From Cannonball Run to Real Estate – Alfie Wise Dies at 82
Alfie Wise, best known for his unforgettable turn as the tow-truck driver “Batman” in The Cannonball Run, died at the age of 82 on July 22 at the Thomas H. Corey Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Palm Beach, Florida, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
I’m Kai Montgomery, the grumpiest guru in the room, rolling my eyes at yet another Hollywood farewell but still here to break it down for you.
Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in 1941, Wise carved out a behind-the-scenes legacy long before streaming algorithms chased clicks. He landed his first screen credit on ABC’s made-for-TV movie Call Her Mom in 1972, a humble start that belied the varied path he would follow across big and small screens alike.
Just a few years later, audiences recognized him alongside Charles Nelson Reilly in the 1975 Saturday morning children’s show Uncle Croc’s Block, where Wise donned fuzzy ears as the hapless Mr. Rabbit Ears. And in 1983, he teamed up with Lou Ferrigno as a no-nonsense paramedic in the short-lived ABC drama Trauma Center, sharing scenes with James Naughton, Wendie Malick, and Dorian Harewood.
Yet Wise’s most enduring partnership was with Burt Reynolds, the late screen legend who passed away in 2018. The duo appeared together in ten films and series, from the high-octane hijinks of 1977’s Smokey and the Bandit to the globe-trotting heist of 1981’s The Cannonball Run, and even the 1989 television drama B.L. Stryker. Their on-screen chemistry proved that sidekicks can steal scenes and build franchises.
Beyond those headline projects, Wise’s filmography branched into war epics and swashbucklers. He had fleeting but memorable roles in Midway and Swashbuckler in 1976, then delivered a comedic punch in 1979’s Hot Stuff. By 1986, he embraced youth culture with a turn in Rad, solidifying his reputation as a versatile character actor.
In 1999 Wise scored what would become his final credit on S Club 7 in Miami, a CBBC sitcom following the British pop group’s American adventures. “Sad to have heard my pal Alfie Wise passed away,” wrote S Club 7 casting director Lori Wyman in an Instagram tribute. “Funny, talented guy!”
After retiring from acting in 2000, Wise reinvented himself as a real estate agent in sunny Florida. He swapped scripts for listings and red carpets for open houses, earning praise from colleagues who remember his warm grin at every office gathering. “We are deeply saddened to share that our agent, Alfie Wise, has passed away,” posted Donohue Real Estate on Facebook July 30. “We will greatly miss Alfie’s sense of humor, positive attitude, and charming personality.”
Wise’s journey from Altoona to Hollywood and finally to Florida’s property market is a testament to adaptability. He never chased stardom for its own sake; instead, he inhabited supporting roles with sincerity and then built a second career based on the same affable presence that made him a screen favorite.
Whether you remember him wrestling villains, racing across the desert, or closing real estate deals, Alfie Wise left a footprint that refuses to fade. His story reminds us that even character actors get their day in the sun – and sometimes a second one too.
And that, dear reader, is why I’ve had my fill of nostalgia for one afternoon. Back to the coffee machine, I go.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and The Hollywood Reporter, Instagram (Lori Wyman), Donohue Real Estate Facebook post
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
