MarshallNapier
- Actor
Marshall Napier's run of memorable supporting roles included classic films Came a Hot Friday and The Navigator. He starred in Bellbird, The Lie of the Land and 1995 teleplay Swimming Lessons. A move to Australia in the 1980s saw turns in hit movie Babe and TV shows Police Rescue and McLeod’s Daughters. In 2006 Napier took his play Freak Winds to New York, after a sellout run in Australia. He died in August 2022.
Screenography
Biography
Actor Marshall Napier became a familiar face in 1980s New Zealand, usually playing men on different sides of the law who knew how to intimidate when needed. He'd always been drawn to character parts.
“When I was about 15, a black and white film called Hatter's Castle screened on TV," said Napier. "It ends with Robert Newton ranting insanely inside a burning house. My mother pointed at him and said: 'He was a very famous character actor.' I'd never heard that expression before, and I remember thinking: 'That's the kind of actor I'd like to be.'’
Awards
2021 AFIN International Film Festival (Australia)
Nominated for Best Australian Actor: for Earl's Town
1992 Australian Film Institute Awards
Nominated for Best Performance in a Leading Role - Television Drama: for Police Rescue
“I've played a ridiculous number of cops and criminals over the years. It just seemed to happen...I was fine with it — they're character roles and I'm a character actor. It's not that I identify with these guys, but there's definitely a cathartic thrill attached to playing some of these parts. Like most actors though, my ultimate goal is to play as wide a range of characters as possible.”
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