Danny Wells, Luigi on ‘Super Mario Bros.’ Show, Dies at 72
He was not on the list.
Danny Wells, an actor with dozens of TV credits dating back to “Love, American Style” but best known for playing Luigi on “The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!,” died Nov. 28 in Toronto. He was 72.
The syndicated “Super Mario Bros.” show, based on the popular Nintendo videogame franchise, aired from 1989-91. Lou Albano played Mario and Wells his brother Luigi.
Wells recurred on “The Jeffersons” as Charlie the bartender, and he played studio boss Jack L. Warner in the 2002 telepic “Gleason,” which starred Brad Garrett as the comedian.
His vast number of television credits also included appearances on “Rhoda,” “Columbo,” “Starsky and Hutch,” “Kojak,” “Sanford and Son,” “The Bionic Woman,” “Fantasy Island,” “Eight Is Enough,” “Lou Grant,” “Happy Days,” “The A-Team” and “Murder She Wrote.”
He also appeared in feature films including “Magnolia,” “Gus,” “The Shaggy D.A.,” “Private Benjamin,” “Body and Soul” and “Protection.” In 1975 Wells made his film debut in The Strongest Man in the World.
Wells also did a number of TV movies including “A Guide for the Married Woman,” “The Man in the Santa Claus Suit,” “The Rousters” and “Snow in August.”
The actor was born Jack Westelman in Montreal, Quebec.
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'
1986 Heathcliff:
The Movie General / Announcer Voice
1991 Life Stinks Mercedes Driver
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
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
1976 Kojak Riggs
1976 Flo's Place Abner Television
movie
1974-1976 Sanford
and Son Danny Taylor /
Haywood Jones 3 episodes
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
1980 Nobody’s
Perfect Careful Eddie 2 episodes
1979-1981 Eight
Is Enough Easy Art / Ed Foster 2 episodes
1979-1981 CHiPs
Gordy / Phil Davies 3 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
1984-1985 Silver
Spoons Waiter 2 episodes
1975-1985 The
Jeffersons Charlie the Bartender 23 episodes
1983-1986 The
Fall Guy Alex / Mel Bresins 2 episodes
1986-1989 Small
Wonder H.L. / Eddie / Discount Dale 3 episodes
1989 The Super
Mario Bros. Super Show! Luigi 65 episodes
1985-1991 Hunter
Jake Flam / Murray Green 2 episodes
1993 Renegade Athletica 2000 M.C. 2 episodes
2002 Gleason Jack L. Warner Television movie
Voice Work Year Title
Role Notes
1982 Hey Good
Looking Stomper Animated film
1984 Heathcliff
& The Catillac Cats Bush, Raul,
General, Announcer TV
Series
1986 Heathcliff:
The Movie General, Announcer (2
segments) Animated film
1987 The Real
Ghostbusters Cyrus Spengler Episode: Cry Uncle
1990 Barnyard
Commandos Voice Television series
1993 Batman: The
Animated Series Guard Episode: Birds of a Feather
1997 Johnny Bravo The Bull Episode:
Did You See a Bull Run by Here?
1999 Descent 3 Voices Video game
2002 Evolution
Worlds Voices Video game
2004 Potatoes and
Dragons King Hugo III 78 episodes
2005 Splinter Cell
Chaos Theory Captain Arthur
Partridge Video game
2006-07 Grossology
The Detective 6 episodes
2009 Willa's Wild
Life Gus Main Role
2011 Scaredy
Squirrel Lars Von Stacking Guest Role, Episode: Awaken the
Stacker Within
2012 The
Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas! Voice
Televis