Russell Napier

Biography

Russell Napier was an Australian actor who trained as a lawyer before turning to acting, appearing on stage by 1936. That year he acted in a staging of Murder in the Cathedral by T. S. Eliot at The Old Vic, later seen on Broadway. On screen from 1947 to 1974, he played comic and dramatic parts in film and television. In 1949 he starred in a live BBC presentation of H. G. Wells' The Time Machine; only still photographs survive. He was the most frequent performer in the Scotland Yard short films released for British cinemas from 1953 to 1961, playing Inspector Harmer in two and Duggan, later a superintendent, in thirteen more, and the American Broadcasting Company showed the series in the United States from 1957. He also narrated the official 1962 television documentary The Hole in the Ground and appeared as Doctor Green in the 1970 UFO episode A Question of Priorities.

63years old at death

Born November 28, 1910Perth
Died August 19, 1974London
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Also credited as Russell Gordon Napier

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 16 years1952 to 1968

Genres

Drama63%, 5 films
Thriller50%, 4 films
Crime25%, 2 films
Horror25%, 2 films
Action13%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
In 1949 Napier took the lead in a live BBC television version of H. G. Wells' The Time Machine. Of that production, only still photographs remain.
A first
Napier appeared more often than anyone else in the Scotland Yard short films made for British cinemas. He was Inspector Harmer in two of them, then DI Duggan in thirteen more.
Beyond film
Napier's stage work included a 1936 production of T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral, staged at The Old Vic before it moved to Broadway.

Russell Napier movies on Netflix

Nobody Runs Forever1968IMDb rating 6.1as Leeds
The Blood Beast Terror1968IMDb rating 5.2as Landlord
Twisted Nerve1968IMDb rating 7.0as Professor Fuller
It!1967IMDb rating 5.6as Boss
Man in the Middle1964IMDb rating 6.6as Colonel Thompson
The Angry Silence1960IMDb rating 7.2as Thompson
The Saint's Return1953IMDb rating 5.8as Col. Stafford
Stolen Face1952IMDb rating 6.1as Det. Cutler

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Angry Silence1960 Dramaas Thompson
IMDb rating 7.21.7K votes
Stolen Face1952 Crime, Drama, Thrilleras Det. Cutler
IMDb rating 6.11.5K votes
The Blood Beast Terror1968as Landlord
IMDb rating 5.22.4K votes
Twisted Nerve1968as Professor Fuller
IMDb rating 7.02.9K votes
Nobody Runs Forever1968as Leeds
IMDb rating 6.11.1K votes
It!1967as Boss
IMDb rating 5.61.8K votes
Man in the Middle1964as Colonel Thompson
IMDb rating 6.61.1K votes
The Saint's Return1953as Col. Stafford
IMDb rating 5.8303 votes

Worked with

Russell Napier shares two films with Paul Maxwell, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Paul Maxwell

Christopher Plummer

Robert Mitchum

Peter Cushing

Roddy McDowall

Keenan WynnRoy BoultingDirector, 1 film Vernon SewellDirector, 1 film Herbert J. LederDirector, 1 film

Films together

Paul Maxwell2 films together, 1964 to 1967
Paul Maxwell's page
- It!1967IMDb rating 5.6Napier as BossMaxwell as Jim Perkins
- Man in the Middle1964IMDb rating 6.6Napier as Colonel ThompsonMaxwell as Major Smith
Christopher Plummer1 film together, 1968
Christopher Plummer's page
- Nobody Runs Forever1968IMDb rating 6.1Napier as LeedsPlummer as Sir James Quentin
Robert Mitchum1 film together, 1964
Robert Mitchum's page
- Man in the Middle1964IMDb rating 6.6Napier as Colonel ThompsonMitchum as Lt. Col. Barney Adams
Peter Cushing1 film together, 1968
Peter Cushing's page
- The Blood Beast Terror1968IMDb rating 5.2Napier as LandlordCushing as Detective Inspector Quennell
Roddy McDowall1 film together, 1967
Roddy McDowall's page
- It!1967IMDb rating 5.6Napier as BossMcDowall as Arthur Pimm
Keenan Wynn1 film together, 1964
Keenan Wynn's page
- Man in the Middle1964IMDb rating 6.6Napier as Colonel ThompsonWynn as Lieut. Winston
Roy BoultingDirector, 1 film, 1968
All films by Roy Boulting
- Twisted Nerve1968IMDb rating 7.0Napier as Professor Fuller
Vernon SewellDirector, 1 film, 1968
All films by Vernon Sewell
- The Blood Beast Terror1968IMDb rating 5.2Napier as Landlord
Herbert J. LederDirector, 1 film, 1967
All films by Herbert J. Leder
- It!1967IMDb rating 5.6Napier as Boss

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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