Saul (2016–2022). His performance in Breaking Bad was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2012.

Mark Margolis
Margolis at the premiere of Noah in 2014
Born(1939-11-26)November 26, 1939
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 3, 2023(2023-08-03) (aged 83)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma mater
OccupationActor
Years active1960s–2023
Spouse
Jacqueline Petcove
(m. 1962)
Children1

Margolis regularly performed in the films of director Darren Aronofsky, appearing in his first six films beginning with Pi (1998). He was also known for playing Alberto "The Shadow" in Scarface (1983), Jimmy in The Equalizer (1985–1989), Mr. Shickadance in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Antonio Nappa in Oz (1999–2003) and the New Priest in Immortals (2011). He started acting in his teens.[1]

Early life edit

Mark Margolis was born on November 26, 1939,[2] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Fanya (née Fried) and Isidore Margolis.[3] He was born into a Jewish family.[4][5]

Margolis was briefly a student at Temple University before dropping out and moving to New York City.[6] At age 19, he was a student under Stella Adler at the Actors Studio. He was also later trained by Lee Strasberg and Barbara Loden.[3][6]

Career edit

After training with Adler, Margolis started performing in various plays. In 1962 he played in the Broadway production Infidel Caesar, a production based on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The play was closed in previews and never ended up officially opening. He subsequently founded Blue Dome, a touring theater company that performed various productions. Margolis then worked in over 50 Off-Broadway plays.[7]

In 1976, Margolis made his first film appearance as an airplane passenger in The Opening of Misty Beethoven.[8] Margolis was also noted for his supporting roles in Scarface (1983)[1] Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Immortals (2011), and the films of Darren Aronofsky: Pi (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), The Fountain (2006), The Wrestler (2008), Black Swan (2010), and Noah (2014).[8]

In 1990, Margolis appeared in an episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 1991, he played Helmut Dieter in the soap opera Santa Barbara. In addition, he had recurring roles on numerous other TV shows, including The Equalizer, Quantum Leap, Oz, Law & Order, Crossing Jordan, Californication, Breaking Bad,[9] and Better Call Saul. In January 2015, he portrayed Felix Faust in the Constantine episode "Quid Pro Quo".[10] For his role in Breaking Bad, Margolis received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.[11] He would later reprise the role in the show's spin-off series, Better Call Saul.[12]

Despite focusing on television and film later in his career, Margolis continued acting on the stage. In 2010, he appeared as Bernie Madoff, in a regional production of Imagining Madoff.[7] In the Berkeley Repertory Theater's 2014 season, he appeared as Gus in Tony Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures.[13] In 2019, he performed in another of Kushner's works, playing Gottfried Swetts in A Bright Room Called Day.[7][14]

Personal life edit

Margolis married Jacqueline Margolis (née Petcove), on June 3, 1962.[3][15] They had a son, actor Morgan H. Margolis, and three grandchildren.[3][6][16]

Death edit

Margolis died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City following a short illness, on August 3, 2023, at age 83.[8]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1976 The Opening of Misty Beethoven Unhappy Airplane Passenger Uncredited [8]
1979 Going in Style Prison Guard [17]
1980 Dressed to Kill Patient Uncredited [8]
1980 Christmas Evil Christmas Party Patron (Man #2) [18]
1983 Eddie Macon's Run 5:00 Bar Owner [19]
1983 Scarface Alberto The Shadow [19]
1984 The Cotton Club Charlie Workman [8]
1987 The Bedroom Window Man in Phone Booth [19]
1987 The Secret of My Succe$s Maintenance Man [19]
1989 Glory 10th Connecticut Soldier [19]
1989 White Hot The Tin Man [20]
1990 Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection Gen. Olmedo [19]
1990 Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Gage [21]
1991 The Pit and the Pendulum Mendoza [19]
1992 1492: Conquest of Paradise Francisco de Bobadilla [19]
1994 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Mr. Shickadance [19]
1994 Squanto: A Warrior's Tale Captain Thomas Hunt [22]
1996 I Shot Andy Warhol Louis Solanas [19]
1996 The Pallbearer Philip DeMarco [19]
1997 Absolute Power Red Brandsford [19]
1997 Trouble on the Corner Mr. Borofsky [23]
1998 Side Streets Bartender [19]
1998 π Sol Robeson [19]
1999 Mickey Blue Eyes Gene Morganson [19]
1999 Flawless Vinnie [19]
1999 Jakob the Liar Fajngold [19]
1999 The Thomas Crown Affair Heinrich Knutzhorn [19]
1999 End of Days Pope [19]
2000 Fast Food, Fast Women Graham [19]
2000 Dinner Rush Fitzgerald [19]
2000 Requiem for a Dream Mr. Rabinowitz [19]
2001 Hardball Fink [19]
2001 The Tailor of Panama Rafi Domingo [19]
2001 Hannibal Perfume Expert [19]
2002 Infested Father Morning [23]
2003 Daredevil Eddie Fallon Uncredited [24]
2004 House of D Mr. Pappass [23]
2005 Stay Business Man [19]
2005 Headspace Boris Pavlovsky [23]
2006 The Fountain Father Avila [19]
2007 Gone Baby Gone Leon Trett [19]
2007 The Girl Next Door Homeless Man Hit By Car [25]
2008 Defiance Jewish Elder [19]
2008 Haber Bremer [23]
2008 The Wrestler Lenny [19]
2008 The Model Maker The Model Maker
2010 Black Swan Mr. Fithian [19]
2011 Immortals The New Priest Uncredited [26]
2011 One Fall Walter Grigg Sr. [27]
2011 The Courier Stitch [23]
2012 Stand Up Guys Claphands [19]
2013 Beneath Mr. Parks [23]
2013 Northern Borders Whiskeyjack Kittredge [23]
2014 Noah Magog Voice [19]
2015 Nasty Baby Richard [19]
2015 The Abandoned Jim [23]
2016 My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 Panos [19]
2017 Valley of Bones El Papá [23]
2019 Abe Benjamin [23]
2020 Minyan Itzik [23]
2022 Every Last Secret Grandpa [23]

