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Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sopranos actor Charley Scalies dead at age 84: The Wire vet dies following battle with Alzheimer's
Beloved character actor Charley Scalies died Thursday at age 84 following a battle with Alzheimer's. Scalies' daughter Anne Marie Scalies revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that her father died Thursday at a nursing facility in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Scalies portrayed loyal stevedore Thomas 'Horseface' Pakusa on 12 episodes of The Wire during the show's second season in 2003. The sophomore frame of the enduring series from creator David Simon closely examined the economic issues Baltimore dockworkers faced amid changing times. Scalies also appeared in an episode of another iconic HBO series - The Sopranos - as he played Coach Molinaro, the high school football coach of Tony Soprano, played by late legend James Gandolfini. The character appeared in an intense exchange in a dream scene in an episode titled The Test Dream. Charley Scalies played Coach Molinaro, Tony Soprano's high school football coach, in a dream scene that showed the insecurities the troubled mob boss faced (and sought to deal with through therapy). The discussion between the coach - who saw potential in a young Soprano - and the fully-grown Tony Soprano illustrated the psychological insecurities the fearsome New Jersey mob boss harbored, and sought to address through therapy. The episode (which first aired May 16, 2004) was the show's 11th episode of its fifth season, directed by Allen Coulter and written by Matthew Weiner and Sopranos creator David Chase. A Legacy obituary - which noted Scalies died 'peacefully' - emphasized the role family played in his life. It noted he was 'best known first and foremost as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend,' adding that his 'favorite audience was always seated around the dinner table.' The obit described Scalies, a native of South Philadelphia, as 'an American actor and former business executive whose life reflected a rich blend of professional achievement, creative passion, and a true joy for life.' Season two of The Wire showed how the slow times at the docks led a few workers - including Pakusa - to earn extra cash smuggling in contraband. Amid the items unwittingly smuggled in by the Baltimore crew drugs and women tragically trafficked into the U.S. to be sex workers. On The Wire, the Horseface character was second-in-command to union leader Frank Sobotka (played by Chris Bauer), who had gotten into a desperate situation trying to keep his union and workers afloat amid declining times for the longshoremen. Sobotka, assisted by Horseface and his nephew Nick Sobotka (played by Pablo Schreiber) eventually resort to criminal smuggling to fund political efforts in a last-ditch effort to reinvigorate business at the docks. Scalies posed with Gandolfini during the production of the popular HBO series Soboktka's wayward son Ziggy (played by James Ransone, also gets involved peripherally, leading to tragic consequences down the line. has reached out to Simon, Bauer, Schreiber and Ransone, as well as their reps, for further comment on this story. Scalies told Chesapeake Bay Magazine in 2019 about his work on the HBO series, saying that the only time he had ever been on the docks was when he filmed the show. Scalies said that 'the only time I even met a stevedore was shortly after I was cast as Horseface.' The role was a perfect fit, as shortly after landing the part, Scalies happened to chat with several real-life stevedores and union reps for the International Longeshoremen's Association, who all approved of his casting. 'I told them I had just been cast as a union 'checker' on a TV show,' he recalled. 'Their response was immediate and unanimous: "He looks like a checker."' Scalies explained: '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.' On Twitter, a number of fans of the show paid homage to the late actor in the role he played on The Wire, making inside references to scenes that involved his character. A post from the Wire fan account Ziggy_Sobotka read: 'Heartbroken to report that Charlie Scalies, Horseface on The Wire and Coach Molinaro from The Sopranos has passed away.' It concluded: 'Charles J. Scalies, Jr. 7/19/1940 – 5/1/2025.' One fan commented, 'Great characters RIP to the legend.' Another said, 'R. I. P. He's still on the clock.' Referring to a scene illustrating Horseface's loyalty to the union, one fan wrote, 'Good luck to St Peter getting anything out of him at the pearly gates without an IBS lawyer present.' One Twitter user aptly remarked, 'At what age does death not break your heart?' According to the Legacy obit, Scalies is survived by 'the true love and joy of his life, his wife of 62 years, Angeline M. Scalies (née Cardamone); his five children: Charles (Chuck) Scalies III, Angeline Kogut (Steve Kogut), Anthony (Tony) Scalies, Christa Ann Scalise, and Anne Marie Scalies (Shawn Weaver); and grandchildren Charles IV, Christopher, Domenic and Amelia Scalies.'
