Legendary Actor Mark Margolis, Star of ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul,’ Passes Away at 83

Mark Margolis Ross White/BFA/Shutterstock

Actor Mark Margolis, famous for his role as Hector Salamanca on Breaking Bad, passed away at 83 years old. Margolis’ son, Morgan, revealed that his father died in New York City on Thursday, August 3, after a brief illness. Margolis’ manager, Robert Kolker, expressed, “He was truly unique and irreplaceable. His presence will be greatly missed. He was not only a valued client but also a dear friend. I am grateful to have known him.”

Born in Philadelphia in 1939, Margolis started his acting journey at the age of 14. At 19, he relocated to New York City and commenced his training under the renowned Stella Adler, an esteemed teacher at the Actors Studio. Having made a name for himself in theater, Margolis embarked on his television career in the early 1980s, gracing the screens in popular shows such as The Equalizer and Quantum Leap.

During the 1990s, Margolis entered into a fruitful collaboration with director Darren Aronofsky. Following his notable role in the 1998 film π, Margolis continued to feature in Aronofsky's subsequent five movies: Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, The Wrestler, Black Swan, and Noah.

While Margolis is also recognized for his memorable performances in Scarface and the HBO series Oz, modern audiences primarily associate him with the character of Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad. Portraying the elderly cartel kingpin, Margolis depicted a unique form of communication by utilizing a bell attached to his wheelchair. In 2009, Margolis made his debut in this iconic role during the second season of the AMC drama, subsequently reprising it in the prequel series Better Call Saul.

Mark Margolis received an Emmy nomination for his portrayal in "Better Call Saul" during the show's fourth season in 2012. This particular season became famous for its climactic ending, featuring Salamanca's brutal retaliation against Gus Fring (played by Giancarlo Esposito).

In 2012, Margolis admitted that he initially believed his appearance on Breaking Bad would be a one-time occurrence. However, due to the immense popularity of his character Hector, the writers decided to bring him back. After Hector's death in season 4, fans were able to pay tribute to him by ringing a bell on the website HectorSalamanca.com.

"When I joined Breaking Bad, I thought it would only be for that one episode. But the fans surprisingly took a liking to Hector," Margolis revealed in a 2012 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "Someone recently asked me how I managed to portray such a despicable character, and I jokingly replied, 'Have you spoken to my friends? They'll tell you that I'm pretty unpleasant to begin with.'"

Margolis is survived by his wife, Jacqueline (whom he wed in 1962), their son, Morgan, and three grandchildren.