Charley Scalies, best known by fans for his performances as Coach Molinaro in The Sopranos and 'Horseface' in The Wire, has died at 84.
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Scalies, who also played Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa in The Wire, died on Thursday, April 1. His daughter, Ann Marie Scalies, told The Hollywood Reporter he passed away "in a nursing facility in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, after a long battle with Alzheimer's.
An online obituary for the actor reads, "He was 84. Best known first and foremost as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. 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."
Scalies appeared in all 12 episodes of The Wire season 2 as Thomas Pakusa, aka "Horseface," an incarcerated former dock worker. In an interview with Chesapeake Bay Magazine, Scalies joked, "I'm a good actor. I can sweat on cue." He also said, "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."
The Wire Actor Also Had Multiple Roles On The Silver Screen
Scalies featured in several other TV shows, including an episode of Cold Case and two episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He played a driver in Two Bits, starring Al Pacino. Scalies also had a part in Bruce Willis' 12 Monkeys in 1995. Per Rolling Stone, he performed in community theater productions of Chicago and The Wizard of Oz before his appearance in Two Bits.
While he was growing up, Charley realized he had a knack for stage work. Per the Obituary, he grew up in his father's pool hall in South Philadelphia, where he entertained patrons with his jokes and impersonations. He was a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania and attended St. Joseph's College. The establishment is now St. Joseph's University.
Off the stage and screen, Charley was a household man who "emphasized the importance of family, stating that loving their mother, spending quality time, and teaching respect and hard work were key elements of fatherhood." After his acting roles, Charley wrote a screenplay called 'It Takes Balls,' inspired by his father's establishment.
