Danny Wells obit

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