Charles Napier
Biography
Charles Napier was an American actor who built a long career as a character player, often cast as police officers, soldiers and other authority figures, many of them villainous. Born in Kentucky, he served in the Army, graduated from Western Kentucky University and taught art before a graduate instructor steered him toward acting. His film debut came through Russ Meyer, who cast him as the lead in Cherry, Harry & Raquel! (1969), the first of four films they made together. He worked steadily in television and film and became a favorite of director Jonathan Demme, appearing in Something Wild (1986), Married to the Mob (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Philadelphia (1993) and others. His notable roles included Marshall Murdock in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and Commander Gilmour in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), along with voice work on The Critic and Men in Black: The Series. He died in 2011.
75years old at death
- Born Allen County
- Died Bakersfield
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Movie Career
- Films
- 30
- Career span
- 40 years1969 to 2009
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Big break
After Alfred Hitchcock watched a print of Supervixens, Napier was asked to come to Universal Studios, where he met Hitchcock and received a one-year contract.
First role
Charles Napier's first major film part came in Cherry, Harry & Raquel!, a 1969 release. That movie began a run of four projects he worked on with director Russ Meyer.
A change of course
Following his role in the low budget Moonfire, Napier spent a few years working for Overdrive magazine as both a journalist and a photographer.
Early training
In 1964, Napier went back to Western Kentucky for graduate school. There, D. Russell Miller, an instructor, pushed him toward acting.
Charles Napier movies on Netflix
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hardas Dick Lewiston
Black Crescent Moonas Father Woods
Annapolisas Supt. Carter
The Kid & Ias Eyepatch-wearing Two Spies boss
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarronas Roy (voice)
The Big Teaseas Sen. Warren Crockett
Armstrongas Robert Zorkin
Austin Powers: International Man of Mysteryas Cmdr. Gilmour
Steelas Col. David
3 Ninjas Knuckle Upas Jack
Jury Dutyas Jed
Raw Justiceas Mayor David Stiles
Philadelphiaas Judge Garnett
The Silence of the Lambsas Lt. Boyle
Ernest Goes to Jailas Warden
Future Zoneas Mickland
Maniac Cop 2as Lew Brady
Miami Bluesas Sgt. Bill Henderson
Deep Spaceas Det. Ian McLemore
Married to the Mobas Angela's Hairdresser
The Incredible Hulk Returnsas Mike Fouche
Something Wildas Irate Chef
Rambo: First Blood Part IIas Marshall Murdock
Swing Shiftas Moon Willis
Wackoas Chief O'Hara
Last Embraceas Dave Quittle
Citizens Bandas Chrome Angel
Beyond the Valley of the Dollsas Baxter Wolfe
Moonfireas Robert W. Morgan
Cherry, Harry & Raquel!as Harry
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Rambo: First Blood Part II1985 Action, Adventure, Thrilleras Marshall Murdock
IMDb rating 6.5198K votes
Most often with
Jonathan Demme directed seven of these films, Russ Meyer two and David A. Prior two. Gary Goetzman appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.









Films together
Gary Goetzman3 films together, 1977 to 1990
Gary Goetzman's page Miami Blues1990IMDb rating 6.4Napier as Sgt. Bill HendersonGoetzman as Hotel Desk Clerk
Last Embrace1979IMDb rating 6.0Napier as Dave QuittleGoetzman as Tour Guide
Citizens Band1977IMDb rating 6.4Napier as Chrome AngelGoetzman as RV Salesman
Alec Baldwin2 films together, 1988 to 1990
Alec Baldwin's page Miami Blues1990IMDb rating 6.4Napier as Sgt. Bill HendersonBaldwin as Frederick J. Frenger Jr.
Married to the Mob1988IMDb rating 6.3Napier as Angela's HairdresserBaldwin as 'Cucumber' Frank de Marco
Tracey Walter2 films together, 1986 to 1991
Tracey Walter's page The Silence of the Lambs1991IMDb rating 8.6Napier as Lt. BoyleWalter as Lamar
Something Wild1986IMDb rating 6.9Napier as Irate ChefWalter as The Country Squire
Fred Ward2 films together, 1984 to 1990
Fred Ward's page Miami Blues1990IMDb rating 6.4Napier as Sgt. Bill HendersonWard as Sgt. Hoke Moseley
Swing Shift1984IMDb rating 6.0Napier as Moon WillisWard as Biscuits Toohey
Donal Logue2 films together, 1995 to 1999
Donal Logue's page The Big Tease1999IMDb rating 6.2Napier as Sen. Warren CrockettLogue as Eamonn
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up1995IMDb rating 4.4Napier as JackLogue as Jimmy
Richard Edson2 films together, 1995 to 2005
Richard Edson's page The Kid & I2005IMDb rating 5.1Napier as Eyepatch-wearing Two Spies bossEdson as Guy Prince
Jury Duty1995IMDb rating 4.4Napier as JedEdson as Skeets
Jonathan DemmeDirector, 7 films, 1977 to 1993
All films by Jonathan Demme Philadelphia1993IMDb rating 7.7Napier as Judge Garnett
The Silence of the Lambs1991IMDb rating 8.6Napier as Lt. Boyle
Married to the Mob1988IMDb rating 6.3Napier as Angela's Hairdresser
Something Wild1986IMDb rating 6.9Napier as Irate Chef
Swing Shift1984IMDb rating 6.0Napier as Moon Willis
Last Embrace1979IMDb rating 6.0Napier as Dave Quittle
Citizens Band1977IMDb rating 6.4Napier as Chrome Angel
Russ MeyerDirector, 2 films, 1969 to 1970
All films by Russ Meyer Beyond the Valley of the Dolls1970IMDb rating 6.1Napier as Baxter Wolfe
Cherry, Harry & Raquel!1969IMDb rating 5.3Napier as Harry
David A. PriorDirector, 2 films, 1990 to 1994
All films by David A. Prior Raw Justice1994IMDb rating 4.2Napier as Mayor David Stiles
Future Zone1990IMDb rating 3.4Napier as Mickland
Also two films together10 more actors
- Leo RossiRaw Justice (1994) and Maniac Cop 2 (1990)
- Shaquille O'NealThe Kid & I (2005) and Steel (1997)
- Robert RidgelyPhiladelphia (1993) and Something Wild (1986)
- Ted PriorRaw Justice (1994) and Future Zone (1990)
- Marcia RoddLast Embrace (1979) and Citizens Band (1977)
- Buzz KilmanPhiladelphia (1993) and Something Wild (1986)
- George 'Red' SchwartzThe Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Something Wild (1986)
- Kenneth UttMiami Blues (1990) and Something Wild (1986)
- Leib LenskyThe Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Something Wild (1986)
- Sandy McLeodSomething Wild (1986) and Last Embrace (1979)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Charles Napier's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$1.1 billion
16 of the 30 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 30 films: 16 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 1 never in cinemas; 10 figure not found.
- 16Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 1Never in cinemas
- 10Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 94% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$300M27.4% of the total
- 2$273M24.9% of the total
- 3$207M18.8% of the total
- 4$123M11.2% of the total
- 5$68M6.2% of the total
- 6$25M2.3% of the total
- 7$21M2.0% of the total
- 8$17M1.6% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.









