Mark Margolis

American actor (1939–2023)

Mark Margolis

Margolis at the premiere of Noah in 2014

Born| (1939-11-26)November 26, 1939

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Died| August 3, 2023(2023-08-03) (aged 83)

New York City, New York, U.S.

Alma mater|

* Temple University
* Actors Studio

Occupation| Actor
Years active| 1960s–2023
Spouse|

Jacqueline Petcove

(m. 1962)​

Children| 1

Mark Margolis (/mɑːrˈɡoʊlɪs/, mar-GOH-liss; November 26, 1939 – August 3, 2023) was an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the character Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad (2009–2011) and Better Call Saul (2016–2022). His performance in Breaking Bad was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2012.

Margolis regularly performed in the films of director Darren Aronofsky, appearing in his first six films beginning with Pi (1998). He was also known for playing Alberto "The Shadow" in Scarface (1983), Jimmy in The Equalizer (1985–1989), Mr. Shickadance in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Antonio Nappa in Oz (1999–2003), Mr. Morrison in Short Eyes (1977) and the New Priest in Immortals (2011). He started acting in his teens.[1]

## Early life

[edit]

Mark Margolis was born on November 26, 1939,[2] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Fanya (née Fried) and Isidore Margolis.[3] He was born into a Jewish family.[4][5]

Margolis was briefly a student at Temple University before dropping out and moving to New York City.[6] At age 19, he was a student under Stella Adler at the Actors Studio. He was also later trained by Lee Strasberg and Barbara Loden.[3][6]

## Career

[edit]

After training with Adler, Margolis started performing in various plays. In 1962 he played in the Broadway production Infidel Caesar, a production based on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The play was closed in previews and never ended up officially opening. He subsequently founded Blue Dome, a touring theater company that performed various productions. Margolis then worked in over 50 Off-Broadway plays.[7]

In 1976, Margolis made his first film appearance as an airplane passenger in The Opening of Misty Beethoven.[8] Margolis was also noted for his supporting roles in Scarface (1983),[1] Short Eyes (1977),[9] Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Immortals (2011), and the films of Darren Aronofsky: Pi (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), The Fountain (2006), The Wrestler (2008), Black Swan (2010), and Noah (2014).[8]

In 1990, Margolis appeared in an episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 1991, he played Helmut Dieter in the soap opera Santa Barbara. In addition, he had recurring roles on numerous other TV shows, including The Equalizer, Quantum Leap, Oz, Law & Order, Crossing Jordan, Californication, Breaking Bad,[10] and Better Call Saul. In January 2015, he portrayed Felix Faust in the Constantine episode "Quid Pro Quo".[11] For his role in Breaking Bad, Margolis received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.[12] He would later reprise the role in the show's spin-off series, Better Call Saul.[13]

Despite focusing on television and film later in his career, Margolis continued acting on the stage. In 2010, he appeared as Bernie Madoff, in a regional production of Imagining Madoff.[7] In the Berkeley Repertory Theater's 2014 season, he appeared as Gus in Tony Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures.[14] In 2019, he performed in another of Kushner's works, playing Gottfried Swetts in A Bright Room Called Day.[7][15]

## Personal life

[edit]

Margolis married Jacqueline Margolis (née Petcove), on June 3, 1962.[3][16] They had a son, actor Morgan H. Margolis, and three grandchildren.[3][6][17]

## Death

[edit]

Margolis died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City following a short illness, on August 3, 2023, at age 83.[8]

## Filmography

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes  | Ref(s)

