Ángel Salazar (March 2, 1956 – August 11, 2024) was a Cuban-American comedian and actor. He was 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 film Scarface (1983).
Early life 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.
Career 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. In his most famous role, he played Chi Chi in Scarface (1983); his other film credits included Punchline (1988) and Carlito's Way (1993). Salazar also appeared on Last Comic Standing and many HBO Comedy specials. His last film he was shooting was The Brooklyn Premiere aka "ScarFace Resurrection" 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.
Personal life and death Salazar divided his time between Florida and New York City. On August 11, 2024, he died in a bathroom while staying at a friend's residence in Brooklyn. He was 68 and had an enlarged heart.
It was later revealed that Salazar's cause of death was the result of combined effects from cocaine, cyclobenzaprine and diphenhydramine, an antihistamine.
Filmography
Film 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 2026 Scarface ResurrectionChi-Chi
Television 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"
Documentary Year Title 2006 The Latin Legends of Comedy
Music video Year Title Artist 1997 "I'm Not a Player" Big Pun
References
External links
TMZ