Charles Napier

Charles Lewis Napier (April 12, 1936 – October 5, 2011) was an American actor who was known for playing supporting and occasional leading roles in television and films. He was frequently cast as police officers, soldiers, or authority figures, many of them villainous or corrupt. After leaving his Kentucky hometown to serve in the Army, he graduated from college and worked as a sports coach and art teacher before settling on acting as a career. His first prominent role in a film was in Cherry, Harry & Raquel!, which was the first of four films he would do with director Russ Meyer. Napier established himself in character roles and worked steadily for the next 35 years. He made numerous collaborations with director Jonathan Demme, including roles in Something Wild (1986), Married to the Mob (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Philadelphia (1993), Beloved (1998), and The Manchurian Candidate (2004).

Other notable roles include the short-tempered country singer Tucker McElroy in The Blues Brothers (1980), gruff army Commander Gilmour in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), General Hawk in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), and bureaucratic CIA officer Marshall Murdock in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985). On television, he appeared as the space hippie named Adam in the Star Trek episode "The Way to Eden" (S3, E20). He also had numerous voiceover roles in television, most notably Duke Phillips on the prime time animated sitcom The Critic and Zed, the leader of the eponymous group in Men in Black: The Series.

Early life Charles Lewis Napier was born on April 12, 1936, in Mt. Union, Kentucky near Scottsville. His parents were Sara Lena (née Loafman; 1897–1974) and Linus Pitts Napier (1888–1991). After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1954, serving with the 511th Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division and rising to the rank of sergeant.

In 1958, after his service, he attended Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, graduating in 1961 with a major in art and minor in physical education. He wanted to be a basketball coach and his first job was as an assistant coach at his old high school in Allen County, coaching under Allen County legend James Bazzell. Soon after, he gave up coaching, eventually taking jobs with a bridge company and an advertising agency before moving to Clearwater, Florida to teach art at John F. Kennedy Junior High School.

In 1964, Napier returned to Western Kentucky to attend graduate school, where instructor D. Russell Miller encouraged him to pursue acting. Following some success in the local Alley Playhouse, Napier moved back to Florida where he continued to teach as well as act in community theater, eventually moving into Clearwater's Little Theatre as its live-in caretaker. During this time he also pursued painting. ) In addition to acting and helping with the cameras when setting up shots, he did stunts, make up and driving on the film. After the low budget Moonfire, he worked as a journalist and photographer for Overdrive magazine for a few years; a strike sent him back to Hollywood in 1975 where, at age 39, he was reduced to living in his car in the parking lot of Meyer's office with no money, work, or agent. He was summoned to Universal Studios to meet Alfred Hitchcock, who had just seen a print of Supervixens, and was given a one-year contract. He also appeared in the pilot episode of Knight Rider in 1982.

Citizen's Band director Jonathan Demme was laudatory about Napier's abilities, and went on to cast him in several of his films including The Silence of the Lambs and, in what was Napier's favourite role of his career, a judge in Philadelphia. He played the bureaucratic CIA officer Marshall Murdock in Rambo: First Blood Part II. In the 1980 musical-comedy The Blues Brothers, he portrayed the choleric Tucker McElroy, "lead singer of and driver of the Winnebago" for "The Good Ol' Boys."

Napier was in many advertisements. He performed a great deal of voice-over work, including General Hardcastle in the DC Animated Universe series Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League, Roy in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Zed in Men in Black: The Series, the Sheriff in Squidbillies, and vocal effects for the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk following the death of Ted Cassidy in 1979. He also provided several guest voices for episodes of The Simpsons. According to the Dr. Phil Show website, "Despite appearing in close to 100 films and countless hit TV shows, Charles Napier says he's depressed he's not a big star. His wife, Dee, says that instead of becoming upset when he gets rejected for a part, Charles should be grateful and proud of his 35-year career. She also thinks it's time he started making the family, not the pursuit of fame, his priority."

Napier and his second wife had two children, son Hunter and daughter Meghan Saralena. Napier also had one son, Charles Lewis "Chuck" Napier Jr., from his previous marriage. He was 75 years old. The exact cause of death was not released, but Napier had been treated for deep vein thrombosis in his legs in May 2010.

