Charles Napier
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 12, 1936
- Died
- October 5, 2011 (aged 75)
- Birthplace
- 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
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Life Blood
Movie · as Sherrif Tillman
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
Movie · as Dick Lewiston
Shadowheart
Movie · as Sheriff Sanders
Archer
TV · as Dr. Speltz (voice) · 1 ep
One-Eyed Monster
Movie · as Mohtz
Black Crescent Moon
Movie · as Father Woods
Your Name Here
Movie · as Chuck
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide: Field Trips, Permission Slips, Signs, and Weasels
Movie · as Seargent Guard
Annapolis
Movie
Suits on the Loose
Movie · as General Wilkins
The Kid & I
Movie · as Eyepatch-wearing Two Spies boss
Fielder's Choice
Movie · as Taco Bob
Lords of Dogtown
Movie · as Nudie
Squidbillies
TV · as Sheriff (voice) · 79 eps
Dinocroc
Movie · as Sheriff Harper
The Manchurian Candidate
Movie · as General Sloan
The 4400
TV · as Josiah · 2 eps
The Batman
TV · as Kilgore Steed (voice) · 1 ep
Justice League Unlimited
TV · as General Hardcastle (voice) · 1 ep
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide
TV · as Seargent Guard · 1 ep
Cold Case
TV · as Hal Chaney (2008) · 1 ep
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Movie · as Roy (voice)
The Thief & the Stripper
Movie · as Face
We Get to Win This Time
Movie · as Self
Monk
TV · as Sheriff Bates · 1 ep
Down 'n Dirty
Movie · as Capt. Jerry Teller
Extreme Honor
Movie · as Commanding Officer #1
The Legend of Tarzan
TV · as Ian McTeague (voice) · 1 ep
Never Look Back
Movie · as Sheriff Dawkins
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
Movie · as Four Star General
Very Mean Men
Movie · as Detective Bailey
Son of the Beach
TV · 1 ep
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV · as Warren Matthews · 1 ep
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
TV · as Wild Bill Cooley (voice) · 1 ep
God, the Devil and Bob
TV · as Rev. Nat Potterson (voice) · 4 eps
The Hunter's Moon
Movie · as J.T. Conover
Pirates of the Plain
Movie · as Grandpa
The Big Tease
Movie · as Sen. Warren Crockett
Cypress Edge
Movie · as Detective O'Reilly
Lima: Breaking the Silence
Movie · as Padre
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Movie · as Gen. Hawk
Roswell
TV · as Hal Carver · 1 ep
The Magician
TV · 39 eps
Alien Species
Movie · as Sheriff Nate Culver
Second Chances
Movie · as Craig Hardy
Armstrong
Movie · as Robert Zorkin
Beloved
Movie · as Angry Carny (uncredited)
Centurion Force
Movie · as Dunlap
Death on the Oregon Trail
Movie
Hercules
TV · as (voice) · 1 ep
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Movie · as Commander Gilmour
Hollywood Rated 'R'
Movie · as Self
Macon County Jail
Movie · as Sheriff Dempsey
Steel
Movie · as Col. David
No Small Ways
Movie
Men in Black: The Series
TV · as Chief Zed (voice) · 53 eps
The Practice
TV · as Judge Abraham Betts · 2 eps
George & Leo
TV · 1 ep
Expert Witness
Movie
Felony
Movie · as Duke
Original Gangstas
Movie · as Mayor
Limp Fangs: The Adventures of Count Malt Liquela
Movie · as Adam
Riot
Movie · as Agent Devaney
The Cable Guy
Movie · as Arresting Officer
Billy Lone Bear
Movie
Pacific Blue
TV · as Tyrone Justice · 1 ep
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
TV · as Hinkle (voice) · 1 ep
Superman: The Animated Series
TV · as General Hardcastle (voice) · 3 eps
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
Movie · as Jack
Jury Duty
Movie · as Jed
Max Is Missing
Movie · as Becker
Fatal Pursuit
Movie · as Herbert
Ripper Man
Movie · as Harry
Hard Justice
Movie · as Warden Pike
Ballistic
Movie · as Underwood
Twisted Fate
Movie · as Nolan Gobal
Raw Justice
Movie · as Mayor David Stiles
Body Shot
Movie · as Leon
Silk Degrees
Movie · as Schultz
Savage Land
Movie · as Cole
Silent Fury
Movie
To Die, to Sleep
Movie · as Father
Jailbreakers
Movie · as Charlie, the Horse Connection
The Critic
TV · as Duke Phillips (voice) · 23 eps
Party of Five
TV · as Video Guy · 1 ep
Rebel Highway
TV · as Charlie, the Horse Connection · 1 ep
Body Bags
Movie · as Manager
Philadelphia
Movie · as Judge Garnett
Skeeter
Movie · as Ernie Buckle
