Mark Margolis (November 26, 1939 – August 4, 2023) was an American actor. A member of Darren Aronofsky’s Production Posse beginning with Aronofsky’s No Budget debut feature π, he was also well-known for his roles as Alberto the Shadow in Scarface (1983), Antonio Nappa in Oz, and Hector Salamanca in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
Margolis studied under the legendary acting teacher Stella Adler at the Actors Studio in New York. He was married to Jacqueline Margolis, and their son Morgan H. Margolis is a sometime actor in his own right.
He passed away on August 4th at the age of 83, due to an undisclosed short illness.
Works with Mark Margolis:
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Film roles
- 1976 The Opening of Misty Beethoven: Unhappy Guy on Plane (Uncredited Role)
- 1976 The Other Side Of Victory (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1977 Short Eyes: Mr. Morrison
- 1979 Going in Style (1979): Prison Guard
- 1980 Dressed to Kill: Patient at Bellevue Hospital (Uncredited Role)
- 1980 Christmas Evil: Man #2
- 1980 A Jury of Her Peers: Mr. Hale
- 1981 Arthur (1981): Wedding Guest (Uncredited Role)
- 1982 Muggable Mary Street Cop (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1982 The Avenging: Pedro Quintana
- 1983 Rage Of Angels: Ricky (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1983 Eddie Macons Run: 5:00 Bar Owner
- 1983 Scarface (1983): Alberto “The Shadow”
- 1984 The Cotton Club: Charlie Workman
- 1987 The Bedroom Window: Man in Phone Booth
- 1987 The Secret of My Success: Maintenance Man
- 1987 The Rosary Murders: Father Max
- 1988 White Hot: The Tin Man
- 1989 Glory: 10th Connecticut Soldier
- 1990 Tales from the Darkside: The Movie: Gage
- 1990 Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection: Gen. Olmedo
- 1991 The Pit and the Pendulum (1991): Mendoza
- 1992 1492: Conquest of Paradise: Bobadilla
- 1993 Where The Rivers Flow North: New York Money
- 1994 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective: Mr. Shickadance
- 1996 I Shot Andy Warhol: Louis Solanas
- 1996 The Pallbearer: Philip DeMarco
- 1997 Absolute Power: Red Brandsford
- 1997 Trouble On The Corner: Mr. Borofsky
- 1998 π: Sol Robeson
- 1998 Pants On Fire: Malcolm Preston
- 1998 Side Streets: Bartender
- 1998 Above Freezing: Mob Boss
- 1999 The Thomas Crown Affair (1999): Heinrich Knutzhorn
- 1999 Mickey Blue Eyes: Gene Morgansen
- 1999 Jakob the Liar: Fajngold
- 1999 End of Days: Pope
- 1999 Flawless: Vinnie
- 2000 Requiem for a Dream: Mr. Rabinowitz
- 2000 Fast Food Fast Women: Graham
- 2000 Dinner Rush: Fitzgerald
- 2001 Hannibal: Perfume Expert
- 2001 The Tailor of Panama: Rafi Domingo
- 2001 Queenie In Love: Spencer
- 2001 Hardball: Fink
- 2002 Bridget: Slim
- 2002 Infested: Father Morning
- 2003 Daredevil: Fallon (Uncredited Role)
- 2003 Particles Of Truth: Grandpa Black
- 2004 House Of D: Mr. Pappass
- 2005 Headspace: Boris Pavlovsky
- 2005 Stay: Business Man
- 2006 The Fountain: Father Avila
- 2007 The Girl Next Door: Homeless Man Hit by Car
- 2007 Gone Baby Gone: Leon Trett
