Charley Scalies, ‘The Sopranos’ & ‘The Wire’ Star, Dies at 84

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It is with sadness that we report the passing of Charles Scalies, a versatile actor who played Thomas “Horseface” Pakusa in HBO’s ‘The Wire’ and Tony Soprano’s high school football coach in ‘The Sopranos’. On Thursday, May 1st, he passed away at a nursing facility in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. His daughter, Anne Marie Scalies, shared with The Hollywood Reporter that Scalies had bravely fought Alzheimer’s disease for some time. Born in Philadelphia, Scalies found each role a humbling experience and expressed in a 2015 interview that the joy he found was knowing his great-grandchildren would have memories of their Poppi. He was 84 years old.

In “The Wire”, Scalies played a significant role throughout the second season of the HBO drama series. The show delves into the intricate world of Baltimore’s drug trade from the perspectives of law enforcement, dealers, and users. He portrayed Thomas Pakusa, better known as Horseface, a former longshoreman for IBS Local 1514 from Baltimore’s port. Pakusa was deeply loyal to his corrupt boss, Frank Sobo, who held positions such as secretary-treasurer and cargo checker for the same union. In an interview with Matthew Toffolo in 2015, Scalies shared that he only truly understood the influence of the show and his role in it after some time had passed.

During production, we secretly wished our work would be Emmy-nominated. This hope escalated when a critic remarked that he couldn’t detect any of us acting – the highest form of praise. It wasn’t until much later, when our series was recognized as one of the ten best written TV shows ever produced, that we truly understood the possibility that we had contributed to a show destined not only for frequent re-watching but also for academic study.

A year ago, in 2014, I was taken aback when I received an invitation to speak at my old university, where they were studying “The Wire” for its sociological aspects. I also discussed my brief stint on “The Sopranos”. While some actors found the set of that series intense, it was just business-as-usual for me. In the episode “The Test Dream”, I portrayed Coach Molinaro, a man who, apart from Tony’s father, was the only one that the mafia boss feared and respected. I appeared in Tony’s (played by James Gandolfini) dream, symbolizing his conscience.

Charley Scalies Loved Working With “Pro” James Gandolfini on ‘The Sopranos’

Back in the ’90s, I found myself stepping away from the limelight and diving into the corporate world, taking up a job as Director of Sales and Contracts at Clifton Precision after my college days. However, the allure of acting never truly faded. Fast forward to establishing my own consulting firm, and a chance encounter led me to “The Actor’s Center,” where I was given opportunities to step back into the roles that felt like home once more. Auditions followed, leading me to land roles in shows such as The Wire in 2003 and The Sopranos a year later, with the latter providing a memorable experience working alongside James Gandolfini, who proved to be a true professional.

When I conversed with him, it felt as if I were talking to my own child, and he responded appropriately without any hint of falsehood or pretense. There was no sense of acting on either part; the interaction flowed naturally. He proved himself to be a seasoned professional, and I take pride in thinking that I am one, too.

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2025-05-06 16:43