Marshall Napier
James Marshall Napier (born 22 October 1951) is a New Zealand-born character actor, playwright and graphic artist now living in Australia. He is known for a succession of strong supporting roles in Australasian films and television shows. He has also had a notable stage career. 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, USA and Canada; other plays have been broadcast on Australia's ABC radio. Theatre. A partial list of his theatre credits follows. For Sydney Theatre Company: For Belvoir Theatre : For Melbourne Theatre Company: For Old Fitzroy Theatre: For Q Theatre: For Darlinghurst Theatre: For Griffin Theatre: Other: His play "Freak Winds" was produced in 2006 in New York's upper west side. Activism. In 2002, he and his daughter, Jessica Napier, won $64,000 in the Australian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" for a South Australian animal rights group. Both are animal rights supporters and vegetarians.