Charles Napier

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

194

Gender

Male

Birthday

1936-04-12

Day of death

2011-10-05 (75 years old)

Place of Birth

Scottsville, Kentucky, USA

Charles Napier

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

  • The Simpsons

    The Simpsons

  • The Simpsons

    The Simpsons

  • The Simpsons

    The Simpsons

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

  • Monk

    Monk

  • Murder, She Wrote

    Murder, She Wrote

  • Murder, She Wrote

    Murder, She Wrote

  • Star Trek

    Star Trek

  • Night Court

    Night Court

  • Cold Case

    Cold Case

  • The A-Team

    The A-Team

  • The A-Team

    The A-Team

  • Archer

    Archer

  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

    Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

  • The Practice

    The Practice

  • Diagnosis: Murder

    Diagnosis: Murder

  • Knight Rider

    Knight Rider

  • Dallas

    Dallas

  • L.A. Law

    L.A. Law

  • Mannix

    Mannix

  • Mission: Impossible

    Mission: Impossible

  • Mission: Impossible

    Mission: Impossible

  • Mission: Impossible

    Mission: Impossible

  • Hogan's Heroes

    Hogan's Heroes

  • The Rockford Files

    The Rockford Files

  • The Rockford Files

    The Rockford Files

  • Renegade

    Renegade

  • Renegade

    Renegade

  • Superman: The Animated Series

    Superman: The Animated Series

  • Walker, Texas Ranger

    Walker, Texas Ranger

  • Party of Five

    Party of Five

  • Justice League Unlimited

    Justice League Unlimited

  • Beloved

    Beloved

  • The 4400

    The 4400

  • Coach

    Coach

  • Pacific Blue

    Pacific Blue

  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

    Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

  • The Batman

    The Batman

  • Simon & Simon

    Simon & Simon

  • Starsky & Hutch

    Starsky & Hutch

  • Starsky & Hutch

    Starsky & Hutch

  • The Incredible Hulk

    The Incredible Hulk

  • The Incredible Hulk

    The Incredible Hulk

  • The Incredible Hulk

    The Incredible Hulk

  • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

    Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

  • Roswell

    Roswell

  • Hercules

    Hercules

  • Kojak

    Kojak

  • The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

    The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

  • Supervixens

    Supervixens

  • Baretta

    Baretta

  • Annapolis

    Annapolis

  • The Rookies

    The Rookies

  • Miami Blues

    Miami Blues

  • Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide

    Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide

  • Kidnapped

    Kidnapped

  • Rebel Highway

    Rebel Highway

  • The Streets of San Francisco

    The Streets of San Francisco

  • Shadowheart

    Shadowheart

  • The Legend of Tarzan

    The Legend of Tarzan

  • Ballistic

    Ballistic

  • Squidbillies

    Squidbillies

  • Squidbillies

    Squidbillies

  • Rambo: First Blood Part II

    Rambo: First Blood Part II

  • Deep Space

    Deep Space

  • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

    Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

  • Steel

    Steel

  • Dragonfight

    Dragonfight

  • The Blues Brothers

    The Blues Brothers

  • Armstrong

    Armstrong

  • Lonely Hearts

    Lonely Hearts

  • Dinocroc

    Dinocroc

  • Extreme Honor

    Extreme Honor

  • CHiPs

    CHiPs

  • The Mod Squad

    The Mod Squad

  • Centurion Force

    Centurion Force

  • Moonfire

    Moonfire

  • B. J. and the Bear

    B. J. and the Bear

  • Original Gangstas

    Original Gangstas

  • Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

    Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

  • Jailbreakers

    Jailbreakers

  • The Critic

    The Critic

  • Tales of the Gold Monkey

    Tales of the Gold Monkey

  • Ripper Man

    Ripper Man

  • Alien Species

    Alien Species

  • Son of the Beach

    Son of the Beach

  • Killer Instinct

    Killer Instinct

  • Men in Black: The Series

    Men in Black: The Series

  • Street Hawk

    Street Hawk

  • Wacko

    Wacko

  • Gridlock

    Gridlock

  • The Seven Minutes

    The Seven Minutes

  • Delvecchio

    Delvecchio

  • Riot

    Riot

  • Philadelphia

    Philadelphia

  • Baa Baa Black Sheep

    Baa Baa Black Sheep

  • Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

    Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

  • The Golden Palace

    The Golden Palace

  • The Silence of the Lambs

