Charles Napier | Tough-guy actor, 75

Charles Napier, 75, whose granite jaw, toothy grin, and steely stare made him one of the most recognizable actors movie and TV audiences never heard of, died Wednesday at a hospital in Bakersfield, Calif.

From the dim-witted country music star John Belushi flimflammed in The Blues Brothers to the scheming military intelligence officer who matched wits with Sylvester Stallone in Rambo: First Blood II, Mr. Napier appeared in scores of films and TV shows in a career spanning more than 40 years.

His favorite role was as the judge in Philadelphia, the 1993 film that won Tom Hanks a best actor Oscar as a lawyer stricken with HIV.

His stock in trade, however, was playing steely eyed tough guys in films such as The Silence of the Lambs and even comedies such as The Blues Brothers, in which he famously threatened to knock out Belushi's teeth for asking to see his musician's union card.

- AP