Charley Scalies, ‘Sopranos’ Star Dead At 84

Charley Scalies, the veteran character actor best known for his roles in The Sopranos and The Wire, has died at the age of 84. His daughter, Anne Marie Scalies, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, sharing that her father passed away Thursday at a nursing home in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Scalies began his screen career in the mid-1990s with small parts in films like Two Bits with Al Pacino and the cult-favorite 12 Monkeys, starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. But it was his turn as Thomas “Horseface” Pakusa on The Wire that earned him widespread recognition. He appeared in all 12 episodes of the show’s second season as a rough-around-the-edges dockworker with a knack for stealing cars.

A year after his time on The Wire, Scalies made a memorable appearance on The Sopranos as Coach Molinaro—a stern figure from Tony Soprano’s past who confronts him in a dream sequence. It was a brief but impactful scene that left fans with a lasting impression of Scalies’ range and presence.

Beyond his iconic television roles, Scalies also appeared in episodes of Law & Order, Cold Case, and films like Jersey Girl, Liberty Heights, and Condition Red. His career may not have made him a household name, but he left his mark on some of the most influential television dramas of the early 2000s.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Angeline, their five children—Chuck, Angeline, Tony, Christa, and Anne Marie—and several grandchildren. Charley Scalies was 84.