Charles Napier 1936 - 2011

The Weekend Drive-In remembers the great Charles Napier. Tough guy actor Napier died this week at the age of 75.

Napier's filmography is pretty extensive. It includes both big budget and B-grade drive-in movies including Russ Meyer's "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls,""Rambo,""Silence of the Lambs" and many others. He also lent his rugged voice to several animated series including "Superman: The Animated Series."

His versatile talents also found their way to the small screen. Trekkies will always remember him as space hippie Adam in "Star Trek." That was my earliest memory of the great Napier, but I also recall him as bad guy Hammer in short-lived trucker show "B.J.and the Bear." I also can't forget that he provided the growls on "The Incredible Hulk" series.

So long, Charles! If the Weekend Drive-in ever starts a Hall of Fame, you will be among its first inductees.