Charley Scalies, a character actor who appeared in HBO’s The Wire and The Sopranos and was a former business executive, died May 1 at the age of 84 following a protracted battle with Alzheimer’s.
The news was confirmed via a public obituary and his daughter Anne Marie Scalies’ statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Best known first and foremost as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend,” the obit read, “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.”
Born Charles J. Scalies, Jr. on July 19, 1940 in Philadelphia, the performer entertained patrons of his father’s pool hall in South Philly with impressions and jokes beginning at a young age. He graduated from St. Joseph’s College and began performing on stage via community and dinner theater productions in the early ’90s. These roles included Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, Billy Flynn in Chicago and the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz with the St. Francis Players in Springfield, Penn.
He marked his silver screen debut in the James Foley-directed Al Pacino vehicle Two Bits, set in his native South Philadelphia in the 1930s. However, Scalies is best known for his role as 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 opposite star James Gandolfini, in the episode titled “The Test Dream.”
His television credits additionally include Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and Cold Case. In film, he appeared in 12 Monkeys (1995), Liberty Heights (1999) and Jersey Girl (2004).
Scalies also ventured into screenwriting, authoring a screenplay titled It Takes Balls, inspired by his dad’s pool room in Philadelphia. Outside of the entertainment world, Scalies held the position of director of sales and contracts at Clifton Precision. He later established his own consulting firm, focusing on ISO 9000 auditing and quality management systems.
He is survived by the “true love and joy of his life,” his wife of 62 years, Angeline M. Scalies, his five children and four grandchildren.
“Charley emphasized the importance of family, stating that loving their mother, spending quality time, and teaching respect and hard work were key elements of fatherhood. He believed that a father’s role is to guide children toward self-sufficiency. His wife, children, and grandchildren will miss his stories but will keep him in their hearts forever,” the obit read.
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