Posted on 10/06/2011 5:22:37 AM PDT by YourAdHere
The actor, who was known for tough-guy roles, also appeared in "Philadelphia," "Silence of the Lambs" and "Rambo: First Blood II."
Charles Napier, an actor who was known for his tough-guy roles in movies like Blues Brothers, died Wednesday afternoon at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, according to reports. He was 75.
The actor was reportedly found sometime Tuesday morning in his Bakersfield home after having collapsed and was taken to the hospital, where he was put on life support in the intensive care unit. Around 1 p.m. Wednesday, he was taken off life support.
The cause of death is unclear, but Napier was previously admitted to the hospital in May 2010 to treat blood clots in his legs.
Napier was born April 12, 1936, in Allen County, Ky., to a tobacco farmer and homemaker. After graduating high school, he joined the Army before moving to Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. He worked as a substitute teacher and reportedly became friends with Jack Nicholson, who helped find him an agent.
His first part was a small role in the TV series Mission: Impossible, and he went on to appear in such shows as Kojak, Baretta and Rockford Files.
But it was in 1980's Blues Brothers that Napier found the role that would make earn him recognition. The actor played Tucker McElroy in the movie, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, and reportedly would get stopped by fans quoting his memorable line: "You're gonna look pretty funny trying to eat corn on the cob with no f---ing teeth."
Napier's other credits include Philadelphia, Silence of the Lambs and Rambo: First Blood II. Most recently, he voiced a role in FX's Archer and appeared in the movie The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard opposite Jeremy Piven.
Napier, who was divorced, is survived by two sons, Whit and Hunter, and a daughter, Meghan.
The originally voice (now imitated fairly well, by Bobby F. Ellerbee) of "The Sheriff," (2005-2006) on the eccentrically hilarious "Squidbillies," late night on the Cartoon Network's "AdultSwim" segment.
Napier was also the voice of Duke Phillips in the short-lived but brilliant animated series “The Critic”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHw4_oPJ6s8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiguDe8ZZQQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzYNByTu1eg
ping
RIP, and thanks for your service.
I believe he was in Beyond the Valley of The Dolls.
He also played the guard who has his face cut off and worn by Hannible Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, facilitating his escape.
Loved this guy ! RIP.
I liked him. RIP, Mr. Napier.
Loved him as the a-hole bureaucrat in Rambo: First Blood Part II.
Another “that guy”. Instantly recognizable. RIP.
He was. And if you don’t blink Pam Grier was in the house party scene as well.
Real women in that flick!
I like Chuck in the underrated (even though Arec Barwin was in it) “Miami Blues”.
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