Veteran actor Mark Margolis, well known for his roles on “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” has passed away, according to a statement from his son, actor and Knitting Factory Entertainment CEO Morgan Margolis.
According to his son, Margolis passed away on Thursday at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City after a brief illness. He was 83.
In 2012, Margolis was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of Hector “Tio” Salamanca in “Breaking Bad.” A fan favorite named Tio was a former cartel enforcer who used a wheelchair-mounted brass bell to communicate. In the prequel series “Better Call Saul,” he went on to play Tio when he was younger and not in a wheelchair.
“It was a marvelous creature! The fact that he didn’t have any words was not an issue for me,” Margolis told Times in 2013 of the role. “I was delighted not to have to learn any lines. I mean, I had to know what was going on, I had to my cues, but the fact that I didn’t have to master lines was great. I got to fly out to New Mexico and not worry about memorizing anything.”
Along with several more films dating back to 1976, Margolis also starred in “Scarface,” “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” and “Oz.” He collaborated with filmmaker Darren Aronofsky frequently and made six appearances in his films.
The actor received his training from renowned acting coach Stella Adler in New York.
Margolis was taken aback by the performance’s longevity despite having well over 100 film and television credits.
