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