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
Movie · as Interrogator
Walker, Texas Ranger
TV · as Warden Kyle · 1 ep
Diagnosis: Murder
TV · as Johnny McNamara · 2 eps
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
TV · as Sailin' Whalen · 1 ep
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
TV · as Gen. Rex Denning · 1 ep
Center of the Web
Movie · as Agent Williams
Eyes of the Beholder
Movie · as Det. Wilson
Treacherous Crossing
Movie
Frogtown II
Movie · as Capt. Delano
Mean Tricks
Movie · as Brian Hornsby
Killer Instinct
Movie · as John Doogan
The Golden Palace
TV · as Mr. Smith #1 · 1 ep
Renegade
TV · as Col. Nelson Brackett, Sgt. Douglas Raines · 2 eps
The Silence of the Lambs
Movie · as Lt. Boyle
Under Surveillance
Movie · as Troy
After the Condor
Movie
Lonely Hearts
Movie · as Robby Ross
Soldier's Fortune
Movie · as Col. Blair
Indio 2 - The Revolt
Movie · as IMC President
Rugrats
TV · as Captain (voice) · 1 ep
Miami Blues
Movie · as Sergeant Bill Henderson
The Grifters
Movie · as Gloucester Hebbing
Ernest Goes to Jail
Movie · as Warden
Future Zone
Movie · as Mickland
The Last Match
Movie · as American Consul
Cop Target
Movie · as John Granger
Dragonfight
Movie · as Moochow
Maniac Cop 2
Movie · as Lew Brady
Alien from the Deep
Movie · as Colonel Kovacks
One Man Force
Movie · as Dante
Hit List
Movie · as Tom Mitchum
The Simpsons
TV · as Warden (voice), Grant Conner (voice), Officer Krackney (voice) · 2 eps
Coach
TV · as Buzz Durkin · 1 ep
The Incredible Hulk Returns
Movie · as Mike Fouche
Deep Space
Movie · as Det. Ian McLemore
Married to the Mob
Movie · as Angela's Hairdresser
Bush Shrink
Movie · as Kingsley
Kidnapped
Movie · as Lt. O'Bryan
Paradise
TV · as Sheriff Cochran · 1 ep
Something Wild
Movie · as Irate Chef
Body Count
Movie · as Charlie, the Sheriff
Instant Justice
Movie · as Maj. Davis
The Night Stalker
Movie · as Sgt. J.J. Striker
Outlaws
TV · as Wolf Lucas · 12 eps
L.A. Law
TV · as Detective John Foley · 1 ep
Blacke's Magic
TV · as Jack Rhodes · 1 ep
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Movie · as Marshall Murdock
Street Hawk
TV · as John Slade · 1 ep
The Outlaws
Movie · as Captain Striker
The Cartier Affair
Movie · as Morgan Carroll
Swing Shift
Movie · as Moon Willis
Murder, She Wrote
TV · as Hank Sutter, Denver Martin · 2 eps
Night Court
TV · as Mitchell Bowers · 1 ep
China Lake
Movie · as Donnelly
The A-Team
TV · as Burt Cross, Col. Briggs · 1 ep
Gun Shy
TV · as Carlton · 1 ep
Wacko
Movie · as Chief O'Hara
Knight Rider
TV · as Carney (uncredited) · 1 ep
The Blue and the Gray
TV · as Major Harrison · 3 eps
Tales of the Gold Monkey
TV · as Tex Henderson · 1 ep
Simon & Simon
TV · 1 ep
The Blues Brothers
Movie · as Tucker McElroy
Gridlock
Movie · as Sonny
Melvin and Howard
Movie · as Ventura
Last Embrace
Movie · as Dave Quittle
B. J. and the Bear
TV · 5 eps
Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus
Movie · as Big Bob Johnson
Dallas
TV · as Carl Daggett · 1 ep
Citizens Band
Movie · as Chrome Angel
Thunder and Lightning
Movie · as Jim Bob
Ransom for Alice!
Movie · as Pete Phelan
The Oregon Trail
TV · as Luther Sprague · 13 eps
The Incredible Hulk
TV · as Hulk (voice), Bert, John Blake · 48 eps
CHiPs
TV · as Klane · 1 ep
The Flying Misfits
Movie · as Maj. Red Buell
Baa Baa Black Sheep
TV · as Red Buell · 2 eps
Delvecchio
TV · as Alt · 1 ep
Supervixens
Movie · as Harry Sledge
Starsky & Hutch
TV · as Sheriff Joe Tyce, John Brown Harris · 1 ep
Baretta
TV · 1 ep
The Rockford Files
TV · as Billy Webster, Mitch Donner · 1 ep
Moonfire
Movie · as Robert W. Morgan
Kojak
TV · as Marty Vaughan · 1 ep
The Rookies
TV · 1 ep
The Streets of San Francisco
TV · as Norderman · 1 ep
Love and Kisses
Movie
The Seven Minutes
Movie · as Officer Iverson
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Movie · as Baxter
Cherry, Harry & Raquel!
Movie · as Harry
The House Near the Prado
Movie
The Hanging of Jake Ellis
Movie · as Jake Ellis
The Mod Squad
TV · as Broker (uncredited) · 1 ep
Mannix
TV · as Police Officer (uncredited) · 1 ep
Star Trek
TV · as Adam · 1 ep
Mission: Impossible
TV · as First Guard (uncredited), Thug, Roland (uncredited) · 1 ep
Hogan's Heroes
TV · as Partisan Messenger (uncredited) · 1 ep