Charley Scalies, a TV actor noted for his role in HBO's The Sopranos and The Wire, has died. He was 84.
The Philadelphia native died "peacefully" after a long battle with Alzheimer's, an online obituary confirmed.
Scalies is mostly known for playing Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa, a corrupt Baltimore dock worker and union leader, on Season Two of The Wire.
The actor also appeared in season five of The Sopranos as Coach Molinaro, who appears to mafia boss Tony Soprano in a dream to reprimand him over his life of crime.
Both HBO series are highly regarded among TV critics and consistently rank among the greatest shows in the history of the medium.
The Wire writer Rafael Alvarez wrote in a tribute, “I became instant friends with your Dad when I sat down next to him at lunch on the first day of shooting Season Two of The Wire. In time he became a member of my family. Miss you, Horse.”
The youngest of three children, Scalies gave some of his first performances in his father's pool hall in South Philadelphia, where he entertained patrons with jokes and impressions.
Before his rise to fame, Scalies was Director of Sales and Contracts at Clifton Precision, a company known for precision manufacturing. He also started his own consulting firm before returning to acting in the 1990s, taking on roles in community and dinner theater including Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys & Dolls, Billy Flynn in Chicago and the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz for the St. Francis Players in Springfield, Pennsylvania.
His silver screen debut was in the Al Pacino film Two Bits (1995).
His other TV credits include Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and Cold Case. As far as film goes, he appeared in 12 Monkeys (1995), Liberty Heights (1999), and Jersey Girl (2004).
Despite his notoriety on TV, Scalies remained humble and a family man at heart.
"[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.”
Scalies is survived by his wife Angeline M. Scalies, his five children, and four grandchildren.
