---
name: "Mark Margolis"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/mark-margolis"
fi1m_id: "mark-margolis"
imdb_id: "nm0546797"
tmdb_id: 1173
wikidata_id: "Q934506"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "26 November 1939"
died: "3 August 2023"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 17
average_fi1m_score: 69
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 16
updated: "2026-10-05T02:14:51.791417+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Mark Margolis

## Identity

Mark Margolis

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/mark-margolis
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** mark-margolis
- **IMDb ID:** nm0546797
- **TMDB ID:** 1173
- **Wikidata ID:** Q934506
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Margolis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q934506, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0546797/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1173

Actor. Born 26 November 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 3 August 2023.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 26 November 1939, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- **Died:** 3 August 2023
- **Active:** 1982–2020
- **Also known as:** مارک مارگولیس
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 17: 16 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Darren Aronofsky](https://film.one/person/darren-aronofsky.md), [Eric Watson](https://film.one/person/eric-watson.md), [Scott Franklin](https://film.one/person/scott-franklin.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as actor, over 16 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 76 (5), 1990s 59 (4), 2000s 73 (5), 2010s 70 (2), 2020s 63 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 69 to 65 across 16 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 4 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 12, Crime 6, Comedy 4, Mystery 3, Romance 3, Thriller 3
- **Screen time:** 28 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,740m across 15 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Margolis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q934506, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0546797/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1173

## Streaming the US now

- **Peacock:** [*Requiem for a Dream*](https://film.one/film/requiem-for-a-dream.md) (80)
- **Hulu:** [*Gone Baby Gone*](https://film.one/film/gone-baby-gone.md) (79)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Pi*](https://film.one/film/pi.md) (78)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Mark Margolis

> Mark Margolis could make a man ringing a bell seem dangerously difficult to refuse. We rate his concentrated, largely supporting work, especially with Darren Aronofsky, though the threatening parts can give too narrow a picture of what he did.

A bell rings, and Hector Salamanca has made himself understood. In *Breaking Bad*, Mark Margolis conveys anger without dialogue, making a small action feel threatening. The role brought him wider attention late in his career, and *Better Call Saul* returned him to the same character. He had already spent years working in films where other people had the leading roles.

His film work included Shadow in Brian De Palma’s *Scarface* (1983), but Darren Aronofsky offers the more useful route through it. Their first collaboration was *Pi* (1998), with Margolis playing Sol Robeson. He is a dependable supporting presence in a film that keeps pressing its mathematical obsession upon us. We felt unexpectedly lonely watching *Pi*: the grainy images and abrasive music make that obsession feel painfully shut off from ordinary life. It is a good paranoid thriller, although Aronofsky presses so hard that some of the ideas remain underexamined.

The partnership continued with Mr. Rabinowitz in *Requiem for a Dream* (2000) and eventually covered six films. Across those appearances Margolis played mentors as well as men of authority, so Aronofsky was not simply repeating the same casting decision. That gives us a more useful way of considering him than treating Hector as his entire achievement. His presence is one reason to watch *Pi*, but the grainy images and abrasive music remain its stronger attractions. A supporting actor need not be the chief attraction to have done his job.

The reservation is the repeated casting as cagey, hot-tempered men, which can leave performances feeling familiar before they have properly begun. That is a limitation of the opportunities as much as a criticism of the actor. Margolis’s non-verbal work as Hector shows how carefully he could work within those restrictions. Start with *Pi* if Hector is all that comes to mind, provided a punishing evening of paranoia sounds appealing.

## Biography

Mark Margolis (1939–2023) was an American actor. He studied briefly at Temple University before moving to New York, where he trained with Stella Adler and at the Actors Studio.

He appeared in Darren Aronofsky’s films from *Pi* (1998), in which he played Sol Robeson, through to *Noah* (2014). Other notable film roles include Shadow in *Scarface* (1983), Mr Shickadance in *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective* (1994) and Mr Rabinowitz in *Requiem for a Dream* (2000). On television he played Hector Salamanca in *Breaking Bad* (2008–2011) and *Better Call Saul* (2015–2022), for which he received an Emmy nomination, and Antonio Nappa in *Oz* (1998–2003).

