Charles Napier is a big, square jawed actor best known for being a favourite of Russ Meyer and Jonathan Demme, and playing opposite Sylvester Stallone in Rambo: First Blood Part 2. That latter movie was his big break - it didn't seem to kick on to bigger roles, though he appears to have enjoyed steady employment.
In his memoirs he talks an awful lot about drinking and getting into escapades with police - like, all the time. Maybe that's what held his career back. Or maybe there was a limit to what his talent could achieve. Still, it was a decent enough resume at the end of the day.
This book was quite enjoyable. My favourite was his story about showing up a snobby Gregory Peck (Napier was mobbed by kids because of his BJ and the Bear fame, to Peck's annoyance). There's also tales of being hired by Alfred Hitchcock, working with Russ Meyer and Demme, lobbying ferociously to beat out an already cast Lee Marvin in Rambo, growing up a redneck in Kentucky, boozing it up with Rod Taylor, paying bills working as a trucking journalist. He's vague on his romantic/family life - it was a surprise to read that he was married and had kids.
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