Paul Napier obit

Paul Napier, Originator of ‘Mr. Goodwrench,’ Dies at 84

 

He was not on the list.

Paul Napier, who originated the Mr. Goodwrench character for General Motors, died Saturday. He was 84. Details of his death were not immediately available.

Napier broke into show business as a hockey announcer in Rochester, N.Y., and a broadcaster for WBBF radio. He moved to California in 1960.

Napier had more than 400 commercial credits along with TV credits on “Kojak,” “Knots Landing,” “L.A. Law,” “Taxi,” Coach” and “Dynasty,” on which he had a recurring role as a gardener.

Napier was also active in the Screen Actors Guild, serving 26 times as a member of a negotiating committee on national contracts, and he chaired the L.A. representatives committee in the commercials contract bargaining in 2009.

Napier was also one of the founding members and producers of the SAG Awards show and served on the awards committee for two decades.

He served on the AFTRA board for almost three decades. Napier was also a longtime member of SAG’s National Honors and Tributes Committee and was among the members who selected Life Achievement recipients.

In 2010, he was selected to receive SAG’s Ralph Morgan Award for service from its Hollywood division.

“Paul’s successful acting career is just one facet of a deeply engaged and engaging person,” said SAG-AFTRA president Ken Howard. “Whether it was dedication to coaching youth sports, serving fellow union members or helping  to create our highly respected awards show, everything Paul touched was better for his involvement. He gave so much to SAG-AFTRA and to his fellow members. Our deepest condolences go out to his wonderful wife Marie, his children and grandchildren and his many friends and fans.”

 

Actor

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8.1

Video Game

The Geezer (voice)

2013

 

Dishonored (2012)

Dishonored

8.4

Video Game

The Geezer - The Brigmore Witches DLC (voice)

2012

 

Old Grace

Short

'Big' Jack Leland

2008

 

Rogue Galaxy (2005)

Rogue Galaxy

8.1

Video Game

Sebastian (English version, voice)

2005

 

Time Changer (2002)

Time Changer

5.3

Dr. Butler

2002

 

Scott Baio, Matthew Modine, Charles Durning, Louise Fletcher, Ben Gazzara, Martin Landau, Billy Drago, Jack McGee, Patrick Renna, and Burt Young in Very Mean Men (2000)

Very Mean Men

5.9

TV Host

2000

 

SeaQuest 2032 (1993)

SeaQuest 2032

6.7

TV Series

Head #4

1994

1 episode

 

Bloodlines: Murder in the Family (1993)

Bloodlines: Murder in the Family

5.7

TV Movie

Claims Adjuster

1993

 

Shelley Fabares, Craig T. Nelson, Bill Fagerbakke, Kenneth Kimmins, and Jerry Van Dyke in Coach (1989)

Coach

7.0

TV Series

Concierge

1993

2 episodes

 

Elizabeth Berkley, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Dustin Diamond, Mario Lopez, and Lark Voorhies in Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style (1992)

Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style

6.1

TV Movie

Mr. Sarpa

1992

 

Diplomatic Immunity (1991)

Diplomatic Immunity

4.6

Kinnick

1991

 

Carol & Company (1990)

Carol & Company

7.3

TV Series

Harry Logan

1991

1 episode

 

Eileen Davidson, Bryton James, Joshua Morrow, Gina Tognoni, Justin Hartley, Melissa Claire Egan, and Peter Bergman in The Young and the Restless (1973)

The Young and the Restless

5.3

TV Series

Ron Weaver (credit only)

1990

1 episode

 

Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer in Hunter (1984)

Hunter

6.9

TV Series

Ted Holmby

1990

1 episode

 

Dragnet (1989)

Dragnet

5.6

TV Series

1990

1 episode

 

Stephanie Beacham in Sister Kate (1989)

Sister Kate

6.7

TV Series

Doctor

1989

1 episode

 

When We Were Young (1989)

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6.0

TV Movie

1989

 

L.A. Law (1986)

L.A. Law

7.1

TV Series

Leonard Kaiser

1989

1 episode

 

Robin Wright, Judith Anderson, Valorie Armstrong, Melissa Reeves, Robert Alan Browne, Paul Burke, Ismael 'East' Carlo, Margarita Cordova, Nicolas Coster, Lane Davies, Richard Eden, Gina Gallego, Linda Gibboney, Andrea Howard, Ava Lazar, A Martinez, Todd McKee, John Allen Nelson, Rupert Ravens, Julie Ronnie, Kerry Sherman, Louise Sorel, Jonna Leigh Stack, Marcy Walker, and Dane Witherspoon in Santa Barbara (1984)

Santa Barbara

5.7

TV Series

Lawyer

1987

1 episode

 

Falcon Crest (1981)

Falcon Crest

6.2

TV Series

Philip Gates

1987

1 episode

 

