Charley Scalies, actor from The Wire and The Sopranos, dies at 84

Charley Scalies, beloved for his roles in The Wire and The Sopranos, dies at 84 after battling Alzheimer’s.

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.