Mark Margolis (/mɑːrˈɡoʊlɪs/, mar-GOH-liss; 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) and the New Priest in Immortals (2011). He started acting in his teens.^[1]

Mark Margolis was born on November 26, 1939,^[2] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Fanya (née Fried) and Isidore Margolis.^[3] He was born into a Jewish family.^[4][5]

Margolis was briefly a student at Temple University before dropping out and moving to New York City.^[6] 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.^[3][6]

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.^[7]

In 1976, Margolis made his first film appearance as an airplane passenger in The Opening of Misty Beethoven.^[8] Margolis was also noted for his supporting roles in Scarface (1983)^[1] 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).^[8]

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,^[9] and Better Call Saul. In January 2015, he portrayed Felix Faust in the Constantine episode "Quid Pro Quo".^[10] For his role in Breaking Bad, Margolis received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.^[11] He would later reprise the role in the show's spin-off series, Better Call Saul.^[12]

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.^[7] 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.^[13] In 2019, he performed in another of Kushner's works, playing Gottfried Swetts in A Bright Room Called Day.^[7][14]

Margolis married Jacqueline Margolis (née Petcove), on June 3, 1962.^[3][15] They had a son, actor Morgan H. Margolis, and three grandchildren.^[3][6][16]

Margolis died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City following a short illness, on August 3, 2023, at age 83.^[8]