Ray Liotta once got a horse's head in the post from Frank Sinatra's daughters

Beloved actor Ray Liotta has died aged 67, passing away in his sleep while in the Dominican Republic.

He had been away in the country filming what would have no doubt been yet another powerful and captivating performance.

For many, he is most fondly remembered for playing Henry Hill in the 1990s mobster epic Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese.

The film, celebrated as both a classic and defining work in the gangster movie genre, is still adored by millions over 30 years later.

But one role that Liotta took gained attention in an altogether different way, with a somewhat more sinister tone.

Ray Liotta and the horse's head

Nancy and Tina Sinatra sent Ray Liotta a 'horse head' (Mirrorpix)

Back in 1998, Ray Liotta was gearing up to play the legendary Frank Sinatra in the film The Rat Pack.

However, when they found out the news, Sinatra's daughters Nancy and Tina were not best pleased.

Speaking on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, Liotta said: "We were doing the movie and I got delivered a horse’s head. Obviously, it wasn’t a real one, but it was a horse’s head. And, you know, a horse’s head means you’re toast.”

Frank Sinatra died in 1998, the year the film was released, although his daughters had a different plan.

They had a project all of their own in mind to honour their late father, one that was separate from the film Liotta was cast in.

Liotta added: “It turned out that his daughters sent it and said, ‘Oh, you could do this one, but you couldn’t do the one that we wanted you to?’

Ray Liotta built a reputation as a seasoned veteran on the mob film circuit - here he can be seen playing legendary crooner Frank Sinatra (Alpha Press)

“The daughters, they wanted me to do a miniseries when they were doing a miniseries about it, and I just felt too uncomfortable.”

Tina and Nacy’s miniseries never saw the light of day, while The Rat Pack went on to pick up three Emmy Awards.

One of the awards went to Don Cheadle for his efforts portraying Sammy Davis Jr.

Prior to his death, Liotta went on to perform in the Sopranos spin-off film The Many Saints of Newark.

Liotta himself was born in Newark, New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, New York.

Despite his tendency to go for certain roles, before he died, Liotta said he wasn’t like the mob-style characters he often played.

He said: “I don’t go around beating people up. I’ve never been in a fight. I avoid it at all costs.”