Napoleon Whiting

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Napoleon Whiting (September 21, 1910, Mississippi – October 22, 1984, Los Angeles, California),[1] was an American character actor.[2]

He played many bit parts, often uncredited, as a menial worker such as the African American butler, a stereotypical role. He also appeared as the butler in Giant (1956).

Whiting was best known to television audiences for his work as Silas on The Big Valley, a typecast but highly visible role.

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1942 Lucky Ghost The Chauffeur
1942 Professor Creeps Taxicab Driver
1943 Spy Train Club Car Porter
1943 Riding High Red Cap Uncredited
1945 The Falcon in San Francisco Pullman Porter Uncredited
1946 Centennial Summer Red Cap Uncredited
1947 Born to Kill Train Porter Uncredited
1948 The Bride Goes Wild Porter Uncredited
1948 The Big Clock Bootblack Uncredited
1950 A Woman of Distinction Porter Uncredited
1950 Mystery Street Red Cap Uncredited
1950 My Friend Irma Goes West The Waiter Uncredited
1951 The Tall Target Hawker Uncredited
1952 The Narrow Margin Red Cap Uncredited
1956 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Tony Season 1 Episode 15: "The Big Switch"
1956 Giant Jefferson Swazey
1957 The Tattered Dress Willie, The Porter Uncredited
1957 The Helen Morgan Story Napoleon, Wade's Butler Uncredited
1959 Imitation of Life Kenneth, Lora's Butler Uncredited
1959 It Happened to Jane Eugene, The Waiter
1959 Don't Give Up the Ship Porter Uncredited
1959 Career Bellhop Uncredited
1963 Wall of Noise Preacher
1963 Living Between Two Worlds Reverend Williamson
1963 4 for Texas The Waiter Uncredited
1964 Kisses for My President The Usher Uncredited
1965 Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion Villager #2
1966 Chamber of Horrors Servant Uncredited
1967 Hotel The Waiter Uncredited
1970 There Was a Crooked Man... Lomax Servant Uncredited
1971 Skin Game Ned
1974 Busting Rizzo's Butler
1974 Black Samson Henry "Old Henry"
1975 Farewell, My Lovely The Hotel Clerk
1975 Fugitive Lovers Arthur, The Valet
1978 Every Girl Should Have One Napoleon

References[edit]

  1. ^ Doyle, Billy; Slide, Anthony (1999). The Ultimate Directory of Silent and Sound Era Performers: A Necrology of Actors and Actresses. Scarecrow Press. p. 583. ISBN 9780810835474 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "'Black Samson' premieres". The Pittsburgh Courier. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. October 5, 1974. p. 14. Retrieved November 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon

External links[edit]