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Muggable Mary, Street Cop Sgt. Meyers TV movie[28]
1983 Rage of Angels Ricky TV movie[29]
1985–1989 The Equalizer Jimmy 16 episodes[8]
1989 Quantum Leap Adriano Episode: "Double Identity – November 8, 1965"[30]
1990 Star Trek: The Next Generation Dr. Nel Apgar Episode: "A Matter of Perspective"[31]
1990 Columbo Cosner Episode: "Columbo Cries Wolf"[32]
1991 Santa Barbara Helmut Dieter 13 episodes[8]
1992 Law & Order George Lobrano Episode: "Prince of Darkness"[23]
1994 New York Undercover Clark Redmond Episode: "After Shakespeare"
1994 Guiding Light Harry Jones Unknown episodes[33]
1995 New York News Episode: "Past Imperfect"
1997 Law & Order Bronson Episode: "Legacy"[23]
1998–2003 Oz Antonio Nappa 10 episodes[7]
1999 Now and Again Nicky Vordogov Episode: "Pulp Turkey"[23]
2001 Law & Order Frankie 'Threads' Politto Episode: "For Love or Money"[19]
2001 100 Centre Street Merle Kiefer Episode: "Andromeda and the Monster"
2001 Boss of Bosses Joe Armone TV movie[19]
2002 The Practice Ronald D'Amrosio Episode: "Fire Proof"[34]
2003–2004 Ed Mazula 2 episodes[23]
2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Mario Damiano Episode: "Fico Di Capo"[35]
2004 Sex and the City Jean Paul Sandal Episode: "The Cold War"[36]
2005 Crossing Jordan Cahill Episode: "It Happened One Night"[37]
2007 The Black Donnellys Sal Minetta Episode: "Pilot"[25]
2007 Californication Al Moody Episode: "California Son"[7]
2009 Kings Premier Shaw 2 episodes[7]
2009–2011 Breaking Bad Hector Salamanca 8 episodes[7]
2011 Blue Bloods Whitey Brennan 2 episodes[23]
2011 Mildred Pierce Mr. Chris 2 episodes[34]
2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Rom-Baro Episode: "Lost Traveler"[38]
2011 The Good Wife Father Jim Episode: "Death Row Tip"[39]
2011–2012 Person of Interest Gianni Morretti 3 episodes[23]
2012 American Horror Story: Asylum Sam Goodman 3 episodes[23]
2015 Constantine Felix Faust Episode: "Quid Pro Quo"[10]
2015 Gotham Paul Cicero 2 episodes[23]
2015 Elementary Abraham Misraki Episode: "T-Bone and the Iceman"[40]
2015 12 Monkeys Mr. Werner Episode: "Paradox"[41]
2015 Benders Paul's Grandfather Episode: "Choke"[23]
2015 The Affair Arthur Solloway 3 episodes[8]
2016–2022 Better Call Saul Hector Salamanca 22 episodes[42]
2020 The Blacklist Jakov Mitko Episode: "Brothers"[43]
2020 Snowpiercer Old Ivan Episode: "First, the Weather Changed"[44]
2021 Prodigal Son Rudolph Swann Episode: "Head Case"[45]
2023 Your Honor Carmine Conti 5 episodes[8]

Music videos edit

Year Title Artist Role Refs
1993 "Bad Girl" Madonna Bartender [46]

Video games edit

Year Title Role Refs
2003 Manhunt Tramp (voice) [47]

Awards and nominations edit

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2011 Saturn Awards Best Guest Starring Role on Television[48] Breaking Bad Nominated
2012 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series[49] Nominated

References edit

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  2. ^ Williams, Alex (August 4, 2023). "Mark Margolis, Scene-Stealing Actor in 'Breaking Bad,' Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Mark Margolis". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  4. ^ Schleier, Curt (August 2, 2012). "Mark Margolis on How To Win an Emmy". The Jewish Daily Forward. Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  5. ^ Garai-Ebner, Ella (July 11, 2017). "Breaking Bad star Mark Margolis hospitalised after on-set fall". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
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  9. ^ Grant, Drew (August 12, 2012). "American Gangster: Don't Meth With Breaking Bad's Mark Margolis!". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  10. ^ a b Barton, Steve. "Constantine – Mark Margolis Will Be a Breaking Bad Guy!". Dread Central. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
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External links edit