Charles Lewis Napier (April 12, 1936 â€" October 5, 2011) was an
American character actor in film and television known for his prolific
career playing memorable supporting and leading roles in genre cinema,
often in the role of a police officer, soldier, or authority figure.
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. 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 the critically acclaimed drama Philadelphia, comedy Married to the
Mob, historical horror-drama Beloved, the political-thriller remake
The Manchurian Candidate, and the Best Picture-winning psychological
horror film adaptation The Silence of the Lambs.Other notable roles
include the short-tempered country singer Tucker McElroy in The Blues
Brothers, gruff army Commander Gilmour in Austin Powers: International
Man of Mystery, and bureaucratic CIA officer Marshall Murdock in
Rambo: First Blood Part II. He also had numerous voiceover roles in
television, most notably the character of Duke Phillips on the prime
time animated sitcom The Critic and Agent Zed on Men in Black: The
Series.Napier was born in Mt. Union, Kentucky near Scottsville. His
parents were Sara Lena (née Loafman; 1897â€"1974) and Linus Pitts
Napier (1888â€"1991). After graduating from high school, he enlisted
in the United States Army in 1954, serving with the 11th Airborne
Division and rising to the rank of sergeant.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 JFK Junior High School.
American character actor in film and television known for his prolific
career playing memorable supporting and leading roles in genre cinema,
often in the role of a police officer, soldier, or authority figure.
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. 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 the critically acclaimed drama Philadelphia, comedy Married to the
Mob, historical horror-drama Beloved, the political-thriller remake
The Manchurian Candidate, and the Best Picture-winning psychological
horror film adaptation The Silence of the Lambs.Other notable roles
include the short-tempered country singer Tucker McElroy in The Blues
Brothers, gruff army Commander Gilmour in Austin Powers: International
Man of Mystery, and bureaucratic CIA officer Marshall Murdock in
Rambo: First Blood Part II. He also had numerous voiceover roles in
television, most notably the character of Duke Phillips on the prime
time animated sitcom The Critic and Agent Zed on Men in Black: The
Series.Napier was born in Mt. Union, Kentucky near Scottsville. His
parents were Sara Lena (née Loafman; 1897â€"1974) and Linus Pitts
Napier (1888â€"1991). After graduating from high school, he enlisted
in the United States Army in 1954, serving with the 11th Airborne
Division and rising to the rank of sergeant.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 JFK Junior High School.
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