Russell Napier
Russell Gordon Napier was an Australian actor.
Biography
Russell Napier was born in Perth, Western Australia. Originally a lawyer, Napier was active as an actor on the stage as early as 1936; on the screen, from 1947 to 1974, playing both comedic and dramatic roles in both cinema and television. He starred in a live BBC television production of H. G. Wells' The Time Machine in 1949; only still photographs of this production survive.
Napier also acted on stage, and in 1936 appeared in a production of T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral at The Old Vic, which later transferred to Broadway.
He was the most frequent star of the Scotland Yard series of short films originally released from 1953 to 1961 for screenings in British cinemas, playing Inspector Harmer in two films, and then DI Duggan in thirteen others. The series was aired in the United States by the American Broadcasting Company from 1957.
He was the commentator of the official 1962 TV documentary The Hole in the Ground, about the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation and he appeared as Doctor Green in the UFO 1970 TV series episode "A Question of Priorities". He died in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England.
Selected filmography
The End of the River – The PadreDeath of an Angel – Supt. WalshawBlind Man's Bluff – StevensStolen Face – Det. CutlerBlack Orchid – Inspector MarkhamThe Saint's Return – Col. Stafford36 Hours – Detective at Ann's Apartment Conflict of Wings – Wing Cmdr. RogersThe Unholy Four – Insp. TreherneCompanions in Crime The Brain Machine – Inspector DurhamLittle Red Monkey – Supt. John HarringtonThe Blue Peter – Raymound CurtisA Time to Kill – Inspector SimmonsThe Narrowing Circle – Sir Henry DimmockThe Man in the Road – Scotland Yard Supt. DavidA Town Like Alice – Jack Burns Je plaide non-coupable – Inspector HobsonThe Last Man to Hang? – Detective Sgt. BoltonThe Shiralee – ParkerRobbery Under Arms – Banker GreenA Night to Remember – Capt. Stanley Lord – CalifornianTread Softly Stranger – PotterThe Son of Robin Hood – Squire MilesThe Witness – Inspector RosewarneSink the Bismarck! – Air Vice-Marshal The Angry Silence – ThompsonHell Is a City – SuperintendentThe Mark – Second Plain Clothes OfficerFrancis of Assisi – Brother EliasH.M.S. Defiant – Flag CaptainMix Me a Person – PC JarroldMan in the Middle – Col. J.H. ThompsonIt! – BossThe Blood Beast Terror – LandlordNobody Runs Forever – LeedsTwisted Nerve – Professor FullerThe Black Windmill – Admiral Ballantyne