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, encyclopedia.com.*

## On Fi1m (17)

### Performed in (16) — the average rests on these

- *Snowpiercer* (2020), Fi1m 63, as Old Ivan — [page](https://film.one/tv/snowpiercer-2020.md)
- *Noah* (2014), Fi1m 58, as Magog (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/noah.md)
- *Black Swan* (2010), Fi1m 82, as Mr. Fithian / Patron — [page](https://film.one/film/black-swan.md)
- *The Wrestler* (2008), Fi1m 85, as Lenny — [page](https://film.one/film/the-wrestler.md)
- *Gone Baby Gone* (2007), Fi1m 79, as Leon Trett — [page](https://film.one/film/gone-baby-gone.md)
- *The Fountain* (2006), Fi1m 66, as Father Avila — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fountain.md)
- *Hannibal* (2001), Fi1m 54, as Perfume Expert — [page](https://film.one/film/hannibal.md)
- *Requiem for a Dream* (2000), Fi1m 80, as Mr. Rabinowitz — [page](https://film.one/film/requiem-for-a-dream.md)
- *End of Days* (1999), Fi1m 48, as Pope — [page](https://film.one/film/end-of-days.md)
- *Mickey Blue Eyes* (1999), Fi1m 66, as Gene Morgansen — [page](https://film.one/film/mickey-blue-eyes.md)
- *Pi* (1998), Fi1m 78, as Sol Robeson — [page](https://film.one/film/pi.md)
- *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective* (1994), Fi1m 44, as Shickadance — [page](https://film.one/film/ace-ventura-pet-detective.md)
- *Glory* (1989), Fi1m 82, as 10th Connecticut Soldier — [page](https://film.one/film/glory.md)
- *The Secret of My Success* (1987), Fi1m 62, as Maintenence Man — [page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-of-my-success.md)
- *Scarface* (1983), Fi1m 79, as Shadow — [page](https://film.one/film/scarface.md)
- *Diner* (1982), Fi1m 84, as Earl Mager — [page](https://film.one/film/diner.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Arthur* (1981), Fi1m 72, as Wedding Guest (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/arthur.md)

