íngel Salazar (1956–2024), Scarface actor and comedian
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2 min readÁngel Salazar was an actor and comedian best known for his performance as Chi Chi in “Scarface.”
- Died: August 11, 2024 (Who else died on August 11?)
- Details of death: Died at a friend’s home in New York City at the age of 68.
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Ángel Salazar’s legacy
Born in Cuba, Salazar began acting on stage in his home country. But in his teens, he fled Cuba, swimming across Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. naval base and ultimately ending up in New York City. Still a minor, Salazar was placed in foster care, but he developed his talent for making people laugh and began doing stand-up comedy at open-mic nights. At the heart of the funnyman’s stand-up routine was a catchphrase, “Check it out,” delivered in his heavy accent. He also often did impressions of notable celebrities like singers Tina Turner (1939–2023) and Bruce Springsteen.
Salazar had several small movie roles before being cast in his best-known film, “Scarface.” In it, he played Chi Chi, the friend of Al Pacino’s character, Tony Montana, seen sporting an orange hat. He went on to play memorable roles in such movies as “Punchline” and “Carlito’s Way,” and he continued his comedy career. Salazar appeared on “Last Comic Standing” and in HBO specials, and he was still doing stand-up in clubs just a few weeks before his death.
Tributes to Ángel Salazar
Full obituary: The New York Times
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