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Who is Mark Margolis?
Mark Margolis is an American actor known for his diverse roles in film and television, perhaps best recognized for his role as drug lord Hector Salamanca in the popular TV crime series’ “Better Call Saul” and “Breaking Bad”. He has also notably appeared in several films directed by Darren Aronofsky, including “Requiem for a Dream”, “The Wrestler”, and “Black Swan”.
Early Life and Education
Born on 26 November 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mark spent his early years immersed in the culture and ambiance of the city. Raised in a Jewish household, he developed a strong interest in performance art and storytelling from a young age.
Mark’s parents recognized his talent and inclination towards acting, and encouraged him to pursue his dreams. Following his high school education, he attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where he further honed his acting skills. Upon graduation, Mark moved to New York City to study drama at the prestigious Actors Studio.
Roles in Movies
His first movie appearance came in the 1976 adult film “The Opening of Misty Beethoven”, followed by minor roles in films such as “Short Eyes” (1977), “Dressed to Kill” (1980), and “The Avening” (1982). However, it was his supporting role as Alberto, a murderous henchman to Al Pacino’s Tony Montana in Brian De Palma’s crime classic “Scarface” (1983) that introduced him to a wider audience.
Mark continued to deliver strong performances in a variety of roles, solidifying his reputation as a character actor. In 1987, he appeared alongside Michael J. Fox in the comedy “The Secret of My Success”, centered on a young corporate worker trying to rise through the ranks. Two years later, he had a role in the Oscar-winning biographical drama “Glory”, directed by Edward Zwick, and which starred Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick and Cary Elwes.
Through the 1990s, he played a myriad of characters in films such as “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” (1994), “I Shot Andy Warhol” (1996), and “The Thomas Crown Affair” (1999).
Mark’s film career took a transformative turn when he began collaborating with – his first appearance in one of his films was in the psychological thriller “Pi” (1998). His portrayal of Sol Robeson, a mentor figure to the troubled protagonist, showed a different facet of his acting prowess. His work in “Pi” signaled the beginning of a fruitful partnership with the renowned director.
Mark’s collaborations with Aronofsky continued with “Requiem for a Dream” (2000), a disturbing tale of drug abuse, playing Mr. Rabinowitz, a character symbolizing societal indifference towards addiction.
Outside of his work with Aronofsky, Mark also appeared in the 2001 crime thriller “Hannibal”, the spin-off from the 1991 horror “The Silence of the Lambs”, which established the backstory of the titular character, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins.
In 2004, he had a supporting role in David Duchovny’s directorial debut “House of D”, a coming-of-age comedy drama centered on a 13 years old boy who befriends the janitor of his school.
The Aronofsky-Margolis partnership shone again in the 2006 mystery drama “The Fountain”, which also starred Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. The movie is divided into three narrative threads that are not linearly connected but thematically intertwined, spanning a thousand years. In the movie, Mark played the role of Father Avila, a character in the 16th-century storyline, though not as central as Jackman’s, plays a pivotal role in setting the narrative of the film and igniting the quest that permeates through the three timelines.
In 2008, Mark starred in another Aronofsky film, “The Wrestler”, in which he played Lenny, a grocery store manager. The film stars Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, and Evan Rachel Wood, and tells the story of Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Rourke), a once-popular professional wrestler who is struggling to cope with his life after his prime has passed. Mark’s empathetic portrayal of Lenny contrasted starkly with his role in Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” (2010), in which he was sinister and threatening as Mr. Fithian, the building’s superintendent.
Another notable role for Mark was in the 2012 action-comedy “Stand Up Guys”, directed by Fisher Stevens. The film starred Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin, and tells the story of a pair of aging stickup men who try to get the old gang back together one last time before one of the guys takes his last assignment – to kill his comrade.
Two years later, Mark voiced the character Magog in the action adventure drama “Noah” (2014), another Aronofsky-directed film. More recently, Mark had roles in the neo-western “Valley of Bones” (2017), comedy drama “Abe” (2019), and thriller “Broken Soldier” (2022).
Roles in TV Series
Mark made his TV series debut in 1952, in an episode of the sci-fi anthology series “Guiding Light”, but it would take more than two decades before he made a comeback to the small screen, with a minor role in the legal drama “Kojak” in 1977.
In the 1980s, he made appearances in series such as “ABC After School Special”, “Kay O’Brien”, and “Crime Story”. His first recurring role came in 1985, in the popular action crime drama “The Equalizer”, centered on a retired Intelligence Agent with a mysterious past, who uses his skills to exact justice on behalf of innocent people who are trapped in dangerous circumstances. In the series, Mark played the role of Jimmy, an accomplice to the main antagonist, helping him conduct illegal activities, appearing in a total of 25 episodes through 1989.
In 1991, Mark starred in the eighth season of the daytime drama “Santa Barbara”, playing the role of Helmut Dieter. In the following years, he had episodic roles in series such as “New York Undercover”, “New York News”, and “Law & Order”. From 1998 through 2003, he played Antonio Nappa, a mob boss suffering from AIDS, in the HBO prison drama “Oz”.
In the following years, Mark was primarily focused on his film career, but still made appearances in several popular series, including “Waterfront”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, and “Californication”.
However, it was his role in the crime drama “Breaking Bad” that elevated Mark’s television career to a new level. Created by Vince Gilligan, the show aired on AMC Network from 2008 through 2013, and followed former high school professor Walter White played by Brian Cranston, who uses his knowledge of chemistry to make and sell crystal meth, hoping to earn enough money to pay for his lung cancer treatment.
In the series, Mark played the role of a former Mexican drug cartel member Hector Salamanca, who is now disabled and unable to speak, and only uses his eyes and a ringing bell to communicate. Despite his limited mobility and speech, Hector became one of the most recognized characters in the series, thanks in large part to Mark’s acting. His performance was exceptionally well-received and earned him several award nominations including in 2012 for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. His success led to Mark reprising his role in the series’ prequel, “Better Call Saul”. (2016-2022) in which audiences saw a different side of Hector, before his debilitating stroke.
Most recently, in 2023, Mark appeared alongside his “Breaking Bad” co-star Brian Cranston, in the Showtime crime drama “Your Honor”, created by Peter Moffat.
Mark Margolis as Hector Salamanca doesn't get enough kudos for his work in Breaking Bad. His performance is exemplary. #BreakingBadRewatch pic.twitter.com/uQm1MCopsJ
— Shug (@shugshug) November 2, 2019
Personal Life
Mark has always maintained a level of privacy about his personal life. He’s married to Jacqueline Margolis, and the couple shares a son, Morgan Margolis. Despite his lengthy career and substantial public persona, he has succeeded in keeping his family life separate from his professional endeavors. He often credits his family for providing him with a stable foundation, and serving as his driving force in his career.
Hobbies and Interesting Facts
Despite his intense on-screen presence, Mark enjoys a calmer off-screen life. He’s an avid reader, with a preference for classic literature and contemporary works of fiction. Mark also has a deep appreciation for art and enjoys visiting galleries and museums in his spare time.
Interestingly, Mark is multilingual and can speak English, French, Spanish and Yiddish. This ability has helped him add authenticity to his roles, especially those requiring the use of different languages or accents.
Mark is born on the exactly same day as the late singer and actress, Tina Turner.
He has appeared in all but one of Darren Aronofsky’s films – the only movie of the famed director Mark wasn’t featured in is “Mother!” (2017).
Net Worth
Through his career, Mark has amassed a significant fortune – as of July 2023, his estimated net worth is $2.5 million, attributed to his successful acting career spanning several decades and numerous successful film and television projects.