|
|
|
|

1976  | The Opening of Misty Beethoven | Unhappy Airplane Passenger  | Uncredited  | [8]
1977  | Short Eyes | Mr. Morrison  | Uncredited  | [18]
1979  | Going in Style | Prison Guard  |  | [19]
1980  | Dressed to Kill | Patient  | Uncredited  | [8]
1980  | Christmas Evil | Christmas Party Patron (Man #2)  |  | [20]
1983  | Eddie Macon's Run | 5:00 Bar Owner  |  | [21]
1983  | Scarface | Alberto The Shadow  |  | [21]
1984  | The Cotton Club | Charlie Workman  |  | [8]
1987  | The Bedroom Window | Man in Phone Booth  |  | [21]
1987  | The Secret of My Succe$s | Maintenance Man  |  | [21]
1989  | Glory | 10th Connecticut Soldier  |  | [21]
1989  | White Hot | The Tin Man  |  | [22]
1990  | Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection | Gen. Olmedo  |  | [21]
1990  | Tales from the Darkside: The Movie | Gage  |  | [23]
1991  | The Pit and the Pendulum | Mendoza  |  | [21]
1992  | 1492: Conquest of Paradise | Francisco de Bobadilla |  | [21]
1994  | Ace Ventura: Pet Detective | Mr. Shickadance  |  | [21]
1994  | Squanto: A Warrior's Tale | Captain Thomas Hunt  |  | [24]
1996  | I Shot Andy Warhol | Louis Solanas  |  | [21]
1996  | The Pallbearer | Philip DeMarco  |  | [21]
1997  | Absolute Power | Red Brandsford  |  | [21]
1997  | Trouble on the Corner | Mr. Borofsky  |  | [25]
1998  | Side Streets | Bartender  |  | [21]
1998  | π | Sol Robeson  |  | [21]
1999  | Mickey Blue Eyes | Gene Morganson  |  | [21]
1999  | Flawless | Vinnie  |  | [21]
1999  | Jakob the Liar | Fajngold  |  | [21]
1999  | The Thomas Crown Affair | Heinrich Knutzhorn  |  | [21]
1999  | End of Days | Pope  |  | [21]
2000  | Fast Food, Fast Women | Graham  |  | [21]
2000  | Dinner Rush | Fitzgerald  |  | [21]
2000  | Requiem for a Dream | Mr. Rabinowitz  |  | [21]
2001  | Hardball | Fink  |  | [21]
2001  | The Tailor of Panama | Rafi Domingo  |  | [21]
2001  | Hannibal | Perfume Expert  |  | [21]
2002  | Infested | Father Morning  |  | [25]
2003  | Daredevil | Eddie Fallon | Uncredited  | [26]
2004  | House of D | Mr. Pappass  |  | [25]
2005  | Stay | Business Man  |  | [21]
2005  | Headspace | Boris Pavlovsky  |  | [25]
2006  | The Fountain | Father Avila  |  | [21]
2007  | Gone Baby Gone | Leon Trett  |  | [21]
2007  | The Girl Next Door | Homeless Man Hit By Car  |  | [27]
2008  | Defiance | Jewish Elder  |  | [21]
2008  | Haber | Bremer  |  | [25]
2008  | The Wrestler | Lenny  |  | [21]
2008  | The Model Maker | The Model Maker  |  |
2010  | Black Swan | Mr. Fithian  |  | [21]
2011  | Immortals | The New Priest  | Uncredited  | [28]
2011  | One Fall | Walter Grigg Sr.  |  | [29]
2011  | The Courier | Stitch  |  | [25]
2012  | Stand Up Guys | Claphands  |  | [21]
2013  | Beneath | Mr. Parks  |  | [25]
2013  | Northern Borders | Whiskeyjack Kittredge  |  | [25]
2014  | Noah | Magog  | Voice  | [21]
2015  | Nasty Baby | Richard  |  | [21]
2015  | The Abandoned | Jim  |  | [25]
2016  | My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 | Panos  |  | [21]
2017  | Valley of Bones | El Papá  |  | [25]
2019  | Abe | Benjamin  |  | [25]
2020  | Minyan | Itzik  |  | [25]
2022  | Every Last Secret | Grandpa  |  | [25]

