Charles Napier
- Acting
- April 12, 1936 · Scottsville, Kentucky, USA
- October 5, 2011
Biography
Charles Lewis Napier (April 12, 1936 – October 5, 2011) was a prolific American actor known for his many supporting and occasional leading roles in television and film. Born near Scottsville, Kentucky, Napier served in the U.S. Army before pursuing higher education, earning a degree in art from Western Kentucky University. He initially worked as a sports coach and art teacher before dedicating himself to acting. Napier gained early attention after starring in several low-budget films by director Russ Meyer, including his debut in Cherry, Harry & Raquel! (1969). He became well-known for his portrayal of tough, authoritative characters such as police officers, soldiers, and villains often with a rugged or corrupt edge. Among his memorable roles are the short-tempered country singer Tucker McElroy in The Blues Brothers (1980), CIA officer Marshall Murdock in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), and multiple collaborations with director Jonathan Demme in films like The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Philadelphia (1993). He also had notable appearances in television, including roles in The A-Team, The Oregon Trail, Star Trek: The Original Series, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Napier was appreciated for his strong voice, steely gaze, and distinct broad chin, which made him a standout character actor. Napier passed away in 2011 in Bakersfield, California, due to thrombosis at the age of 75. He also published a book about his life titled Square Jaw and Big Heart
Known for
Filmography
- Archer · Dr. Speltz (Voice)
- Shadowheart · Sheriff Sanders
- Life Blood · Sherrif Tillman
- The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard · Dick Lewiston
- One-Eyed Monster · Mohtz
- Black Crescent Moon · Father Woods
- Your Name Here · Chuck
- Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide: Field Trips, Permission Slips, Signs, and Weasels · Seargent Guard
- Annapolis
- The Kid & I · Eyepatch-wearing Two Spies boss
- Squidbillies · Sheriff (Voice)
- Suits on the Loose · General Wilkins
- Fielder's Choice · Taco Bob
- Lords of Dogtown · Nudie
- Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide · Seargent Guard
- The Batman · Kilgore Steed (Voice)
- Justice League Unlimited · General Hardcastle (Voice)
- The Manchurian Candidate · General Sloan
- The 4400 · Josiah
- Dinocroc · Sheriff Harper
- Cold Case · Hal Chaney (2008)
- The Thief & the Stripper · Face
- Monk · Sheriff Bates
- We Get to Win This Time · Self
- Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron · Roy (Voice)
- Down 'n Dirty · Capt. Jerry Teller
- The Legend of Tarzan · Ian McTeague (Voice)
- Extreme Honor · Commanding Officer #1
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation · Warren Matthews
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command · Wild Bill Cooley (Voice)
- Nutty Professor II: The Klumps · Four Star General
- Very Mean Men · Detective Bailey
- Never Look Back · Sheriff Dawkins
- Son of the Beach
- God, the Devil and Bob · Rev. Nat Potterson (Voice)
- The Big Tease · Sen. Warren Crockett
- Pirates of the Plain · Grandpa
- The Hunter's Moon · J.T. Conover
- Roswell · Hal Carver
- Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me · Gen. Hawk
- Lima: Breaking the Silence · Padre
- The Magician
- Cypress Edge · Detective O'Reilly
- Beloved · Angry Carny (uncredited)
- Second Chances · Craig Hardy
- Hercules · Voice
- Armstrong · Robert Zorkin
- Death on the Oregon Trail
- Alien Species · Sheriff Nate Culver
- Centurion Force · Dunlap
- No Small Ways
- Men in Black: The Series · Chief Zed (Voice)
- George & Leo
- Steel · Col. David
- Hollywood Rated 'R' · Self
- Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery · Commander Gilmour
- The Practice · Judge Abraham Betts
- Macon County Jail · Sheriff Dempsey
- Riot · Agent Devaney
- Superman: The Animated Series · General Hardcastle (Voice)
- The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest · Hinkle (Voice)
- The Cable Guy · Arresting Officer
- Limp Fangs: The Adventures of Count Malt Liquela · Adam
- Original Gangstas · Mayor
- Pacific Blue · Tyrone Justice
- Felony · Duke
- Expert Witness
- Billy Lone Bear
- Hard Justice · Warden Pike
- Max Is Missing · Becker
- Jury Duty · Jed
- 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up · Jack
- Ballistic · Underwood
- Fatal Pursuit · Herbert
- Ripper Man · Harry
- Twisted Fate · Nolan Gobal
- Savage Land · Cole
- Party of Five · Video Guy
- Jailbreakers · Charlie, the Horse Connection
- Silk Degrees · Schultz