Danny Wells

Jack Westelman (April 7, 1941 – November 28, 2013), professionally known as Danny Wells, was a Canadian actor and comedian. He was best known for his role as Charlie, the bartender on The Jeffersons, as well as his role as Luigi in the live-action/animated series The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!.

Early life and career Wells was born as Jack Westelman on April 7, 1941, in Montreal to Eli Westelman (September 13, 1913 – April 4, 1996 ) and Eunice Trottenberg (November 7, 1917 – September 20, 1987 ). He was Jewish. His acting career spanned more than four decades, beginning in 1972 on the comedy television show Love, American Style.

Wells playing his role as the first live-action Luigi from The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

In 1975, Wells made his film debut in The Strongest Man in the World. He then went on to appear in a string of successful movies including Private Benjamin (1980) starring Goldie Hawn and Eileen Brennan, The Woman in Red (1984) starring Gene Wilder, Magnolia (1999), and The Last Kiss (2006) where he played the Uncle of Michael Weston's character Izzy.

Over his prolific career, Wells did most of his work in television, starring or making guest appearances in more than 80 television shows and movies, including Sanford and Son, CHiPs, The A-Team, and The Fall Guy. In 1975, he starred in the most notable role of his career: "Charlie the Bartender", on the hit television show The Jeffersons. Wells played Charlie as a recurring role throughout the entire 11 season run until the show was cancelled in 1985.

In the 1970s, he portrayed the store manager in television ads for Kmart department stores.

Wells began doing voice work in 1982 when he voiced the character of Stomper #1 in the Ralph Bakshi film Hey Good Looking. From there he went on to voice numerous characters for film, television and video games, including Descent 3 and Wizardry 8. His first television series was Heathcliff and The Catillac Cats (1984), which lead to the film Heathcliff: The Movie in 1986.

In 2002, Wells starred as film executive Jack L. Warner in the made-for-television movie "Gleason" starring Brad Garrett as Jackie Gleason.

As composer, Wells wrote the music for the 1979 CBS TV movie Never Say Never starring George Kennedy and Anne Schedeen.

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! Wells voiced several other animated series such as Batman: The Animated Series, Grossology and Johnny Bravo, but it was in 1989 that Wells starred in and voiced the animated character that he is perhaps best remembered by younger audiences as Luigi from The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!.

In an interview with "Slam" magazine, Wells recalled the popularity of the show: "We went on the air, three o'clock in the afternoon, with no publicity or P.R. at all. There was no pre-build-up to this show, nothing ... they just threw us out there. In three weeks, we became number one. We beat Disney, we beat everybody, without any publicity, without any help from anybody, this show went to the number one daytime cartoon show. They put us up against Mickey Mouse, it didn't matter, we beat them. It was amazing."

The Jeffersons

According to his cousin, television reviewer Alan Sepinwall, Wells worked steadily throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1975, Wells landed the role of "Charlie the Bartender" on the CBS television show The Jeffersons. His character, Charlie, owned "Charlie's Bar" on the first floor of the Colby East luxury apartment building where the Jeffersons and Willises resided. On the show, Wells' character would offer advice to the residents.

Charlie the Bartender quickly became a recurring For fans of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, Wells' death was poignant since it was Nintendo's "Year of Luigi" and the 30th Anniversary celebration of the character (1983). His obituary states that "Danny followed his dreams ... he made them laugh." Wells' headstone inscription reads: "Keep 'em laughing."

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1975 The Strongest Man in the World Drummer Film debut 1975 Whiffs Civilian Doctor 1976 Gus Referee 1976 The Shaggy D.A. Police Official 1978 Going Coconuts Al 1980 Private Benjamin Slick Guy 1981 Body and Soul Announcer #1 1982 Hey Good Lookin' Stomper (voice) 1984 The Woman in Red Maitre D' 1997 A Rat's Tale Mr. Lou Dollart (voice) 1999 Magnolia Dick Jennings 2001 Protection Ryan 2002 Swindle Lieutenant Jackson Craig 2006 The Last Kiss Izzy's Uncle 2007 Song of Solomon Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg Short 2011 Textuality Mitch 2012 Old Stock Harold Last film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1972–1973 Love, American Style Fred, Bellhop 2 episodes (television debut) 1973–1974 Lotsa Luck Ernie Kaplan 2 episodes 1974 Columbo Bookstore Clerk, Gary Keppler 2 episodes 1974–1976 Sanford and Son Danny Taylor, Haywood Jones 3 episodes 1975–1985 The Jeffersons Charlie the Bartender 23 episodes 1976 Kojak Riggs Episode: "On the Edge" 1976 Flo's Place Abner Television movie 1976–1977 What's Happening!! Bert Frederick/Undercover Cop 2 episodes 1977 The Hunted Lady Wally Television movie 1978–1979 Carter Country Slippery Sam 2 episodes 1979–1981 Eight Is Enough Easy Art, Ed Foster 2 episodes 1979–1981 CHiPs Gordy, Phil Davies 3 episodes 1980 Nobody’s Perfect Careful Eddie 2 episodes 1982 Lou Grant Vince Episode: "Jazz" 1982 Happy Days Mr. Parker Episode: "Chachi's Future" 1983–1984 The A-Team Film Director, Artie Simmons 4 episodes 1984 Murder, She Wrote Talk Show Host Episode: "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes" 1984 Heathcliff & The Catillac Cats Bush, Raul, General, Announcer (voices) 4 episodes 1984–1985 Silver Spoons Waiter 2 episodes 1983–1986 The Fall Guy Alex, Mel Bresins 2 episodes 1986–1989 Small Wonder H.L., Eddie, Discount Dale 3 episodes 1987 The Real Ghostbusters Cyrus Spengler (voice) Episode: "Cry Uncle" 1989 The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! Luigi, Aunt Luigeena, Luigeena, Luigi Bob 65 episodes 1985–1991 Hunter Jake Flam, Murray Green 2 episodes 1990 Barnyard Commandos Unknown role (voice) Unknown episodes 1993 Renegade Athletica 2000 M.C. 2 episodes 1993 Batman: The Animated Series Guard (voice) Episode: "Birds of a Feather" 1997 Johnny Bravo The Bull (voice) Episode: "Did You See a Bull Run by Here?" 1998 Oh Yeah! Cartoons Big Guy, Derby Guy, Binocular Guy, Thom, Hungry #4, Hungry #5, Hungry #7 (voices) 2 episodes 1999–2000 Crashbox "Poop or Scoop" Announcer (voice) 28 episodes 2002 Gleason Jack L. Warner Television movie 2004 Potatoes and Dragons King Hugo III (voice) 78 episodes 2006–07 Grossology The Detective (voice) 6 episodes 2009 Willa's Wild Life Gus (voice) Main Role 2009 Flashpoint Charlie 1 episode 2011 Scaredy Squirrel Lars Von Stacking (voice) Guest Role, Episode: "Awaken the Stacker Within" 2012 The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas! Unknown role (voice) Television movie 2013 Rookie Blue Walter Episode: "For Better, for Worse" (final appearance)

Video games Year Title Role Notes 1999 Descent 3 2001 Wizardry 8 Male Aggressive B 2002 Evolution Worlds 2005 Splinter Cell Chaos Theory Captain Arthur Partridge