Early Life
Napier was born in Mt. Union, Kentucky, the son of Sara Lena (née Loafman) (1897–1974) and Linus Pitts Napier (1888–1991). After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954, serving with the 11th Airborne Division and rising to the rank of sergeant.
After his service, he attended Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, graduating in 1961 with a major in art and minor in physical education. He wanted to be a basketball coach and his first job was as an assistant coach at his old high school. Soon after, he gave up coaching, eventually taking jobs with a bridge company and an advertising agency before moving to Clearwater, Florida to teach art at JFK Junior High School.
In 1964, he returned to attend graduate school at Western Kentucky where he was encouraged to pursue acting by instructor D. Russell Miller. Following some success in the local Alley Playhouse, Napier moved back to Florida where he continued to teach as well as act in community theater, eventually moving into Clearwater's Little Theatre as its live-in caretaker. During this time he also pursued another passion – painting.
Read more about this topic: Charles Napier (actor)
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