We’ve lost another big screen star as character actorGeno Silvahas reportedly passed away. With a career spanning decades, one of Silva’s most notable roles includes playing the hitman who dispatches Tony Montana inScarfacein one of cinema history’s all-time biggest moments. According to reports, Silva died at his Los Angeles home on Monday due to complications from a form of dementia called frontotemporal degeneration. He was 72 years old.
Silva was born on Jul 29, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As an actor, his most recognizable role is perhaps that of the henchman nicknamed “The Skull” in the classic gangster movieScarface. In the hit movie, The Skull is a silent hitman hired by drug lord Alejandro Sosa (Paul Shenar) to take out iconic character Tony Montana (Al Pacino), which he does in the climax of the film. Although many of his colleagues are taken out in the process, it’s The Skull who manages to finally stop Tony in the end, sending him crashing down into a fountain after firing the fatal shot just before the credits roll. In the years since, The Skull has gotten plenty of recognition for being the person to take out the legendary Tony Montana, with one poll naming him No. 7 on a list of movie history’s best henchmen.
In addition toScarface, Silva has had many other roles on the big screen. Hefaced dinosaursin the 1997 sequelThe Lost World: Jurassic Parkand also had parts in movies such asTequila Sunrise,My Mom’s a Werewolf,Night Eyes 2, and1941. Silva made plenty of television appearances as well, which includes a recurring role on the Fox drama seriesKey Westwith other roles on shows likeMiami Vice,Walker, Texas Ranger, andAlias. Silva is also acclaimed for his stage work, which includes acting alongside the late Philip Seymour Hoffman inThe Merchant of Veniceand with John Ortiz in the off-Broadway showSueño.
Silvo began to slow down his acting work in the late ’90s. The actor would have a role in the Canadian television seriesThe Sentinel, appearing in He would have a role in the Steven Spielberg movieAmistadin 1997 as Spanish navigator Jose Ruiz, going on to appear in theVin Diesel action movie A Man Apartand be directed by David Lynch in the surreal cult classicMulholland Drive. He would make his final movie appearance in the 2005 indie comedyTortilla Heaven, also showing up in multiple episodes of the television seriesStar Trek: Enterpriseas Senator Vrax that same year.
Silva’s survivors include his wife, Pamela; daughter, Lucia; grandchildren, Eva and Levon; and sister, Elizabeth. The family is asking for donations in his memory be made toThe Association for Frontotemporal Dementia. We extend our condolences to the Silva family along with everyone else who knew the late actor best. His fans are certainly missing him as well, as his take on The Skull and his other roles will ensure he won’t be forgotten. May herest in peace. This news comes to us fromThe Hollywood Reporter.
