Charles Napier
Born April 12, 1936 (Age: 90)
•
Scottsville, Kentucky, USA
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
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
Read more
Filmography
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
2009
•
as Dick Lewiston
•
Age: 73
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide: Field Trips, Permission Slips, Signs, and Weasels
2007
•
as Seargent Guard
•
Age: 71
Annapolis
2006
•
as
•
Age: 69
Suits on the Loose
2005
•
as General Wilkins
•
Age: 69
Lords of Dogtown
2005
•
as Nudie
•
Age: 69
The Manchurian Candidate
2004
•
as General Sloan
•
Age: 68
The Thief & the Stripper
2002
•
as Face
•
Age: 66
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
2002
•
as Roy (voice)
•
Age: 66
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
2000
•
as Four Star General
•
Age: 64
Very Mean Men
2000
•
as Detective Bailey
•
Age: 64
Never Look Back
2000
•
as Sheriff Dawkins
•
Age: 63
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
1999
•
as Gen. Hawk
•
Age: 63
Beloved
1998
•
as Angry Carny (uncredited)
•
Age: 62
Second Chances
1998
•
as Craig Hardy
•
Age: 62
Armstrong
1998
•
as Robert Zorkin
•
Age: 62
Centurion Force
1998
•
as Dunlap
•
Age: 61
Alien Species
1998
•
as Sheriff Nate Culver
•
Age: 61
No Image
No Small Ways
1997
•
as
•
Age: 61
Steel
1997
•
as Col. David
•
Age: 61
Hollywood Rated 'R'
1997
•
as Self
•
Age: 61
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
1997
•
as Commander Gilmour
•
Age: 61
Macon County Jail
1997
•
as Sheriff Dempsey
•
Age: 60
Riot
1996
•
as Agent Devaney
•
Age: 60
The Cable Guy
1996
•
as Arresting Officer
•
Age: 60
Limp Fangs: The Adventures of Count Malt Liquela
1996
•
as Adam
•
Age: 60
Original Gangstas
1996
•
as Mayor
•
Age: 60
Billy Lone Bear
1996
•
as
•
Age: 59
Expert Witness
1996
•
as
•
Age: 59
Jury Duty
1995
•
as Jed
•
Age: 59
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
1995
•
as Jack
•
Age: 58
Philadelphia
1993
•
as Judge Garnett
•
Age: 57
Skeeter
1993
•
as Ernie Buckle
•
Age: 57
Body Bags
1993
•
as Manager
•
Age: 57
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
1993
•
as Interrogator
•
Age: 56
Killer Instinct
1992
•
as John Doogan
•
Age: 56
Frogtown II
1992
•
as Capt. Delano
•
Age: 56
Mean Tricks
1992
•
as Brian Hornsby
•
Age: 56
Center of the Web
1992
•
as Agent Williams
•
Age: 56
Treacherous Crossing
1992
•
as
•
Age: 55
Eyes of the Beholder
1992
•
as Det. Wilson
•
Age: 55
Lonely Hearts
1991
•
as Robby Ross
•
Age: 55
Soldier's Fortune
1991
•
as Col. Blair
•
Age: 55
After the Condor
1991
•
as
•
Age: 55
Indio 2 - The Revolt
1991
•
as IMC President
•
Age: 55
The Silence of the Lambs
1991
•
as Lt. Boyle
•
Age: 54
Under Surveillance
1991
•
as Troy
•
Age: 54
The Grifters
1990
•
as Gloucester Hebbing
•
Age: 54
Maniac Cop 2
1990
•
as Lew Brady
•
Age: 54
Future Zone
1990
•
as Mickland
•
Age: 54
Dragonfight
1990
•
as Moochow
•
Age: 54
Miami Blues
1990
•
as Sergeant Bill Henderson
•
Age: 54
Ernest Goes to Jail
1990
•
as Warden
•
Age: 53
The Last Match
1990
•
as American Consul
•
Age: 53
Cop Target
1990
•
as John Granger
•
Age: 53
Alien from the Deep
1989
•
as Colonel Kovacks
•
Age: 53
One Man Force
1989
•
as Dante
•
Age: 53
Hit List
1989
•
as Tom Mitchum
•
Age: 52
Married to the Mob
1988
•
as Angela's Hairdresser
•
Age: 52
Kidnapped
1988
•
as Lt. O'Bryan
•
Age: 52
The Incredible Hulk Returns
1988
•
as Mike Fouche
•
Age: 52
Deep Space
1988
•
as Det. Ian McLemore
•
Age: 52
Bush Shrink
1988
•
as Kingsley
•
Age: 51
Something Wild
1986
•
as Irate Chef
•
Age: 50
Rambo: First Blood Part II
1985
•
as Marshall Murdock
•
Age: 49
Gridlock
1980
•
as Sonny
•
Age: 44
Melvin and Howard
1980
•
as Ventura
•
Age: 44
The Blues Brothers
1980
•
as Tucker McElroy
•
Age: 44
Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus
1978
•
as Big Bob Johnson
•
Age: 42
Ransom for Alice!
1977
•
as Pete Phelan
•
Age: 41
Citizens Band
1977
•
as Chrome Angel
•
Age: 41
Supervixens
1975
•
as Harry Sledge
•
Age: 38
Moonfire
1973
•
as Robert W. Morgan
•
Age: 36
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
1970
•
as Baxter
•
Age: 34
Cherry, Harry & Raquel!
1969
•
as Harry
•
Age: 33
The House Near the Prado
1969
•
as
•
Age: 32
No Image
The Hanging of Jake Ellis
1969
•
as Jake Ellis
•
Age: 32