### Television

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1982  | Muggable Mary, Street Cop | Sgt. Meyers  | TV movie[30]
1983  | Rage of Angels | Ricky  | TV movie[31]
1985–1989  | The Equalizer | Jimmy  | 16 episodes[8]
1989  | Quantum Leap | Adriano  | Episode: "Double Identity – November 8, 1965"[32]
1990  | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Dr. Nel Apgar  | Episode: "A Matter of Perspective"[33]
1990  | Columbo | Cosner  | Episode: "Columbo Cries Wolf"[34]
1991  | Santa Barbara | Helmut Dieter  | 13 episodes[8]
1992  | Law & Order | George Lobrano  | Episode: "Prince of Darkness"[25]
1994  | New York Undercover | Clark Redmond  | Episode: "After Shakespeare"
1994  | Guiding Light | Harry Jones  | Unknown episodes[35]
1995  | New York News | —  | Episode: "Past Imperfect"
1997  | Law & Order | Bronson  | Episode: "Legacy"[25]
1998–2003  | Oz | Antonio Nappa | 10 episodes[7]
1999  | Now and Again | Nicky Vordogov  | Episode: "Pulp Turkey"[25]
2001  | Law & Order | Frankie 'Threads' Politto  | Episode: "For Love or Money"[21]
2001  | 100 Centre Street | Merle Kiefer  | Episode: "Andromeda and the Monster"
2001  | Boss of Bosses | Joe Armone | TV movie[21]
2002  | The Practice | Ronald D'Amrosio  | Episode: "Fire Proof"[36]
2003–2004  | Ed | Mazula  | 2 episodes[25]
2004  | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Mario Damiano  | Episode: "Fico Di Capo"[37]
2004  | Sex and the City | Jean Paul Sandal  | Episode: "The Cold War"[38]
2005  | Crossing Jordan | Cahill  | Episode: "It Happened One Night"[39]
2007  | The Black Donnellys | Sal Minetta  | Episode: "Pilot"[27]
2007  | Californication | Al Moody  | Episode: "California Son"[7]
2009  | Kings | Premier Shaw  | 2 episodes[7]
2009–2011  | Breaking Bad | Hector Salamanca | 8 episodes[7]
2011  | Blue Bloods | Whitey Brennan  | 2 episodes[25]
2011  | Mildred Pierce | Mr. Chris  | 2 episodes[36]
2011  | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Rom-Baro  | Episode: "Lost Traveler"[40]
2011  | The Good Wife | Father Jim  | Episode: "Death Row Tip"[41]
2011–2012  | Person of Interest | Gianni Morretti  | 3 episodes[25]
2012  | American Horror Story: Asylum | Sam Goodman  | 3 episodes[25]
2015  | Constantine | Felix Faust | Episode: "Quid Pro Quo"[11]
2015  | Gotham | Paul Cicero  | 2 episodes[25]
2015  | Elementary | Abraham Misraki  | Episode: "T-Bone and the Iceman"[42]
2015  | 12 Monkeys | Mr. Werner  | Episode: "Paradox"[43]
2015  | Benders | Paul's Grandfather  | Episode: "Choke"[25]
2015  | The Affair | Arthur Solloway  | 3 episodes[8]
2016–2022  | Better Call Saul | Hector Salamanca  | 22 episodes[44]
2020  | The Blacklist | Jakov Mitko  | Episode: "Brothers"[45]
2020  | Snowpiercer | Old Ivan  | Episode: "First, the Weather Changed"[46]
2021  | Prodigal Son | Rudolph Swann  | Episode: "Head Case"[47]
2023  | Your Honor | Carmine Conti  | 5 episodes[8]

### Music videos

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Artist  | Role  | Refs

|
|
|
|

1993  | "Bad Girl"  | Madonna | Bartender  | [48]

### Video games

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Refs

|
|
|

2003  | Manhunt | Tramp (voice)  | [49]

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Association  | Category  | Nominated work  | Result

|
|
|
|

2011  | Saturn Awards | Best Guest Starring Role on Television[50] | Breaking Bad | Nominated
2012  | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series[51] | Nominated