## Complete filmography (132)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Every Last Secret* (2022), as Grandpa
- *Your Honor* (2020), series, as Carmine Conti
- *Minyan* (2020), as Itzik
- *Abe* (2020), as Benjamin
- *Snowpiercer* (2020), series, as Old Ivan — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/snowpiercer-2020.md)
- *Prodigal Son* (2019), series, as Rudolph Swann
- *Baja* (2018), as Don Primo
- *Valley of Bones* (2017), as El Papa
- *One Fall* (2016), as Walter Grigg Sr.
- *A Remarkable Life* (2016), as Landon
- *My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2* (2016), as Panos
- *Nasty Baby* (2015), as Richard
- *You Bury Your Own* (2015), as Smith
- *The Abandoned* (2015), as Jim
- *Better Call Saul* (2015), series, as Hector Salamanca — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/better-call-saul.md)
- *12 Monkeys* (2015), series, as Mr. Werner
- *Northern Borders* (2015), as Whiskeyjack
- *Constantine* (2014), series, as Felix Faust
- *The Affair* (2014), series, as Arthur Solloway
- *Gotham* (2014), series, as Paul Cicero
- *Noah* (2014), as Magog (voice) — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/noah.md)
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as Jakov Mitko — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Beneath* (2013), as Mr. Parks
- *Stand Up Guys* (2012), as Claphands
- *Dig* (2012), as Heinrich Berger
- *Elementary* (2012), series, as Abraham Misraki
- *The Courier* (2012), as Stitch
- *Immortals* (2011), as The New Priest (uncredited)
- *Carl(a)* (2011), as Grandpa
- *American Horror Story* (2011), series, as Sam Goodman
- *Person of Interest* (2011), series, as Gianni Moretti — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md)
- *Fairly Legal* (2011), series, as Ian Saunders
- *Black Swan* (2010), as Mr. Fithian / Patron — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/black-swan.md)
- *Blue Bloods* (2010), series, as Whitey Brennan
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Jim — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Kings* (2009), series, as Premier Shaw
- *Nobody* (2009), as Professor Hagel
- *Defiance* (2008), as Jewish Elder
- *The Wrestler* (2008), as Lenny — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-wrestler.md)
- *Haber* (2008), as Bremer
- *Breaking Bad* (2008), series, as Tío Salamanca — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/breaking-bad.md)
- *Gone Baby Gone* (2007), as Leon Trett — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/gone-baby-gone.md)
- *Californication* (2007), series, as Al Moody — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md)
- *The Girl Next Door* (2007), as Homeless Man Hit By Car
- *The Black Donnellys* (2007), series, as Sal Minetta
- *The Fountain* (2006), as Father Avila — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fountain.md)
- *Brotherhood* (2006), series, as Jacob Weiss
- *Umney's Last Case* (2006), as Vernon Klein
- *Stay* (2005), as Bookstore Owner
- *Headspace* (2005), as Boris Pavlovsky
- *House of D* (2004), as Mr. Pappass
- *2BPerfectlyHonest* (2004), as Abrams
- *Particles of Truth* (2003), as Grandpa Black
- *Daredevil* (2003), as Fallon (uncredited)
- *Infested* (2002), as Father Morning
- *Hack* (2002), series, as Nicolai Zosimov
- *Angela* (2002), Actor
- *Bridget* (2002), as Slim
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Mario Damiano
- *Crossing Jordan* (2001), series, as Cahill
- *Hardball* (2001), as Fink
- *Queenie in Love* (2001), as Spencer
- *Boss of Bosses* (2001), as Piney Armone
- *The Tailor of Panama* (2001), as Rafi Domingo
- *Hannibal* (2001), as Perfume Expert — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/hannibal.md)
- *100 Centre Street* (2001), series, as Merle Kiefer
- *Starwater* (2001), Actor
- *Requiem for a Dream* (2000), as Mr. Rabinowitz — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/requiem-for-a-dream.md)
- *Dinner Rush* (2000), as Fitzgerald
- *Fast Food Fast Women* (2000), as Graham
- *Flawless* (1999), as Vinnie
- *End of Days* (1999), as Pope — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/end-of-days.md)
- *Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99* (1999), as Bartender (segment "Bad Girl")
- *Now and Again* (1999), series, as Nicky Vodorgov
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Rom-Baro
- *Jakob the Liar* (1999), as Fajngold
- *18 Shades of Dust* (1999), Actor
- *Mickey Blue Eyes* (1999), as Gene Morgansen — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/mickey-blue-eyes.md)
- *The Thomas Crown Affair* (1999), as Heinrich Knutzhorn
- *Above Freezing* (1998), as Mob Boss
- *Side Streets* (1998), as Bartender
- *Pi* (1998), as Sol Robeson — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/pi.md)
- *Sex and the City* (1998), series, as Jean Paul Sandal
- *Pants on Fire* (1998), as Malcolm Preston
- *Trouble on the Corner* (1997), as Mr. Borofsky
- *Oz* (1997), series, as Antonio Nappa — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/oz.md)
- *Prince Street* (1997), series, Actor
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Richard D'Ambrosio
- *Absolute Power* (1997), as Red
- *The Pallbearer* (1996), as Philip DeMarco
- *I Shot Andy Warhol* (1996), as Louis Solanas
- *Squanto: A Warrior's Tale* (1994), as Captain Hunt
- *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective* (1994), as Shickadance — Fi1m 44, [page](https://film.one/film/ace-ventura-pet-detective.md)
- *Where the Rivers Flow North* (1993), as New York Money
- *1492: Conquest of Paradise* (1992), as Bobadilla
- *The Pit and the Pendulum* (1991), as Mendoza
- *Descending Angel* (1990), as Bercovici
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as George Lobrano, Bronson, Frankie Polito — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection* (1990), as Gen. Olmedo
- *Tales from the Darkside: The Movie* (1990), as Gage (segment ‘Cat From Hell’)
- *Glory* (1989), as 10th Connecticut Soldier — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/glory.md)
- *Quantum Leap* (1989), series, as Adriano
- *Memories of Manon* (1989), as Jimmy
- *White Hot* (1989), as The Tin Man
- *Lady Mobster* (1988), as Peter Colicos
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), series, as Dr. Nel Apgar — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md)
- *Jake and the Fatman* (1987), series, as Miracola
- *The Rosary Murders* (1987), as Father Max
- *Almost Partners* (1987), as Kristopholous
- *The Secret of My Success* (1987), as Maintenence Man — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-of-my-success.md)
- *The Bedroom Window* (1987), as Man in Phone Booth
- *Doubletake* (1985), as Janitor
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Jimmy
- *I Want to Go Home* (1985), as Cab Driver
- *The Cotton Club* (1984), as Charlie Workman (uncredited)
- *Far from Poland* (1984), as Adam Zarewski
- *Scarface* (1983), as Shadow — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/scarface.md)
- *Eddie Macon's Run* (1983), as 5:00 Bar Owner
- *Rage of Angels* (1983), series, as Ricky
- *Diner* (1982), as Earl Mager — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/diner.md)
- *Muggable Mary: Street Cop* (1982), as Sgt. Meyers
- *The Avenging* (1982), as Pedro Quintana
- *Arthur* (1981), as Wedding Guest (uncredited) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/arthur.md)
- *Christmas Evil* (1980), as Man #2
- *Dressed to Kill* (1980), as Patient at Bellvue Hospital (uncredited)
- *A Jury of Her Peers* (1980), as Mr. Hale
- *Going in Style* (1979), as Prison Guard
- *The Other Side of Victory* (1979), as Jemmy
- *Short Eyes* (1977), as Mr. Morrison
- *The Opening of Misty Beethoven* (1976), as Unhappy Guy on Plane (uncredited)
- *Kojak* (1973), series, as First Gunman, Gunman — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md)
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Cosner — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/mark-margolis