American actor Charley Scalies passed away at the age of 84 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was widely recognized for his roles in popular HBO series such as ‘The Wire’ and ‘The Sopranos.’ His daughter, Anne Marie Scalies, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter. Known primarily as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, Scalies’ life reflected a rich blend of professional success, creative passion, and genuine joy for living. His loved ones were always close, especially around his dinner table.
Born on July 19, 1940, in Philadelphia, Scalies began entertaining guests at his father’s South Philly billiard hall from an early age with impersonations and humor. After graduating from St. Joseph’s College, he started performing in community and dinner theaters during the 1990s. Among his notable performances were roles like Nicely Johnson in ‘Guys and Dolls,’ Billy Flynn in ‘Chicago,’ and the Cowardly Lion in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’
Scalies made his film debut in ‘Two Bits’ (1995), starring Al Pacino, set in 1930s South Philadelphia. However, he became more famous for portraying Thomas “Horseface” Pakusa, a loyal dockworker and union member in Season 2 of ‘The Wire.’ He also appeared as Coach Molinaro in Season 5 of ‘The Sopranos’ episode ‘The Test Dream,’ alongside James Gandolfini.
On television, he acted in shows including ‘Homicide: Life on the Street,’ ‘Law & Order,’ ‘Law & Order: SVU,’ and ‘Cold Case.’ In cinema, he featured in films like ’12 Monkeys’ (1995), ‘Liberty Heights’ (1999), and ‘Jersey Girl’ (2004). Beyond acting, Scalies wrote scripts, penning ‘It Takes Balls,’ inspired by his father’s Philadelphia billiards business. Professionally, he served as a sales and contracts director at Clifton Precision before founding his own consulting firm focused on ISO 9000 certification and quality management systems.
Charley leaves behind his beloved wife of 62 years, Angeline M. Scalies, their five children, and four grandchildren.