- 2008 The Wrestler: Lenny
- 2008 Defiance: Jewish Elder
- 2009 Nobody: Professor Hagel
- 2010 The Fallen Faithful: Asa
- 2010 Black Swan: Mr. Fithian
- 2012 The Courier: Stitch
- 2012 Stand Up Guys: Claphands
- 2013 Northern Borders: Whiskeyjack
- 2013 Beneath: Mr. Parks
- 2014 Noah: Magog (voice)
- 2015 Nasty Baby: Richard
- 2015 The Abandoned: Jim
- 2016 My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2: Papos
- 2016 A Remarkable Life: Landon
- 2017 Valley Of Bones: El Papá
- 2018 Baja: Don Primo
- 2020 Minyan: Itzik
Television roles
- 1977 Kojak: First Gunman (1 episode)
- 1985-89 The Equalizer: Jimmy (recurring)
- 1985 Afterschool Special: Cab Driver (1 episode)
- 1986 Kay O Brien: Frank Agretti (1 episode)
- 1987 Crime Story: Jack Stark (1 episode)
- 1989 Quantum Leap: Adriano (1 episode)
- 1990 Columbo: Cosner (1 episode)
- 1990 Star Trek: The Next Generation: Dr. Nel Apgar (1 episode)
- 1990 Jake and the Fatman: Miracola (1 episode)
- 1991 The Antagonists: Emil Kutcher (1 episode)
- 1991 Santa Barbara: Helmut Dieter (13 episodes)
- 1991 PSI Luv U: Cappy (1 episode)
- 1992-2001 Law & Order: George Lobrano/Bronson/Frankie “Threads” Polito (3 episodes)
- 1994 New York Undercover: Clark Redmond (1 episode)
- 1998-2003 Oz: Antonio Nappa (10 episodes)
- 1999 Now and Again: Nicky Vodorgov (1 episode)
- 2001 One Hundred Centre Street: Merle Kiefer (1 episode)
- 2002 The Practice: Richard D’Ambrosio (1 episode)
- 2002 Hack: Nicolai Zosimov (4 episodes)
- 2003-04 Ed: Sal Mazula (2 episodes)
- 2004 Sex and the City: Jean Paul Sandal (1 episode)
- 2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Mario Damiano (1 episode)
- 2005 Crossing Jordan: Cahill (1 episode)
- 2006 Brotherhood: Jacob Weiss (1 episode)
- 2006 Waterfront: Sal Trovotelli (4 episodes)
- 2007 The Black Donnellys: Sal Minetta (2 episodes)
- 2007 Californication: Al Moody (1 episode)
- 2009 Kings: Premier Shaw (2 episodes)
- 2009-11 Breaking Bad: Hector “Tio” Salamanca (8 episodes)
- 2016-22 Better Call Saul: Hector “Tio” Salamanca (22 episodes)
- 2011 Blue Bloods: Whitey Brennan (1 episode)
- 2011 Mildred Pierce: Mr. Chris (2 episodes)
- 2011 The Good Wife: Father Jim (1 episode)
- 2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Rom-Baro (1 episode)
- 2011-12 Person of Interest: Gianni Moretti (3 episodes)
- 2012 Fairly Legal: Ian Saunders (2 episodes)
- 2012 American Horror Story: Sam Goodman
- American Horror Story: Asylum: Sam Goodman (3 episodes)
- 2013 Zero Hour (2013): Erik Haas (1 episode)
- 2015 Constantine: Felix Faust (1 episode)
- 2015 Elementary: Abraham Misraki (1 episode)
- 2015 12 Monkeys: Mr. Werner (1 episode)
- 2015 Gotham: Paul Cicero (2 episodes)
- 2015 The Affair: Arthur Solloway (3 episodes)
- 2020 The Blacklist: Jakov Mitko (1 episode)
- 2020 Snowpiercer: Old Ivan (1 episode)
- 2021 Prodigal Son: Rudolph Swann (1 episode)
Associated Tropes:
- The Don: A frequent archetype for his characters.
- Fake Nationality: He was a Philadelphia Jew, but that didn't stop him from playing Greek, Roma, Italian, or even Latino characters.
