Beloved TV actor Charley Scalies, noted for his roles in HBO’s “The Sopranos” and “The Wire,” has died.
Scalies was 84 when he passed away this week.
The Philadelphia native died “peacefully” after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, an online obituary confirmed.
Scalies is mostly known for playing Thomas “Horseface” Pakusa, a corrupt Baltimore dock worker and union leader, on Season Two of “The Wire.”
The actor also appeared in season five of “The Sopranos” as Coach Molinaro, who appears to mafia boss Tony Soprano in a dream to reprimand him over his life of crime.
Both HBO series are highly regarded among TV critics and consistently rank among the greatest shows in the history of the medium.
“The Wire” writer Rafael Alvarez wrote in a tribute:
“I became instant friends with your Dad when I sat down next to him at lunch on the first day of shooting Season Two of The Wire.
“In time, he became a member of my family. Miss you, Horse.”
The youngest of three children, Scalies gave some of his first performances in his father’s pool hall in South Philadelphia.
He entertained patrons with jokes and impressions.
Before his rise to fame, Scalies was Director of Sales and Contracts at Clifton Precision, a company known for precision manufacturing.
He also started his own consulting firm before returning to acting in the 1990s, taking on roles in community and dinner theater, including Nicely-Nicely Johnson in “Guys & Dolls,” Billy Flynn in “Chicago,” and the Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz” for the St. Francis Players in Springfield, Pennsylvania.
His silver screen debut was in the Al Pacino film “Two Bits” (1995).
His other TV credits include Homicide: “Life on the Street,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU,” and “Cold Case.”
As far as film goes, he appeared in “12 Monkeys” (1995), “Liberty Heights” (1999), and “Jersey Girl” (2004).
Despite his notoriety on TV, Scalies remained humble and a family man at heart.
“[He was] best known first and foremost as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend,” the obituary read.
“Professionally, Charley Scalies was an American actor and former business executive whose life reflected a rich blend of professional achievement, creative passion, and a true joy for life.
“His favorite audience was always seated around the dinner table.”
Scalies is survived by his wife, Angeline M. Scalies, his five children, and four grandchildren.
