Character actor Charley Scalies, known for his roles in HBO series “The Wire” and “The Sopranos,” passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania at a nursing facility. He was 84.
Scalies died following a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, as confirmed by his daughter Anne Marie to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born Charles J. Scalies Jr. on July 19, 1940, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his family lived above his father’s pool hall in South Philadelphia. There, Charley entertained patrons with impressions and jokes.
Before his acting career, Scalies worked in business as the director of sales and contracts at Clifton Precision, a precision manufacturing firm. He later founded his own consulting company, focusing on ISO 9000 auditing and quality management systems.
In the early 1990s, Scalies returned to acting, starting in community and dinner theater before moving to film and television. He debuted on the big screen in the 1995 film “Two Bits,” directed by James Foley and starring Al Pacino, set in South Philadelphia.
His film roles included parts in Terry Gilliam’s “12 Monkeys” with Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, as well as “Liberty Heights,” “The Doghouse,” and Kevin Smith’s “Jersey Girl.” On television, Scalies appeared in shows such as “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Law & Order,” and “Cold Case.”
Scalies earned notable recognition for his portrayal of Thomas “Horseface” Pakusa in “The Wire” in 2003. His character, a dockworker involved in a car-theft operation, appeared in all 12 episodes of the second season and reflected the challenges faced by Baltimore’s blue-collar workers.
He later had a role in the fifth season of “The Sopranos” as Coach Molinaro, appearing in a dream sequence with Tony Soprano. The character criticized Soprano for choosing a criminal path over legitimate opportunities.
“Working on these shows was humbling,” Scalies once said about his time on the HBO series, expressing pride that future generations could see his work.
Apart from screen roles, Scalies participated in stage productions with the St. Francis Players in Springfield, Pennsylvania. He also wrote a screenplay titled “It Takes Balls,” inspired by his father’s pool room, a significant part of his childhood.
Scalies emphasized family values throughout his life, believing in guiding children toward independence. He prioritized love, quality time, and teaching respect and hard work as essential aspects of fatherhood.
Scalies is survived by his wife of 62 years, Angeline M. Scalies, their five children—Chuck, Angeline, Tony, Christa, and Anne Marie—and four grandchildren. The family requests donations to the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in his memory.
A funeral service took place on May 8, 2025, in Trappe, Pennsylvania. The family remembers him as a dedicated family man and accomplished storyteller beyond his acting career.