Awards and recognitions Napier received a Kentucky colonelcy in 1962.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1969 The House Near the Prado Unknown The Hanging of Jake Ellis Jake Ellis 1970 Cherry, Harry & Raquel! Harry Thompson Beyond the Valley of the Dolls Baxter Wolfe Moonfire Robert W. Morgan 1971 The Seven Minutes Norman Quandt 1975 Supervixens Harry Sledge 1977 Thunder and Lightning Jim Bob Citizen's Band Chrome Angel 1979 Last Embrace Quittle 1980 The Blues Brothers Tucker McElroy Melvin and Howard Ventura 1982 Wacko Chief O'Hara 1983 China Lake Donnelly Short film 1984 Swing Shift Moon Willis In Search of a Golden Sky T. J. Rivers 1985 Rambo: First Blood Part II Major Marshall Roger T. Murdock 1986 Something Wild Irate chef 1987 The Night Stalker Sgt. J.J. Striker Body Count Sheriff Charlie Released in Italy as Camping del Terrore Instant Justice Maj. Davis 1988 Married to the Mob Ray Deep Space Det. Ian McLemore 1989 Hit List Tom Mitchum 1990 Future Zone Mickland Miami Blues Sgt. Bill Henderson The Grifters Gloucester Hebbing Maniac Cop 2 Lew Brady Ernest Goes to Jail Warden Carmichael 1991 The Silence of the Lambs Lt. Boyle Indio 2: The Revolt IMC President 1992 Mean Tricks Brian Hornsby Eyes of the Beholder Det. Wilson Center of the Web Agent Williams 1993 Return to Frogtown Capt. Delano National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 Interrogator Philadelphia Judge Lucas Garnett Body Bags Baseball Team Manager Skeeter Ernie Buckle 1994 Savage Land Cole 1995 Jury Duty Jed 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up Jack Harding Hard Justice Warden Pike 1996 Original Gangstas Mayor The Cable Guy Arresting Officer 1997 Steel Col. David Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Commander Gilmour 1998 Beloved Angry Carny Uncredited 1999 The Big Tease Sen. Warren Crockett Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me General Hawk 2000 Very Mean Men Detective Bailey Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Four Star General 2001 Down 'n Dirty Capt. Jerry Teller 2002 Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Roy (voice) 2004 The Manchurian Candidate General Sloan Dinocroc Sheriff Harper 2005 Lords of Dogtown Nudie 2006 Annapolis Supt. Carter 2008 One-Eyed Monster Montz Your Name Here Chuck Heston 2009 The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard Dick Lewiston Life Blood Sheriff Tillman

Television Year Title Role

1968 Mannix Police Officer (uncredited) Episode: "Night Out of Time" 1968–1971 Mission: Impossible First Guard, Thug, Roland 3 episodes 1969 Star Trek Adam S3:E20, "The Way to Eden" Knight Rider Carney Episode: "Knight of the Phoenix" (pilot); uncredited Simon & Simon Gibson Episode: "Mike & Pat" CHiPs Klane Episode: "Something Special" 1982–1983 Dallas Carl Daggett 3 episodes

Tales of the Gold Monkey Tex Episode: "High Stakes Lady" Gun Shy Carlton Episode: "Pardon Me Boy, Is That The Quake City Choo Choo?" 1983–1984 The A-Team Burt Cross, Colonel Briggs 2 episodes

Night Court Mitch Bowers Episode: "Hi Honey, I'm Home" Whiz Kids Douglas Blackthorne Episode: "May I Take Your Order Please?" 1985 Street Hawk John Slade Episode: "Hot Target" 1986, 1995 Murder, She Wrote Hank Sutter, Denver Martin 2 episodes 1986 Outlaws Wolfson Lucas Contract Role

The Incredible Hulk Returns Mike Fouche Post-series film War and Remembrance Lt. Gen. Walter Bedell Smith Miniseries based on the novel of the same name 1989 Paradise Guest Episode: "A Gather Of Guns" 1991 L.A. Law Detective John Foley Episode: "The Beverly Hills Hangers" 1992 The Golden Palace Mr. Smith #1 Episode: "Camp Town Races Aren't Nearly As Much Fun As They Used To Be" 1993 Renegade Brackett, Sgt. Douglas Raines 3 episodes 1994–1995 The Critic Duke Phillips (voice) 23 episodes 1994 Coach Buzz Durkin Episode: "Head Like a Wheel"

Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Sailin' Whalen Episode: "Target: Jimmy Olsen!" Star Trek: Deep Space Nine General Denning Episode: "Little Green Men" Rugrats Captain (voice) Episode: "Submarine"