Obituary of Charles J. Scalies, Jr.

Charles J. Scalies, Jr.  
7/19/1940 – 5/1/2025

Charles J. "Charley" or "Cholly" Scalies, Jr. passed away peacefully after a long battle with Alzheimer’s on Thursday May 1, 2025. He was 84. Best known first and foremost as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend.

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.

He is survived by the true love and joy of his life, his wife of 62 years, Angeline M. Scalies (née Cardamone); his five children: Charles (Chuck) Scalies III, Angeline Kogut (Steve Kogut), Anthony (Tony) Scalies, Christa Ann Scalise, and Anne Marie Scalies (Shawn Weaver); and grandchildren Charles IV, Christopher, Domenic and Amelia Scalies.

He was born to the late Charles and Theresa Scalies (née Iacona) and was the youngest brother of the late Regina Mondello and Joseph Scalies.

Charly grew up over his father's pool hall in South Philadelphia, entertaining patrons with impressions and jokes from a young age. He graduated from St. Joseph’s College (now University) and was a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania.

The couple had five children and four grandchildren. Charley emphasized the importance of family, stating that loving their mother, spending quality time, and teaching respect and hard work were key elements of fatherhood. He believed that a father's role is to guide children toward self-sufficiency. His wife, children, and grandchildren will miss his stories but will keep him in their hearts forever.

Charley held the position of Director of Sales and Contracts at Clifton Precision, a company known for precision manufacturing. He later established his own consulting firm, focusing on ISO 9000 auditing and quality management systems.

After a hiatus from acting, he returned to the stage in the early 1990s, performing in community and dinner theater productions. Notably, he played roles such as Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls, Billy Flynn in Chicago, and the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz with the St. Francis Players (Springfield, PA).

He made his silver screen debut in the Al Pacino film Two Bits (1995). Charley Scalies is best known for his role as Thomas "Horseface" Pakusa, a stevedore and union member in Season 2 of HBO’s The Wire. He also appeared as Coach Molinaro in Season 5 of The Sopranos, in the episode titled “The Test Dream.”

His television credits include Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and Cold Case. In film, he appeared in 12 Monkeys (1995), Liberty Heights (1999), and Jersey Girl (2004).

Charley also ventured into screenwriting. He authored a screenplay titled It Takes Balls, inspired by his father's pool room in Philadelphia. The story centers around a character named Tressa and explores themes of strength and determination.

His Service will be held Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM from Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 224 West Main Street, Trappe, PA.

Friends may call on Thursday, May 8, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the funeral home.

Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in his name to the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Greater Pennsylvania Chapter | Alzheimer’s Association

Arrangements by Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 224 West Main Street, Trappe, PA, (610) 489-7900.
www.msrfh.com.