    The Silence of the Lambs

  • Eyes of the Beholder

    Eyes of the Beholder

  • Skeeter

    Skeeter

  • Body Shot

    Body Shot

  • The Oregon Trail

    The Oregon Trail

  • Body Count

    Body Count

  • Very Mean Men

    Very Mean Men

  • The Cartier Affair

    The Cartier Affair

  • Never Look Back

    Never Look Back

  • The Flying Misfits

    The Flying Misfits

  • The Cable Guy

    The Cable Guy

  • Life Blood

    Life Blood

  • Down 'n Dirty

    Down 'n Dirty

  • God, the Devil and Bob

    God, the Devil and Bob

  • Blacke's Magic

    Blacke's Magic

  • George & Leo

    George & Leo

  • The Big Tease

    The Big Tease

  • After the Condor

    After the Condor

  • Billy Lone Bear

    Billy Lone Bear

  • Lords of Dogtown

    Lords of Dogtown

  • The Manchurian Candidate

    The Manchurian Candidate

  • The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

    The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

  • Married to the Mob

    Married to the Mob

  • The Blue and the Gray

    The Blue and the Gray

  • Nutty Professor II: The Klumps

    Nutty Professor II: The Klumps

  • Melvin and Howard

    Melvin and Howard

  • National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1

    National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1

  • Hit List

    Hit List

  • The Grifters

    The Grifters

  • The Magician

    The Magician

  • Paradise

    Paradise

  • Something Wild

    Something Wild

  • 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up

    3 Ninjas Knuckle Up

  • The Incredible Hulk Returns

    The Incredible Hulk Returns

  • Outlaws

    Outlaws

  • Swing Shift

    Swing Shift

  • Jury Duty

    Jury Duty

  • Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

    Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

  • Maniac Cop 2

    Maniac Cop 2

  • Body Bags

    Body Bags

  • Fielder's Choice

    Fielder's Choice

  • Raw Justice

    Raw Justice

  • One-Eyed Monster

    One-Eyed Monster

  • Last Embrace

    Last Embrace

  • Ernest Goes to Jail

    Ernest Goes to Jail

  • Cherry, Harry & Raquel!

    Cherry, Harry & Raquel!

  • Limp Fangs: The Adventures of Count Malt Liquela

    Limp Fangs: The Adventures of Count Malt Liquela

  • China Lake

    China Lake

  • Hard Justice

    Hard Justice

  • Gun Shy

    Gun Shy

  • Citizens Band

    Citizens Band

  • Suits on the Loose

    Suits on the Loose

  • Thunder and Lightning

    Thunder and Lightning

  • Macon County Jail

    Macon County Jail

  • The Kid & I

    The Kid & I

  • Lima: Breaking the Silence

    Lima: Breaking the Silence

  • Silent Fury

    Silent Fury

  • Second Chances

    Second Chances

  • Alien from the Deep

    Alien from the Deep

  • The House Near the Prado

    The House Near the Prado

  • Silk Degrees

    Silk Degrees

  • Center of the Web

    Center of the Web

  • Mean Tricks

    Mean Tricks

  • Cop Target

    Cop Target

  • The Last Match

    The Last Match

  • Indio 2 - The Revolt

    Indio 2 - The Revolt

  • Under Surveillance

    Under Surveillance

  • Savage Land

    Savage Land

  • The Hunter's Moon

    The Hunter's Moon

  • Twisted Fate

    Twisted Fate

  • Fatal Pursuit

    Fatal Pursuit

  • Pirates of the Plain

    Pirates of the Plain

  • One Man Force

    One Man Force

  • Cypress Edge

    Cypress Edge

  • Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide: Field Trips, Permission Slips, Signs, and Weasels

    Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide: Field Trips, Permission Slips, Signs, and Weasels

  • Future Zone

    Future Zone

  • Instant Justice

    Instant Justice

  • Treacherous Crossing

    Treacherous Crossing

  • Max Is Missing

    Max Is Missing

  • Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus

    Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus

  • The Night Stalker

    The Night Stalker

  • Felony

    Felony

  • The Outlaws

    The Outlaws

  • Frogtown II

    Frogtown II

  • Soldier's Fortune

    Soldier's Fortune

  • The Thief & the Stripper

    The Thief & the Stripper

  • Your Name Here

    Your Name Here

  • Ransom for Alice!

    Ransom for Alice!

  • Bush Shrink

    Bush Shrink

  • No Small Ways

    No Small Ways

  • Hollywood Rated 'R'

    Hollywood Rated 'R'

  • Black Crescent Moon

    Black Crescent Moon

  • To Die, to Sleep

    To Die, to Sleep

  • Expert Witness

    Expert Witness

  • The Hanging of Jake Ellis

    The Hanging of Jake Ellis

  • Love and Kisses

    Love and Kisses