Danny Wells


Jack Westelman, known as Danny Wells, was a Canadian actor. He is 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 in Montreal, Canada to Eli and Eunice Westelman on April 7, 1941. His acting career spanned more than 4 decades, beginning in 1972 on the comedy television show, Love, American Style.
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 starring Goldie Hawn and Eileen Brennan, The Woman in Red starring Gene Wilder, Magnolia, and The Last Kiss 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.
Cult fans of 1970s television ads will remember him for his portrayal as the store manager 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, which lead to the film in 1986. He voiced several other animated series such as "", Grossology and Johnny Bravo, but it was in 1989 that Wells starred in and voiced the animated character that he is perhaps best remembered for with TV viewers of a certain age: 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."
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 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. A running gag throughout the show's run would be that someone would be having drinks with George Jefferson, and Charlie would hand them the bill, as George would have already sneaked out before paying.
Charlie the Bartender quickly became a recurring role and towards the end of the series, he even had a few central episodes written specifically for him. In season 9 episode 5, Charlie borrows money from Tom Willis in hopes of upgrading his bar and increasing business by way of risque dressed waitresses. Louise and Helen take offense when they feel that the changes are exploiting the women. At the beginning of the final season, Charlie is facing eviction. George becomes partners with Charlie and buys the bar. In episode 17 of season 11, it is discovered that Charlie has been sleeping in the back room due to a serious drinking problem that has separated him from his wife. George and Louise help him get his life back together. In another episode, Charlie's bar is just breaking even. Louise plans to put the bar back in the black with a private party for a biker gang.

Death

Wells died in Toronto on November 28, 2013 of cancer at the age of 72. He was buried in Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. For fans of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, Wells' passing was especially poignant since it was Nintendo's "Year of Luigi" and the 30th Anniversary celebration of the character. His obituary states that "Danny followed his dreams... he made them laugh." Wells' headstone inscription reads: "Keep 'em laughing."

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972–1973Love, American StyleFred / Bellhop2 episodes
1973–1974Lotsa LuckErnie Kaplan2 episodes
1974ColumboBookstore Clerk / Gary Keppler2 episodes
1974–1976Sanford and SonDanny Taylor / Haywood Jones3 episodes
1975–1985The JeffersonsCharlie the Bartender23 episodes
1976KojakRiggsEpisode: "On the Edge"
1976Flo's PlaceAbnerTelevision movie
1976–1977What's Happening!!Bert Frederick/Undercover Cop2 episodes
1977The Hunted LadyWallyTelevision movie
1978–1979Carter CountrySlippery Sam2 episodes
1979–1981Eight Is EnoughEasy Art / Ed Foster2 episodes
1979–1981CHiPsGordy / Phil Davies3 episodes
1980Nobody’s PerfectCareful Eddie2 episodes
1982Lou GrantVinceEpisode: "Jazz"
1982Happy DaysMr. ParkerEpisode: "Chachi's Future"
1983–1984The A-TeamFilm Director / Artie Simmons4 episodes
1984Murder, She WroteTalk Show HostEpisode: "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes"
1984Heathcliff & The Catillac CatsBush / Raul / General / AnnouncerVoice, 4 episodes
1984–1985Silver SpoonsWaiter2 episodes
1983–1986The Fall GuyAlex / Mel Bresins2 episodes
1986–1989Small WonderH.L. / Eddie / Discount Dale3 episodes
1987The Real GhostbustersCyrus SpenglerVoice, Episode: "Cry Uncle"
1989The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!Luigi65 episodes
1985–1991HunterJake Flam / Murray Green2 episodes
1990Barnyard CommandosVoice, Unknown episodes
1993RenegadeAthletica 2000 M.C.2 episodes
1993GuardVoice, Episode: "Birds of a Feather"
1997Johnny BravoThe BullVoice, Episode: "Did You See a Bull Run by Here?"
2002GleasonJack L. WarnerTelevision movie
2004Potatoes and DragonsKing Hugo IIIVoice, 78 episodes
2006–07GrossologyThe DetectiveVoice, 6 episodes
2009Willa's Wild LifeGusVoice, Main Role
2011Scaredy SquirrelLars Von StackingVoice, Guest Role, Episode: "Awaken the Stacker Within"
2012The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas!VoiceTelevision movie
2013Rookie BlueWalterEpisode: "For Better, for Worse",

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Descent 3
2002Evolution Worlds
2005Splinter Cell Chaos TheoryCaptain Arthur Partridge