Actor Alfie Wise, best known for his frequent collaborations with Burt Reynolds in action comedies including “The Cannonball Run” and “Smokey and the Bandit,” died on July 22 at age 82. His longtime fiancée, Stephanie Bliss, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Wise died of natural causes at the Thomas H. Corey Veteran Affairs Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Born Ralph Louis Wise in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on November 17, 1942, Wise served as class president for three years at Altoona Area High School before graduating in 1960. He continued his leadership role as class president for four years at Penn State, graduating in 1964. Following his college education, Wise served in the U.S. Navy, where he produced and hosted shows on his ship.
After his military service, Wise moved to Los Angeles and worked as an NBC page. He made his acting debut in 1972 with the ABC television movie “Call Her Mom,” starring Connie Stevens. His early television work also included an appearance on CBS’ “The Sandy Duncan Show.”
Wise gained recognition for his role as Mr. Rabbit Ears, the sidekick to Charles Nelson Reilly’s character, on the children’s show “Uncle Croc’s Block” beginning in 1975. He later worked alongside Lou Ferrigno as part of a paramedic team on the 1983 ABC series “Trauma Center,” which starred James Naughton, Wendie Malick, and Dorian Harewood.
The actor’s most significant professional relationship was with Burt Reynolds, with whom he appeared in 10 films over the course of their friendship. Their collaboration began with “The Longest Yard” in 1974, where Wise played a trooper in the prison-set film. The partnership continued with “The End” (1978), “Hooper” (1978), “Starting Over” (1979), “Smokey and the Bandit” (1977), “Paternity” (1981), “The Cannonball Run” (1981), “Stroker Ace” (1983), “City Heat” (1984) and “Heat” (1986).
In “Smokey and the Bandit,” Wise appeared as a patrolman, while in “The Cannonball Run,” he played the tow-truck driver known as “Batman.” In “Hooper,” he portrayed the cowardly assistant to the director of an action film, played by Robert Klein, with Reynolds starring as a stunt coordinator.
Beyond their film collaborations, Wise appeared in television projects with Reynolds. He played marina owner Oliver Wardell in all 12 episodes of the 1989-90 ABC crime series “B.L Stryker” and made a guest appearance on Reynolds’ longer-running CBS sitcom “Evening Shade” in 1991. Off-screen, Wise also served as Reynolds’ personal assistant during their years of working together.
Wise reflected on his friendship with Reynolds following the actor’s death in 2018, telling media that Reynolds loved his friends and kept them close. Wise noted, “His films were like an ongoing block party.”
The actor’s resume extended beyond his work with Reynolds. His film credits included “Midway” (1976), “Swashbuckler” (1976), “Hot Stuff” (1979), “Rad” (1986) and “Catherine’s Grove” (1997). On television, he appeared on shows including “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” “The Fall Guy,” “The Jeffersons” and served as a panelist on “Match Game.” His final acting credit was the CBBC show “S Club 7 in Miami,” where he appeared in 15 episodes.
After retiring from acting in 2000, Wise began a second career in real estate, working as an agent for Donohue Real Estate in Jupiter, Florida, near Reynolds’ home. The company posted a tribute on Facebook following his death, describing him as someone who was always present at company gatherings, smiling and chatting with everyone. The firm noted his successful work as both a realtor and accomplished actor, indicating they would miss his sense of humor, positive attitude, and charming personality.
Casting director Lori Wyman, who worked with Wise on “B.L Stryker” and “S Club 7,” posted an Instagram tribute calling him a funny and talented individual. According to reports, Wise had developed a bacterial infection several months before his death and had been hospitalized. While he was initially discharged, he returned to the hospital in a weakened state and remained there for approximately one month before his death.
Wise is survived by his longtime fiancée, Stephanie Bliss. Throughout his career, he maintained close friendships within the entertainment industry, particularly with Reynolds, whom he described as one of the true gentlemen in the business and a caring, warm man during a 1978 interview with his hometown newspaper, the Altoona Mirror.