| Ángel Salazar | |
| Birth Date: | 2 March 1956 |
| Birth Place: | Cuba |
| Death Place: | New York City, U.S. |
| Years Active: | 1977–2024 |
Ángel Salazar (March 2, 1956 – August 11, 2024) was a Cuban-American comedian and actor. He is known for saying "Sheck it out" ("check it out") before, during, and after jokes. As an actor, he was best known for his role as Chi-Chi in the 1983 film Scarface.[1]
Salazar was born in Cuba in 1956. He left the country as a teenager, swimming to the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and eventually settling in New York City.[2]
Salazar first began performing stand-up comedy when he was eighteen, debuting his "check it out" line in his first open-mic appearance, and soon went on to acting.[2] In his most famous role, he played Chi Chi in Scarface (1983); his other film credits included Punchline (1988) and Carlito's Way (1993).[2] [3] Salazar also appeared on Last Comic Standing and many HBO Comedy specials. His last film he was shooting was The Brooklyn Premiere by Brooklyn-born director Eric Spade Rivas, which had him reunite in scenes with Steven Bauer (Manolo from Scarface) for one more go as partners in crime. He continued to do stand-up throughout his life, with his last performance at the Reno, Nevada, location of the Laugh Factory in July 2024.[2]
Salazar divided his time between Florida and New York City. On August 11, 2024, he died while staying at a friend's residence in Brooklyn. He was 68 and had an enlarged heart.[2]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Boulevard Nights | 11th Street Gang | |
| Walk Proud | Angel | ||
| 1980 | Where the Buffalo Roam | Waiter | |
| 1982 | A Stranger Is Watching | Dude at Phone Booth | |
| 1983 | Scarface | 'Chi-Chi' | |
| 1984 | The Wild Life | Benny | |
| 1985 | Sylvester | Tommy John | |
| 1988 | Hot to Trot | 'Snake' | |
| Punchline | Rico | ||
| 1990 | Maniac Cop 2 | Traffic Officer | |
| 1993 | Carlito's Way | Walberto | |
| 2003 | Harlem Blues | Trainer | Video |
| Vote for Me | Machito | ||
| 2005 | Rose Woes and Joe's | Hector | |
| 2007 | Made in Brooklyn | Sergio | |
| 2009 | Engaging | Angel | |
| Trust Me | Louis | Short | |
| 2010 | Crumble | S&M Partygoer | Short |
| 2011 | The Last Gamble | Angel | |
| 2012 | Da Pinche Code | Rocco | |
| Ante | Jenti | ||
| Saved by the Pole | Big Daddy Paco | Short | |
| 2015 | Laugh Killer Laugh | 'Cricket' | |
| Vamp Bikers Dos | Arestus | ||
| 2016 | Take it Back | Ceasar | |
| Vamp Bikers Tres | Priest | ||
| 2017 | Un Delincuente en Nueva York | Jerry | |
| The Streetz | Freddie | ||
| Tatalia | Janitor | ||
| 2018 | Make America Great Again | Rogelio Yola | |
| 2019 | Counterpunch | Neighborhood Man | |
| Japanese Borscht | El Rico | ||
| 2020 | For NYC | Himself | Short |
| The Streetz 2 | Freddie | ||
| 2021 | Duke of New York in New Ghost City | Ron King | |
| Night Rapper | Lion Heart | ||
| 2022 | The Black Caeser | Nino Diamond | |
| 2023 | The Gilbert Diaries: The Movie | Cha Chi | |
| 2024 | The Brooklyn Premiere |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Heart of the City | Sparrow | Episode: "Cezanne, and Other Dreams" | |
| 1992 | Showtime at the Apollo | Himself | Episode: "Episode #5.23" | |
| 2014 | Screen Machines | Himself | Episode: "Scarface Cadillac" | |
| 2017 | SacTown Underground | Himself | Episode: "Episode #1.11" |