Mark Margolis

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title: "Mark Margolis" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1939-births", "2023-deaths", "20th-century-american-male-actors", "21st-century-american-male-actors", "male-actors-from-philadelphia", "american-male-film-actors", "american-male-television-actors", "american-male-voice-actors", "jewish-american-male-actors", "temple-university-alumni", "actors-studio-alumni", "method-actors", "american-people-of-jewish-descent", "american-ashkenazi-jews", "20th-century-american-jews", "21st-century-american-jews", "american-stage-actors"] description: "American actor (1939–2023)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Margolis" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American actor (1939–2023) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Mark Margolis
image	Mark Margolis.jpg
caption	Margolis at the premiere of Noah in 2014
birth_date
birth_place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
death_date
death_place	New York City, New York, U.S.
occupation	Actor
alma_mater
yearsactive	1962–2023
spouse
children	Morgan Margolis
::

| name = Mark Margolis | image = Mark Margolis.jpg | caption = Margolis at the premiere of Noah in 2014 | birth_date = | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | occupation = Actor | alma_mater = | yearsactive = 1962–2023 | spouse = | children = Morgan Margolis Mark Margolis (, ; 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.

Early life

Margolis was born on November 26, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Jewish parents Fanya (née Fried) and Isidore Margolis. Margolis was briefly a student at Temple University before dropping out and moving to New York City. 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.

Career

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.

In 1976, Margolis made a film appearance as an airplane passenger in The Opening of Misty Beethoven. Margolis was also noted for his supporting roles in Scarface (1983), 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).

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, and Better Call Saul. In January 2015, he portrayed Felix Faust in the Constantine episode "Quid Pro Quo". For his role in Breaking Bad as Hector Salamanca, Margolis received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. He would later reprise the role in the show's spin-off series, Better Call Saul.

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. 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. In 2019, he performed in another of Kushner's works, playing Gottfried Swetts in A Bright Room Called Day.

Personal life

Margolis married Jacqueline Margolis (née Petcove), on June 3, 1962. They had a son, actor and business executive Morgan Margolis, and three grandchildren.

Death

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

Filmography

Film

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
1976	The Opening of Misty Beethoven	Unhappy Airplane Passenger	Uncredited
1977	Short Eyes	Mr. Morrison
1979	Going in Style	Prison Guard
1980	Dressed to Kill	Patient	Uncredited
Christmas Evil	Christmas Party Patron (Man #2)
1983	Eddie Macon's Run	5:00 Bar Owner
Scarface	Alberto The Shadow
1984	The Cotton Club	Charlie Workman
1987	The Bedroom Window	Man in Phone Booth
The Secret of My Succe$s	Maintenance Man
1989	Glory	10th Connecticut Soldier
White Hot	The Tin Man
1990	Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection	Gen. Olmedo
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie	Gage
1991	The Pit and the Pendulum	Mendoza
1992	1492: Conquest of Paradise	Francisco de Bobadilla
1994	Ace Ventura: Pet Detective	Mr. Shickadance
Squanto: A Warrior's Tale	Captain Thomas Hunt
1996	I Shot Andy Warhol	Louis Solanas
The Pallbearer	Philip DeMarco
1997	Absolute Power	Red Brandsford
Trouble on the Corner	Mr. Borofsky		title=Mark Margolis – Rotten Tomatoes	url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/mark_margolis
1998	Side Streets	Bartender
π	Sol Robeson
1999	Mickey Blue Eyes	Gene Morganson
Flawless	Vinnie
Jakob the Liar	Fajngold
The Thomas Crown Affair	Heinrich Knutzhorn
End of Days	Pope
2000	Fast Food, Fast Women	Graham
Dinner Rush	Fitzgerald
Requiem for a Dream	Mr. Rabinowitz
2001	Hardball	Fink
The Tailor of Panama	Rafi Domingo
Hannibal	Perfume Expert
2002	Infested	Father Morning
2003	Daredevil	Eddie Fallon	Uncredited	title=Mark Margolis – Apple TV
2004	House of D	Mr. Pappass
2005	Stay	Business Man
Headspace	Boris Pavlovsky
2006	The Fountain	Father Avila
2007	Gone Baby Gone	Leon Trett
The Girl Next Door	Homeless Man Hit By Car		title=Mark Margolis: Movies, TV, and Bio	url=https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Mark-Margolis/amzn1.dv.gti.61016855-21ae-40ef-b5fc-2e32d27a30e9/
2008	Defiance	Jewish Elder
Haber	Bremer
The Wrestler	Lenny
The Model Maker	The Model Maker
2010	Black Swan	Mr. Fithian
2011	Immortals	The New Priest	Uncredited
One Fall	Walter Grigg Sr.
The Courier	Stitch
2012	Stand Up Guys	Claphands
2013	Beneath	Mr. Parks
Northern Borders	Whiskeyjack Kittredge
2014	Noah	Magog	Voice
2015	Nasty Baby	Richard
The Abandoned	Jim
2016	My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2	Panos
2017	Valley of Bones	El Papá
2019	Abe	Benjamin
2020	Minyan	Itzik
2022	Every Last Secret	Grandpa
::

Television

::data[format=table]

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

Music videos

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Artist	Role	Refs
1993	"Bad Girl"	Madonna	Bartender	last=Brasil
::

Video games

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Refs
2003	Manhunt	Tramp (voice)
::

Awards and nominations

::data[format=table]

Year	Association	Category	Nominated work	Result
2011	Saturn Awards	Best Guest Starring Role on Television	Breaking Bad
2012	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
::

References

References

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

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