Paul Napier Explained

Paul Napier
Birth Date:10 March 1930
Birth Place:Rochester, New York, United States
Death Place:Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation:Actor
Spouse:[1]

Paul Vincent Napier (March 10, 1930 – February 21, 2015) was an American actor. He had small roles in multiple television series, but was known mostly for his roles in over 400 advertisements, especially for General Motors' Certified Service program.[2]

Biography

Napier was born in Rochester, New York. He attended the Aquinas Institute and later graduated from Cornell University. Before his acting career, he worked for the Rochester Americans hockey team as promotions director and was the sports announcer for WBBF.[3] He moved to California in 1960. Napier began serving the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) as a board member in 1979, and helped establish the Screen Actors Guild Awards show first held in 1995. He was named the 2010 recipient of SAG Hollywood's Ralph Morgan Award.[4] Napier coached high school sports around Los Angeles schools during his acting career for over 50 years. Napier died in 2015 and was posthumously honored with the Aquinas Institute's Distinguished Alumnus Award that year.[5]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1966Fireball 500
1967The Born Losers
1968The Secret Life of an American Wife Herb Steinberg
1977The Hazing Detective Henderson
1986Getting Even Reynolds
1991Diplomatic Immunity Kinnick
2002Time Changer Dr. Butler

Notes and References

  1. News: Paul Napier (1930 - 2015). April 12, 2015. Los Angeles Times. Legacy.com. March 12, 2015.
  2. News: McNary. Dave. Paul Napier, Originator of ‘Mr. Goodwrench,’ Dies at 84. February 26, 2015. Variety. February 23, 2015.
  3. News: http://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/local/2015/02/24/cornell-graduate-napier-obituary/23936875/. February 24, 2015. Daneman. Matthew. Actor Paul Napier, Mr. Goodwrench, dies. February 26, 2015. Democrat & Chronicle. February 24, 2015.
  4. News: SAG-AFTRA Mourns the Death of Paul Napier. April 12, 2015. SAG-AFTRA. February 23, 2015.
  5. News: Johnson. James. Aquinas to honor actor Paul Napier at commencement. April 12, 2015. Democrat & Chronicle. February 24, 2015.