Mark Margolis, who played vicious, wheelchair-bound cartel don Hector Salamanca on hit TV shows “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” has died at age 83, his family said. Told on Friday.
Margolis died Thursday at a New York hospital after a brief illness, with his wife and son at his bedside, according to a statement.
“Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston paid tribute on Instagram, writing: “I am so saddened to learn of the passing of a friend today.
“Mark Margolis was a really good actor and a lovely person. He was fun and engaging on set, and (in the case of ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Your Honor’) intimidating and terrifying on set.”
Bob Odenkirk, star of the spin-off series “Better Call Saul”, called Margolis a “powerful screen presence”.
An official “Breaking Bad” social media account praised “the immensely talented Mark Margolis, who – with his eyes, a bell, and very few words – made Hector Salamanca one of the most unforgettable characters in television history.” turned into one.”
In the show, Margolis’ character — the patriarch of the drug-trafficking Salamanca family, who is paralyzed after being poisoned by a rival — is able to communicate simply by tapping a bell with his finger.
Born in Philadelphia in 1939, Margolis moved to New York to pursue acting.
He went on to have a successful career as a character actor, with supporting roles in films such as “Scarface”, “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and “Black Swan”, as well as the HBO series “Oz”.
In 2012, he was nominated for an Emmy for “Breaking Bad.”
In addition to his wife of 61 years, Jacqueline, he is survived by his only child, Morgan, and three grandchildren.