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Mark Margolis". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013.
2. ^ Williams, Alex (August 4, 2023). "Mark Margolis, Scene-Stealing Actor in 'Breaking Bad,' Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
3. ^ a b c d "Mark Margolis". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
4. ^ Schleier, Curt (August 2, 2012). "Mark Margolis on How To Win an Emmy". The Jewish Daily Forward. Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
5. ^ Garai-Ebner, Ella (July 11, 2017). "Breaking Bad star Mark Margolis hospitalised after on-set fall". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
6. ^ a b c "Better Call Saul Insider Podcast: Bonus: Mark Margolis – Better Call Saul Insider on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
7. ^ a b c d e f g Evans, Greg (August 4, 2023). "Mark Margolis Dies: Emmy-Nominated 'Breaking Bad', 'Better Call Saul' Actor Was 83". Deadline. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barnes, Mike (August 4, 2023). "Mark Margolis, Actor on 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul,' Dies at 83". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
9. ^ "Short Eyes (1977) - IMDb". IMDb.
10. ^ Grant, Drew (August 12, 2012). "American Gangster: Don't Meth With Breaking Bad's Mark Margolis!". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
11. ^ a b Barton, Steve. "Constantine – Mark Margolis Will Be a Breaking Bad Guy!". Dread Central. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
12. ^ "Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for 2012 – Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series". Emmys.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
13. ^ Vaughn, Mike (January 5, 2022). "Why Hector From Better Call Saul Looks So Familiar". Looper.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
14. ^ "Constantine – Mark Margolis Will Be a Breaking Bad Guy!". Dread Central. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
15. ^ "A Bright Room Called Day Extends Again at the Public Theater; Bill Heck to Join the Cast". Broadway.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
16. ^ "Jacqueline Margolis". Peliplat. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
17. ^ "Margolis, Morgan H. | Encyclopedia.com". encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
18. ^ "Short Eyes (1977) - IMDb". IMDb.
19. ^ "Going in Style – Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
20. ^ Richter, Karl (December 8, 2022). "HAVE A VERY SCARY CHRISTMAS | 'Tis the season for holiday horror". Texarkana Gazette. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak "Mark Margolis". BFI. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
22. ^ "White Hot". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
23. ^ "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
24. ^ "Squanto: A Warrior's Tale". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Mark Margolis – Rotten Tomatoes". rottentomatoes.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
26. ^ "Mark Margolis – Apple TV". AppleTV. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
27. ^ a b "Mark Margolis: Movies, TV, and Bio". amazon.com. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
28. ^ "Immortals". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
29. ^ "One Fall". mubi.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
30. ^ "Muggable Mary: Street Cop". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
31. ^ "Sidney Sheldon's 'Rage of Angels'". TVGuide.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
32. ^ "Double Identity – November 8, 1965 – Quantum Leap (Season 1, Episode 6) – Apple TV". AppleTV. April 21, 1989. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
33. ^ "A Matter of Perspective – Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 3, Episode 14) – Apple TV". AppleTV. February 12, 1990. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
34. ^ "Columbo: Season 9, Episode 2 – Rotten Tomatoes". rottentomatoes.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
35. ^ Stedman, Alex (August 4, 2023). "Mark Margolis, Actor on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Dies at 83". IGN Africa. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
36. ^ a b "Mark Margolis". TVGuide.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
37. ^ "Law & Order: Criminal Intent: Season 3, Episode 19 – Rotten Tomatoes". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
38. ^ "The Cold War – Sex and the City (Season 6, Episode 17) – Apple TV". AppleTV. February 1, 2004. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
39. ^ "Crossing Jordan : It Happened One Night (2005) – Miguel Ferrer | Cast and Crew | AllMovie". allmovie. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
40. ^ "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Guest Stars Photo: 111301 - NBC.com". NBC. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
41. ^ "'The Good Wife' recap: Both sides now". Los Angeles Times. November 14, 2011. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
42. ^ "T-Bone and the Iceman – Elementary (Season 3, Episode 17) – Apple TV". AppleTV. March 12, 2015. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
43. ^ "Paradox – 12 Monkeys (Season 1, Episode 12) – Apple TV". AppleTV. April 3, 2015. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
44. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (August 4, 2023). "Mark Margolis, 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul' Star, Dies at 83". Variety. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
45. ^ "The Blacklist: Season 7, Episode 17 – Rotten Tomatoes". rottentomatoes.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
46. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (May 18, 2020). "TNT's Snowpiercer: Grade the Premiere". TVLine. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
47. ^ "Head Case – Prodigal Son (Season 2, Episode 6) – Apple TV". AppleTV. February 16, 2021. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
48. ^ Brasil, Sydney. "'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul' Actor Mark Margolis Dead at 83". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
49. ^ Huerta, Gabriel (August 4, 2023). "Mark Margolis, 'Breaking Bad' and 'Scarface' actor, dies at 83". Diario AS. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
50. ^ "The 38th Saturn Award Nominations". Saturn Awards. July 17, 2012. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
51. ^ "Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series Nominees / Winners 2012". Television Academy. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Mark Margolis at IMDb
* Mark Margolis at the Internet Off-Broadway Database

Authority control databases

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* ISNI
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* Germany
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Academics|

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Artists|

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Other|

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*[m.]: married