Acting · Scottsville, Kentucky, USA · Born April 12, 1936
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
TVArcher
2009
as Dr. Speltz (voice)
MovieShadowheart
2009
as Sheriff Sanders
MovieLife Blood
2009
as Sherrif Tillman
MovieThe Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
2009
as Dick Lewiston
MovieOne-Eyed Monster
2008
as Mohtz
MovieBlack Crescent Moon
2008
as Father Woods
MovieYour Name Here
2008
as Chuck
MovieNed's Declassified School Survival Guide: Field Trips, Permission Slips, Signs, and Weasels
2007
as Seargent Guard
MovieAnnapolis
2006
MovieThe Kid & I
2005
as Eyepatch-wearing Two Spies boss
TVSquidbillies
2005
MovieSuits on the Loose
2005
as General Wilkins
MovieFielder's Choice
2005
as Taco Bob
MovieLords of Dogtown
2005
as Nudie
TVNed's Declassified School Survival Guide
2004
as Seargent Guard
TVThe Batman
2004
as Kilgore Steed (voice)
TVJustice League Unlimited
2004
as General Hardcastle (voice)
MovieThe Manchurian Candidate
2004
as General Sloan
TVThe 4400
2004
as Josiah
MovieDinocroc
2004
as Sheriff Harper
TVCold Case
2003
as Hal Chaney (2008)
MovieThe Thief & the Stripper
2002
as Face
TVMonk
2002
as Sheriff Bates
MovieWe Get to Win This Time
2002
as Self
MovieSpirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
2002
as Roy (voice)
MovieDown 'n Dirty
2001
as Capt. Jerry Teller
TVThe Legend of Tarzan
2001
as Ian McTeague (voice)
MovieExtreme Honor
2001
as Commanding Officer #1
TVCSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
as Warren Matthews
TVBuzz Lightyear of Star Command
2000
as Wild Bill Cooley (voice)
MovieNutty Professor II: The Klumps
2000
as Four Star General
MovieVery Mean Men
2000
as Detective Bailey
MovieNever Look Back
2000
as Sheriff Dawkins
TVSon of the Beach
2000
TVGod, the Devil and Bob
2000
as Rev. Nat Potterson (voice)
MovieThe Big Tease
1999
as Sen. Warren Crockett
MoviePirates of the Plain
1999
as Grandpa
MovieThe Hunter's Moon
1999
as J.T. Conover
TVRoswell
1999
as Hal Carver
MovieAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
1999
as Gen. Hawk
MovieLima: Breaking the Silence
1999
as Padre
TVThe Magician
1999
MovieCypress Edge
1999
as Detective O'Reilly
MovieBeloved
1998
as Angry Carny (uncredited)
MovieSecond Chances
1998
as Craig Hardy
TVHercules
1998
as (voice)
MovieArmstrong
1998
as Robert Zorkin
MovieAlien Species
1998
as Sheriff Nate Culver
MovieCenturion Force
1998
as Dunlap
No Small Ways
1997
TVMen in Black: The Series
1997
as Chief Zed (voice)
TVGeorge & Leo
1997
MovieSteel
1997
as Col. David
MovieHollywood Rated 'R'
1997
as Self
MovieAustin Powers: International Man of Mystery
1997
as Commander Gilmour
TVThe Practice
1997
as Judge Abraham Betts
MovieMacon County Jail
1997
as Sheriff Dempsey
MovieRiot
1996
as Agent Devaney
TVSuperman: The Animated Series
1996
as General Hardcastle (voice)
TVThe Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
1996
as Hinkle (voice)
MovieThe Cable Guy
1996
as Arresting Officer
MovieLimp Fangs: The Adventures of Count Malt Liquela
1996
as Adam
MovieOriginal Gangstas
1996
as Mayor
TVPacific Blue
1996
as Tyrone Justice
MovieFelony
1996
as Duke
MovieExpert Witness
1996
MovieBilly Lone Bear
1996
MovieHard Justice
1995
as Warden Pike
MovieMax Is Missing
1995
as Becker
MovieJury Duty
1995
as Jed
Movie3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
1995
as Jack
MovieBallistic
1995
as Underwood
MovieFatal Pursuit
1995
as Herbert
MovieRipper Man
1995
as Harry
MovieTwisted Fate
1995
as Nolan Gobal
MovieSavage Land
1994
as Cole
TVParty of Five
1994
as Video Guy
MovieJailbreakers
1994
as Charlie, the Horse Connection
MovieSilk Degrees
1994
as Schultz
MovieRaw Justice
1994
as Mayor David Stiles
MovieTo Die, to Sleep
1994
as Father
TVRebel Highway
1994
as Charlie, the Horse Connection
MovieBody Shot
1994
as Leon
TVThe Critic
1994
as Duke Phillips (voice)
MovieSilent Fury
1994
MoviePhiladelphia
1993
as Judge Garnett
TVDiagnosis: Murder
1993
as Johnny McNamara
MovieSkeeter
