Joe McConnell
Angel Salazar – best known as Al Pacino’s trusted sidekick “Chi Chi” in the iconic gangster film “Scarface” – has died, Vscek has learned.
Salazar’s spokeswoman and closest friend, Ann Wingsong, told Vscek that the actor passed away in his sleep at his friend’s Brooklyn home over the weekend.
On Sunday morning, Wingsong said, the friend went to check on Salazar in a room and found him dead in bed. The cause of death was not released, but the representative said Salazar had been suffering from heart problems.
Early in his acting career, Salazar landed the role of Chi Chi, the devoted henchman of Al Pacino’s famous Tony Montana character in Brian De Palma’s 1983 film “Scarface.”
Fans of the legendary film will never forget Chi Chi saving Tony’s life during the so-called “chainsaw scene.” They will also never forget Chi Chi’s bloody end at the end of the film, when her back is riddled with bullets by a team of hitmen hired by drug lord Alejandro Sosa.
Of course, Tony Montana also gets hit by a hail of bullets at the hands of Sosa’s gunmen.
In addition to his work on “Scarface,” Salazar was also known for working alongside Tom Hanks’ World in the 1988 comedy-drama, “Punchline” and Pacino again in the 1993 drama, “Carlito’s Way.”
Salazar was also a celebrated comedian, starring in numerous HBO comedy specials and an appearance on “Last Comic Standing.”
Other notable titles include “Boulevard Nights”, “Walk Proud”, “Hot to Trot”, “Maniac Cop 2”, among others.
He was 68 years old.
RIP
