American actor Mark Margolis, who played sinister drug kingpin Hector Salamanca in the TV series 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul', has died at the age of 83. His family announced.
Margolis died in a New York hospital after "a brief illness," with his wife and son by his side, according to a press release. His character Hector Salamanca, ruthless leader of a cartel confined to his wheelchair and communicating only with a doorbell, was the best known of his roles. It earned him an Emmy nomination.
"Mark Margolis was a great actor and an adorable human being. Funny and endearing off set, intimidating and scary on set," 'Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston, star of the series as Walter White, a chemistry professor who slips into drug trafficking, said on Instagram. "A powerful screen presence," called him his former acting partner Bob Odenkirk, who played dishonest lawyer Saul Goodman in 'Breaking Bad' before he got his spin-off 'Better Call Saul.'
The official social account of 'Breaking Bad' has for its part hailed "the immense talent of Mark Margolis, who with his eyes, a bell and very few words has made Hector Salamanca one of the most unforgettable characters in the history of television".
Born in Philadelphia in 1939, Margolis moved to New York to devote himself to acting. His career has been punctuated by supporting roles in 'Scarface', 'Ace Ventura' and 'Black Swan', as in the series 'Oz'. He is survived by Jacqueline, his wife of 61 years, Morgan their only child and their three grandchildren.
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