Napoleon Whiting (September 21, 1910, Mississippi – October 22, 1984, Los Angeles, California),[1] was an American character actor.[2]
He played many bit parts, often uncredited, as a menial worker such as the African American butler, a stereotypical role. He also appeared as the butler in Giant (1956).
Whiting was best known to television audiences for his work as Silas on The Big Valley, a typecast but highly visible role.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | Lucky Ghost | The Chauffeur | ||
| 1942 | Professor Creeps | Taxicab Driver | ||
| 1943 | Spy Train | Club Car Porter | ||
| 1943 | Riding High | Red Cap | Uncredited | |
| 1945 | The Falcon in San Francisco | Pullman Porter | Uncredited | |
| 1946 | Centennial Summer | Red Cap | Uncredited | |
| 1947 | Born to Kill | Train Porter | Uncredited | |
| 1948 | The Bride Goes Wild | Porter | Uncredited | |
| 1948 | The Big Clock | Bootblack | Uncredited | |
| 1950 | A Woman of Distinction | Porter | Uncredited | |
| 1950 | Mystery Street | Red Cap | Uncredited | |
| 1950 | My Friend Irma Goes West | The Waiter | Uncredited | |
| 1951 | The Tall Target | Hawker | Uncredited | |
| 1952 | The Narrow Margin | Red Cap | Uncredited | |
| 1956 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Tony | Season 1 Episode 15: "The Big Switch" | |
| 1956 | Giant | Jefferson Swazey | ||
| 1957 | The Tattered Dress | Willie, The Porter | Uncredited | |
| 1957 | The Helen Morgan Story | Napoleon, Wade's Butler | Uncredited | |
| 1959 | Imitation of Life | Kenneth, Lora's Butler | Uncredited | |
| 1959 | It Happened to Jane | Eugene, The Waiter | ||
| 1959 | Don't Give Up the Ship | Porter | Uncredited | |
| 1959 | Career | Bellhop | Uncredited | |
| 1963 | Wall of Noise | Preacher | ||
| 1963 | Living Between Two Worlds | Reverend Williamson | ||
| 1963 | 4 for Texas | The Waiter | Uncredited | |
| 1964 | Kisses for My President | The Usher | Uncredited | |
| 1965 | Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion | Villager #2 | ||
| 1966 | Chamber of Horrors | Servant | Uncredited | |
| 1967 | Hotel | The Waiter | Uncredited | |
| 1970 | There Was a Crooked Man... | Lomax Servant | Uncredited | |
| 1971 | Skin Game | Ned | ||
| 1974 | Busting | Rizzo's Butler | ||
| 1974 | Black Samson | Henry "Old Henry" | ||
| 1975 | Farewell, My Lovely | The Hotel Clerk | ||
| 1975 | Fugitive Lovers | Arthur, The Valet | ||
| 1978 | Every Girl Should Have One | Napoleon |