1993
as Ernie Buckle
TVLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993
as Sailin' Whalen
MovieBody Bags
1993
as Manager
TVWalker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Warden Kyle
MovieNational Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
1993
as Interrogator
TVStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
as Gen. Rex Denning
MovieKiller Instinct
1992
as John Doogan
MovieFrogtown II
1992
as Capt. Delano
TVRenegade
1992
as Col. Nelson Brackett
TVThe Golden Palace
1992
as Mr. Smith #1
MovieMean Tricks
1992
as Brian Hornsby
MovieCenter of the Web
1992
as Agent Williams
MovieTreacherous Crossing
1992
MovieEyes of the Beholder
1992
as Det. Wilson
MovieLonely Hearts
1991
as Robby Ross
MovieSoldier's Fortune
1991
as Col. Blair
MovieAfter the Condor
1991
MovieIndio 2 - The Revolt
1991
as IMC President
MovieThe Silence of the Lambs
1991
as Lt. Boyle
MovieUnder Surveillance
1991
as Troy
MovieThe Grifters
1990
as Gloucester Hebbing
MovieFuture Zone
1990
as Mickland
MovieManiac Cop 2
1990
as Lew Brady
MovieDragonfight
1990
as Moochow
MovieMiami Blues
1990
as Sergeant Bill Henderson
MovieErnest Goes to Jail
1990
as Warden
MovieThe Last Match
1990
as American Consul
MovieCop Target
1990
as John Granger
TVThe Simpsons
1989
as Warden (voice)
MovieAlien from the Deep
1989
as Colonel Kovacks
MovieOne Man Force
1989
as Dante
MovieHit List
1989
as Tom Mitchum
TVCoach
1989
as Buzz Durkin
TVParadise
1988
as Sheriff Cochran
MovieMarried to the Mob
1988
as Angela's Hairdresser
MovieKidnapped
1988
as Lt. O'Bryan
MovieThe Incredible Hulk Returns
1988
as Mike Fouche
MovieDeep Space
1988
as Det. Ian McLemore
MovieBush Shrink
1988
as Kingsley
MovieThe Night Stalker
1987
as Sgt. J.J. Striker
TVOutlaws
1986
as Wolf Lucas
MovieSomething Wild
1986
as Irate Chef
MovieBody Count
1986
as Charlie, the Sheriff
MovieInstant Justice
1986
as Maj. Davis
TVL.A. Law
1986
as Detective John Foley
TVBlacke's Magic
1986
as Jack Rhodes
MovieRambo: First Blood Part II
1985
as Marshall Murdock
TVStreet Hawk
1985
as John Slade
MovieThe Cartier Affair
1984
as Morgan Carroll
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Hank Sutter
MovieThe Outlaws
1984
as Captain Striker
MovieSwing Shift
1984
as Moon Willis
TVNight Court
1984
as Mitchell Bowers
MovieChina Lake
1983
as Donnelly
TVGun Shy
1983
as Carlton
TVThe A-Team
1983
as Burt Cross
TVThe Blue and the Gray
1982
as Major Harrison
MovieWacko
1982
as Chief O'Hara
TVKnight Rider
1982
as Carney (uncredited)
TVTales of the Gold Monkey
1982
TVSimon & Simon
1981
MovieGridlock
1980
as Sonny
MovieMelvin and Howard
1980
as Ventura
MovieThe Blues Brothers
1980
as Tucker McElroy
MovieLast Embrace
1979
as Dave Quittle
TVB. J. and the Bear
1979
MovieBig Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus
1978
as Big Bob Johnson
TVDallas
1978
as Carl Daggett
TVThe Incredible Hulk
1977
as Hulk (voice)
TVThe Oregon Trail
1977
as Luther Sprague
TVCHiPs
1977
as Klane
MovieThunder and Lightning
1977
as Jim Bob
MovieRansom for Alice!
1977
as Pete Phelan
MovieCitizens Band
1977
as Chrome Angel
MovieThe Flying Misfits
1976
as Maj. Red Buell
TVBaa Baa Black Sheep
1976
as Red Buell
TVDelvecchio
1976
as Alt
TVStarsky & Hutch
1975
as Sheriff Joe Tyce
MovieSupervixens
1975
as Harry Sledge
TVBaretta
1975
TVThe Rockford Files
1974
as Billy Webster
TVKojak
1973
as Marty Vaughan
MovieMoonfire
1973
as Robert W. Morgan
TVThe Streets of San Francisco
1972
as Norderman
TVThe Rookies
1972
MovieThe Seven Minutes
1971
as Officer Iverson
Love and Kisses
1971
MovieBeyond the Valley of the Dolls
1970
as Baxter
MovieCherry, Harry & Raquel!
1969
as Harry
MovieThe House Near the Prado
1969
The Hanging of Jake Ellis
1969
as Jake Ellis
TVThe Mod Squad
1968
as Broker (uncredited)
TVMannix
1967
as Police Officer (uncredited)
TVMission: Impossible
1966
as First Guard (uncredited)
TVStar Trek
1966
as Adam
TVHogan's Heroes
1965
as Partisan Messenger (uncredited)
Death on the Oregon Trail
