James Marshall Napier (22 October 1951 – 14 August 2022) was a New Zealand-born character actor, playwright and graphic artist. He is known for a succession of strong supporting roles in Australasian films and television shows. He has also had a notable stage career. Biography Napier grew up in the city of Lower Hutt and was educated at Hutt Valley High School. He is the father of James Reuben Napier, actress Jessica Napier, and Rose Napier. He is the uncle of film director James Napier Robertson. Before becoming an actor, Napier worked variously as a labourer, factory hand, and truck driver. He also spent a year studying graphic design at the Wellington Polytechnic. He landed his first professional acting job in 1975, at Wellington's Downstage Theatre. In 1988, he moved with his wife and two young children to Australia, hoping to further his acting career. He soon became an established name in film, theatre, and television. His play Freak Winds has been performed in Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada; other plays have been broadcast on Australia's ABC radio. Napier died from brain cancer on 14 August 2022 in Canberra at the age of 70. Theatre A partial list of his theatre credits follows. For Sydney Theatre Company: The Present (2016–2017) (Chekhov's Platonov adapted by Andrew Upton) With: Cate Blanchett, Richard Roxburgh, Toby Schmitz, Jacqueline McKenzie. The production opened in Sydney and toured to Broadway. – Ivan In the Next Room – Mr Daldry The Herbal Bed – Dr John Hall Simpatico – Carter For Belvoir Theatre: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2013) – Big Daddy The Power of Yes – Various A View from the Bridge – Eddie Carbone Diving for Pearls – Den For Melbourne Theatre Company: Frost/Nixon – Nixon The Birthday Party – Goldberg For Old Fitzroy Theatre: Freak Winds – Ernest Angel City – Wheeler The Schelling Point – Kubrick For Q Theatre: Waiting for Godot – Vladimir For Darlinghurst Theatre: All My Sons – Joe Keller For Griffin Theatre: Speaking in Tongues – Leon/Nick All Souls – Joe Other: Marat/Sade – Jaques Roux The Duchess of Malfi – Ferdinand Twelfth Night – Sir Toby Belch The Dumb Waiter – Ben The Tooth of Crime – Hoss Ubu Roi – Captain MacNure Happy Birthday Wanda June – Colonel 'Looseleaf' Harper His play Freak Winds was produced in 2006 in New York's Upper West Side.