‘Scarface’ actor Ángel Salazar died from acute intoxication linked to cocaine use
Years after making his name playing the gun-toting sidekick of dog baron Tony Montana in ‘Scarface’, it’s emerged actor Ángel Salazar’s cause of death was acute intoxication caused by the use of drugs including cocaine.
Actor Ángel Salazar died from acute intoxication caused by the use of drugs including cocaine.
The actor, famed for his roles as gun-toting gangster henchman Chi Chi in Brian De Palma’s ultra-violent 1983 version of drug smuggling epic ‘Scarface’, was said to have “passed away in his sleep” on 11 August in a bed at a friend’s home in Brooklyn, New York.
It has now been reported the actor’s death was the result of combined effects from cocaine, cyclobenzaprine and diphenhydramine – a type of antihistamine.
Vascular disease arteriosclerosis and hypertensive cardiovascular disease were also said to have been listed by as contributing factors to Salazar’s death, TMZ reported, citing the New York Chief Medical Examiner's Office as the source of the information.
It added the medical examiner ultimately ruled the actor’s death was accidental.
Ángel’s representative Ann Wingsong said in August he “passed away in his sleep”.
She added his friend went in to check on him and discovered his deceased body lying in bed.
Ms Wingsong added the actor had been previously suffering ongoing heart issues.
Ángel became instantly recognisable to movie fans after playing Chi Chi in Brian De Palma’s brutal 1983 gangster film Scarface, based on a screenplay by now 78-year-old Oliver Stone.
His character was one of Al Pacino’s drug baron character Tony Montana’s most loyal sidekicks, and is seen saving the cocaine baron’s life during the film’s infamous chainsaw slaughter scene.
Chi Chi is eventually wiped out in a shower of bullets when Tony is targeted by rival drug lord Alejandro Sosa and a small army of assassins who attack his mansion.
Ángel started his acting career in 1979 with his first role in the movie ‘Boulevard Nights’.
Other high-profile movie roles include a part alongside Tom Hanks in 1998’s ‘Punchline’ comedy drama.
He played another henchman at Al Pacino’s side in filmmaker Brian De Palma’s 1993 crime drama ‘Carlito’s Way’.
Ángel acted until his death and also spent years performing as a stand-up comic.
His other acting credits included ‘Walk Proud’, ‘Hot to Trot’ and ‘Maniac Cop 2’.
