Charley Scalies, the actor best known for his no-nonsense role as Thomas βHorsefaceβ Pasuka on The Wire, has died at the age of 84. His daughter, Anne Marie, confirmed that he passed away on Thursday at a nursing home in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, following a long battle with Alzheimerβs disease.
Scalies began his acting career in the 1990s, landing roles alongside screen legends like Al Pacino in Two Bits and Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt in 12 Monkeys. However, it was his 2003 performance in the second season of HBOβs The Wire that cemented his legacy. As βHorseface,β a blue-collar dockworker entangled in a smuggling operation, Scalies appeared in all 12 episodes, earning praise for bringing authenticity and emotional depth to the series’ portrayal of union life.
He also made a notable guest appearance in season 5 of The Sopranos, playing Tony Sopranoβs high school football coach in a haunting dream sequence where the character challenges Tonyβs criminal path.
In addition to those standout roles, Scalies appeared on a number of hit TV shows, including Cold Case, Law & Order, and Jersey Girl.
Off-camera, Scalies was known for his dedication to his family. He is survived by his wife, three children, and many grandchildren.
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