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'The Wire' actor Charley Scalies dies at 84 after prolonged battle with Alzheimer's
Hollywood actor Charley Scalies, who is known for two of the most celebrated series, ' The Wire ' and ' The Sopranos ', has passed away after a battle with Alzheimer's . He was 84, and died on May 1. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His death was confirmed via an online obituary, reports 'Variety'. "(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". As per 'Variety', Scalies starred in Season 2 of 'The Wire'. He appeared in all 12 episodes as Horseface, an imprisoned Baltimore longshoreman and member of IBS Local 1514 with an emphatic allegiance to his criminal boss, Frank Sobotka. In 'The Sopranos', Scalies appeared in the Season 5 episode 'The Test Dream' as Tony's high school football instructor, Coach Molinaro. His character manifests in Tony's dream, screaming at him for throwing away his life to become a criminal. Scalies' other television credits include 'Homicide: Life on the Street', 'Law & Order', 'Law & Order: SVU' and 'Cold Case'. On the film side, he appeared in '12 Monkeys', 'Liberty Heights', 'Jersey Girl' and 'Two Bits'. Scalies also starred in a number of stage productions with the St. Francis Players in Springfield, Pa., including 'Guys and Dolls', 'Chicago' and 'The Wizard of Oz'. He is survived by his wife and "the true love and joy of his life", Angeline M. Scalies, and his five children: Scalies III, Angeline Kogut, Anthony Scalies, Christa Ann Scalise and Anne Marie Scalies.
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Charley Scalies, actor from The Wire and The Sopranos, dies at 84
Charley Scalies, the Philadelphia-born actor best known for his memorable roles in HBO's The Wire and The Sopranos, has died at the age of 84. His daughter, Anne Marie Scalies, confirmed he passed away on May 1, 2025, at a nursing facility in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Scalies gained widespread recognition for portraying Thomas 'Horseface' Pakusa, a loyal and gruff longshoreman in season two of The Wire. He appeared in all 12 episodes alongside Frank Sobotka (Chris Bauer), embodying the struggles of Baltimore's working-class dockworkers. He later returned to HBO in The Sopranos, playing Coach Molinaro in the surreal dream episode 'The Test Dream' during the show's fifth season. In the episode, he scolds Tony Soprano for abandoning his potential, delivering one of the show's more introspective moments. Born July 19, 1940, Scalies began his career in sales and consulting before transitioning to acting in the 1990s. His early performances in local theater included roles in Guys & Dolls, Chicago, and The Wizard of Oz. He appeared in films like 12 Monkeys, Liberty Heights, and Jersey Girl, and on TV shows including Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, and Cold Case. Scalies is survived by his wife of 62 years, Angeline, five children, and four grandchildren. His family encourages donations in his memory to the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association or PCS Theater in Swarthmore.
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The Sopranos actor Charley Scalies dies aged 84 as The Wire star passes away after Alzheimer's battle
THE Sopranos actor Charley Scalies has died aged 84, after a battle with Alzheimer's. Charley, who also starred in The Wire, passed away at a Pennsylvania nursing home on Thursday, his family has revealed. 2 Charley Scalies, who played Coach Molinaro in The Sopranos, has died aged 84 2 He also starred as Thomas 'Horseface' Pakusa in The Wire in 2003 His daughter, Anne Marie Scalies, revealed the news to The Hollywood Reporter. An obituary published on said the actor had "passed away peacefully after a long battle with Alzheimer's". It added that he was "best known first and foremost as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend". "His wife, children, and grandchildren," it said, "will miss his stories but will keep him in their hearts forever." The actor from Philadelphia starred as Tony Soprano's high school football coach, Coach Molinaro, in the fifth series of the hit HBO show. In the critically-acclaimed episode, called The Test Dream, the character appears to Tony, played by James Gandolfini, in a dream - criticising the Mafia boss for wasting his potential on a life of crime. A year before landing the huge role, Charley had appeared in 12 episodes of HBO's The Wire as stevedore Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa. In a 2019 interview, Charley said of the role: "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." Charley also appeared in Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order. He leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Angeline, five children and four grandchildren. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
The Irish Sun
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
The Sopranos actor Charley Scalies dies aged 84 as The Wire star passes away after Alzheimer's battle
THE Sopranos actor Charley Scalies has died aged 84, after a battle with Alzheimer's. Charley, who also starred in The Wire, passed away at a Pennsylvania nursing home on Thursday, his family has revealed. 2 Charley Scalies, who played Coach Molinaro in The Sopranos, has died aged 84 2 He also starred as Thomas 'Horseface' Pakusa in The Wire in 2003 His daughter, Anne Marie Scalies, revealed the news to An obituary published on It added that he was "best known first and foremost as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend". "His wife, children, and grandchildren," it said, "will miss his stories but will keep him in their hearts forever." The actor from Philadelphia starred as Tony Soprano's high school football coach, Coach Molinaro, in the fifth series of the hit HBO show. In the critically-acclaimed episode, called The Test Dream, the character appears to Tony, played by James Gandolfini, in a dream - criticising the Mafia boss for wasting his potential on a life of crime. A year before landing the huge role, Charley had appeared in 12 episodes of HBO's The Wire as stevedore Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa. In a 2019 interview, Charley said of the role: "As with all the other characters I've been blessed to portray, Horseface lives inside of me. Most read in News TV "I invite him out to play as needed." Charley also appeared in Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order. He leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Angeline, five children and four grandchildren. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at
