The Blacklist mob boss villain Jakov Mitko on Season 7, Episode 17, was none other than the legendary Mark Margolis, known for playing the ding-ding villain Hector Salamanca on Breaking Bad. Margolis’ role as Hector earned him an Emmy Award nomination in 2012.
Mark Margolis’ role on The Blacklist was overshadowed due to the number of different things going on, which pushed him to more of a background role.
Mark Margolis’ Role on The Blacklist Was Minor, but Led to Major Consequences
Jakov Mitko is the head of the Albanian mafia in Detroit. He once lent Robby Ressler, a mechanic in financial trouble, 50,000 dollars at 30 percent interest. Here are key details of the show.
Ressler was able to use the money to get his workshop back in shape, but saw no way to repay Mitko due to the horrendous interest rates.
Jakov Mitko exerts leverage over the Ressler brothers by seizing their car and demanding secret FBI information. Donald Ressler is forced into a corner: either hand over sensitive FBI data or let the body be exposed and risk the safety of the undercover operative whose name is in file 432.
The trade deal turns sour as the brothers deceive Mitko, escalating the situation to a shootout when the FBI task force storms Mitko’s greenhouse. Mitko holds Robby at knife point during the confrontation, putting his life directly in jeopardy.
Mitko, in FBI custody, presents allegations against Donald and Robby Ressler and forces them into defensive postures in the investigation. The storyline uses Mitko as a plot device to bring hidden conflicts and moral quandaries to the surface.
From Scarface to Breaking Bad: Remembering Mark Margolis’ Legacy
Mark Margolis passed away at the age of 83, leaving behind an immense filmography with multiple acclaimed directors like Brian De Palma. In the Al Pacino film, Scarface, he played the role of Alberto “The Shadow”, a minor but memorable hitman and enforcer for Bolivian drug lord Alejandro Sosa.
Margolis frequently collaborated with auteur director Darren Aronofsky on films including π (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), The Fountain (2006), The Wrestler (2008), Black Swan (2010), and Noah (2014), cementing his talent as a versatile actor in the industry.
Mark Margolis featured in numerous television shows, often in supporting roles for series like Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Equalizer, Quantum Leap, Oz, Law & Order, Crossing Jordan, and Californication.
Perhaps Margolis’ most memorable role is that of drug kingpin of the Mexican cartel, Hector Salamanca, in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. In an interview with Newsweek, Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fring) had this to say about Margolis:
I have a very, very endearing relationship with Mark Margolis. He’s a very smart human being and a very smart actor.
Mark Margolis is a beloved and acclaimed actor with a wide filmography whose legacy spans far and wide.
What is your favourite role of Mark Margolis? Let us know in the comments.
The Blacklist is currently streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
Breaking Bad is currently streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
