Ángel Salazar, ‘Scarface’ Actor, Dies at 68

As a cinephile who’s had the pleasure of growing up with the golden era of Hollywood, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia at the passing of Angel Salazar. Known to us as Chi Chi from the iconic “Scarface,” he was more than just a character in a movie; he was a symbol of resilience and determination that echoed through the screens and into our living rooms.


As a film aficionado, I’m saddened to share that the talented actor Angel Salazar, famously known for his role as Chi Chi in “Scarface,” passed away on August 11th. This news was confirmed by his representative Roger Paul to EbMaster. At the time of his passing, he was 68 years old.

In 1983, I stepped into the shoes of Tony Montana’s right-hand man, a role immortalized by Al Pacino, in the cult classic film. My character endeavored, alongside the drug lord, to conquer Miami’s notorious cocaine trade. A pivotal moment for me was the chainsaw scene, where I rescued Tony from certain death at the hands of Hector, portrayed by Al Israel, a formidable rival gang leader.

Towards the final moments of the movie, Chi Chi bravely fights off Alejandro Sosa’s (Paul Shenar) assassins to shield Tony, employing a submachine gun as a barrier. Once he exhausts his ammunition, he frantically knocks on Tony’s office door, pleading for entry to avoid being slain by the assailants himself. Regrettably, he becomes the last member of Tony’s team to perish, thereby leaving the crime lord isolated.

Salazar kicked off his professional journey in New York City, where he pursued comedy following his early escape from Cuba. Notably, he appeared in films such as “Punchline” (1988) alongside Tom Hanks, reteamed with Pacino for “Carlito’s Way” (1993), featured in “Boulevard Nights” (1979), and took on roles in “Sylvester” (1985) and others.

He has a variety of TV shows under his belt, such as “In Living Color,” “On Our Own,” and “Jersey Mafia Chronicles,” along with several others. Additionally, Salazar stayed faithful to his comedic background, performing stand-up comedy until July 2024.

Previously, he made an appearance in the 2006 documentary “The Latin Legends of Comedy,” which focused on Salazar and his comedy peers J.J. Ramirez and Joe Vega. Additionally, he had a stint on the reality competition show “Last Comic Standing.”

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2024-08-13 00:47