Breaking Bad actor Mark Margolis who played Hector Salamanca has died

Breaking Bad actor Mark Margolis who played Hector Salamanca has died at the age of 83.

The tragic news was confirmed by Margolis' son, actor and Knitting Factory Entertainment CEO Morgan Margolis, after the actor died yesterday (3 August).

The star died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City following a short illness.

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Margolis is best known for the character of Hector 'Tio' Salamanca in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul with his performance in the former going on to be nominated for an Emmy Award in 2012.

He made his first appearance on Breaking Bad back in March 2009 on the second episode of the action-packed drama’s second season.

His character was paralysed from the neck down and only able to communicate with facial expression as well as a service bell attached to his wheelchair.

To play the silent role, Margolis revealed he took inspiration from his late mother-in-law, Shirley.

"She was in a nursing home for many years in Florida, tragically, after suffering a stroke," he recalled to The Hollywood Reporter back in 2012.

"We used to visit her, and she couldn’t speak. But she’d get excited when we came in the room, and the left side of her mouth would always do these contortions where the lips would push out, almost like she was chewing tobacco."

The late actor continued: "So I kind of stole that from her. I always say the role is an homage to Shirley, who was actually a 1930s Earl Carroll follies dancer.”

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He also appeared in a whole array of other blockbuster smash-hits including Scarface, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Oz as well as six Darren Aronofsky movies.

Speaking in the same interview about why Aronofsky kept hiring him, Margolis replied with a tongue-in-cheek response: "He thinks he has an obligation! I started with him on his first movie, the $60,000 Pi, when he was unknown.

"I chased him for three months because he kept lying to me about when I’d get my money. I finally threatened to call his mother, who was craft services on the film. Then he finally paid me."

Tributes for the late star have since flooded in, with many taking to social media to share their condolences.

One Twitter user penned: "RIP to this acting legend."

"RIP good sir you were a phenomenal actor," echoed a second.

A third chimed in: "He was a brilliant actor and a memorable villain."

A final Twitter user added: "He will remain in our hearts forever."

Topics: Celebrity, Breaking Bad, TV and Film

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from the University of Manchester in 2021 in English Literature. Alongside her studies, she was the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the largest student newspaper in the United Kingdom. Her favourite topics to write about include sex and relationships, bizarre lifestyle trends and all things travel.