Charley Scalies, the Philadelphia-born actor best known for his roles in HBO’s The Wire and The Sopranos, has passed away at the age of 84 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
A Memorable Presence on HBO Dramas
Scalies made a lasting impression on television audiences through his portrayal of Thomas “Horseface” Pakusa in the second season of The Wire. Appearing in all 12 episodes, he played a longshoreman loyal to union leader Frank Sobotka, navigating corruption and loyalty at the Port of Baltimore. Though Scalies admitted in a 2019 interview with Chesapeake Bay Magazine that he had never worked on a dock before the show, he said the character became a part of him:
“As with all the other characters I’ve been blessed to portray, Horseface lives inside of me. I invite him out to play as needed.”
He returned to HBO the following year in a memorable Sopranos episode titled “The Test Dream,” where he appeared as Coach Molinaro, Tony Soprano’s stern high school football coach. In a surreal dream sequence, his character criticizes Tony for choosing a life of crime and throwing away his potential.
A Life Rooted in Philadelphia
Born Charles Joseph Scalies Jr. on July 19, 1940, Scalies grew up in South Philadelphia above his father’s pool hall. As a child, he entertained patrons with jokes and Al Jolson impressions—a passion for performing that would continue throughout his life. That same pool hall later inspired his screenplay, It Takes Balls.
During his time at St. Joseph’s College, Scalies formed a stand-up comedy act with a friend, performing at local venues and drawing inspiration from legendary comedy duo Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
A Career Before Acting
Before pursuing acting full-time, Scalies built a successful business career. He worked as director of sales and contracts at Clifton Precision, a manufacturing firm, before founding his own consulting company specializing in auditing and quality management systems.
A Return to the Stage and Screen
In the early 1990s, Scalies returned to acting through local community and dinner theater productions. He played roles like Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys & Dolls, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz with the St. Francis Players.
His return to the craft led to bit parts in films such as 12 Monkeys (1995), Two Bits starring Al Pacino, Condition Red, and Jersey Girl (2004). On television, he appeared in two episodes of Homicide: Life on the Street, which connected him to The Wire creator David Simon. He also had guest roles on Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and Cold Case.
Family and Legacy
Charley Scalies passed away on Thursday at a nursing facility in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. His daughter, Anne Marie Scalies, confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Angeline; his five children—Chuck, Angeline, Tony, Christa, and Anne Marie; and four grandchildren—Charles IV, Christopher, Domenic, and Amelia. His family shared,
“His favorite audience was always seated around the dinner table.”
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