He looked damn good in 2005. RIP Charles!
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.
LOL That’s the episode the Occupy Wall street protestors get their inspiration.
A role that was written and played to T, accurately, a type we meet in society many times. Not so much the “hippy”, but the smiling charming con man inviting us to join HIS house of delights.
It probably won’t get a lot of ‘play’ while fans mourn his passing but ...
Napier was infamously connected to the classic soft-porn entrepreneur Russ Meyers with starring / featured roles in “Harry, Cherry and Raquel”, “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” and “Supervixens”. For a time, THAT was what he was most noted for. He seemed to spend a long time recovering his ‘credibility’ as a ‘legitimate actor’ after that.
His acting ‘style’ could most charitably be described as unselfconsciously wooden to limply slapstick with very little gradation in between. Sometimes you wondered if he was overindulging in self-parody.
I recall him as some kind of air-head ‘hippy’ in a Star Trek TOS episode with Skip Homeier as a Svengali professor leading his merry band ‘Back to Eden’. ( BTW: That episode was actually most notorious for the remarkable ‘new-age’ jam session featuring Spock and the hippies. Incredible stuff ... )
21stCenturion
“Hey, out there....hey out there. I see you - I see you!”
BAH HA HA HA>.....just made this photo of the space hippee my Facebook profile!
Rambo: Murdock... I'm coming to get you!
Oh, the look on his face after Stallone said that was just pure fear.
EXCELLENT actor. He will be missed.
He looked damn good in 2005. RIP Charles!
Yup-—he sure did look good.
Those brilliant teeth of his gave him so much character.
*Sigh* These things always happen in 3’s don’t they. First Don Lapre. And if that wasn’t bad enough, now Steve Jobs and Charles Napier.
ha thats awesome good choice
We reach, brother. You are not Herbert.
LOL!!!
I forgot that line....
Yeah, that out-thrust jaw always made him a standout character. He will always live in my mind in that part because of that bit he did after Bones had examined him.
Every time I hit the VA for my semi-annual exam, the wife stays in the reception area. After the exam, she'll ask how I did. I take an Al Jolsom "Mammy!" stance and repeat
"Gonna crack my knuckles and jump for joy
Got a clean bill 'o health from Doc McCoy!"
Those who look up try not to make eye contact but once, in all these years, one younger guy said "You reach, brother".
RIP, Brother.
Do you think he’s found Eden?
ping
“We’re the Good Ole Blues Brothers Boys.”
THAT’S where I know him from. Damn, that’s sad. Good actor.
Someone had better contact Russ.
¨Hell, you´ve got all the police you´ll ever need.¨
RIP
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