Donna Mills, Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, Constance McCashin, John Pleshette, and Ted Shackelford in Knots Landing (1979)

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6.9

TV Series

Senator Henderson

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1986

3 episodes

 

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4.4

Reynolds

1986

 

Robert Kennedy and His Times (1985)

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7.4

TV Mini Series

Mayor

1985

3 episodes

 

Joan Collins in Her Life as a Man (1984)

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5.8

TV Movie

Nat Rogers

1984

 

Days of Our Lives (1965)

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5.2

TV Series

Dr. Simon Roscoe

Mr. Weber

1968–1983

3 episodes

 

Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Jeff Conaway, Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman, and Judd Hirsch in Taxi (1978)

Taxi

7.7

TV Series

Mr. Blount

1983

1 episode

 

Victoria Principal, Barbara Bel Geddes, Patrick Duffy, Larry Hagman, Charlene Tilton, Jim Davis, Linda Gray, and Steve Kanaly in Dallas (1978)

Dallas

7.1

TV Series

Accountant

1982

1 episode

 

Stand by Your Man (1981)

Stand by Your Man

6.5

TV Movie

Dr. Harris

1981

 

Dynasty (1981)

Dynasty

6.4

TV Series

Leon

1981

2 episodes

 

Melissa Sue Anderson, Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Richard Bull, Sidney Greenbush, Jonathan Gilbert, Rachel Lindsay Greenbush, and Katherine MacGregor in Little House on the Prairie (1974)

Little House on the Prairie

7.5

TV Series

Sorrell Crane

1980

1 episode

 

Tom Berenger in Flesh & Blood (1979)

Flesh & Blood

6.4

TV Movie

Television Reporter

1979

 

Hart to Hart (1979)

Hart to Hart

6.7

TV Series

Sam Roberts

1979

1 episode

 

Ike: The War Years (1979)

Ike: The War Years

7.0

TV Mini Series

Correspondent

1979

1 episode

 

Kojak (1973)

Kojak

7.1

TV Series

Joseph Yardley

1978

1 episode

 

The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse (1977)

The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse

5.4

Detective Henderson

1977

 

Carroll O'Connor in The Last Hurrah (1977)

The Last Hurrah

7.1

TV Movie

Collins

1977

 

Alan Alda in Kill Me If You Can (1977)

Kill Me If You Can

7.4

TV Movie

1st Reporter

1977

 

Westside Medical (1977)

Westside Medical

6.6

TV Series

1977

1 episode

 

SST: Death Flight (1977)

SST: Death Flight

4.1

TV Movie

Eddy

1977

 

Susan Clark in Amelia Earhart (1976)

Amelia Earhart

6.6

TV Movie

2nd Reporter

1976

 

Teresa Graves in Get Christie Love! (1974)

Get Christie Love!

6.4

TV Series

Ticket Agent

1975

1 episode

 

David Hartman in Lucas Tanner (1974)

Lucas Tanner

6.9

TV Series

Dr. Margolis

1974

1 episode

 

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969)

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

6.9

TV Series

Reporter

1972

1 episode

 

The Bold Ones: The Senator (1970)

The Bold Ones: The Senator

7.9

TV Series

Times Reporter

1970

1 episode

 

The Bold Ones: The Lawyers (1969)

The Bold Ones: The Lawyers

7.1

TV Series

George Scharf

Harlen Woods

1970

2 episodes

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

1969

1 episode

 

The Mothers-In-Law (1967)

The Mothers-In-Law

7.2

TV Series

Mr. Smith

Ranger Sutton

Phone Man ...

1967–1969

4 episodes

 

The Boston Strangler (1968)

The Boston Strangler

7.1

Technician (uncredited)

1968

 

Walter Matthau and Edy Williams in The Secret Life of an American Wife (1968)

The Secret Life of an American Wife

5.5

Herb Steinberg

1968

 

The Felony Squad (1966)

The Felony Squad

7.5

TV Series

Reporter #1

Reporter

Cal

1967–1968

3 episodes

 

The Born Losers (1967)

The Born Losers

5.9

1967

 

Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Fabian, and Julie Parrish in Fireball 500 (1966)

Fireball 500

5.1

1966

 

Road Rebels (1964)

Road Rebels

1964

 

Producer

19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2013)

19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

6.7

TV Special

producer: SAG-AFTRA

2013

 

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18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

4.8

TV Special

SAG producer

2012

 

17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

5.6

TV Special

producer: Screen Actors Guild

2011

 

16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2010)

16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

6.8

TV Special

producer: Screen Actors Guild

2010

 

15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2009)

15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

5.7

TV Special

producer: Screen Actors Guild

2009

 

14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2008)

14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

6.6

TV Special

SAG producer

2008

 

13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2007)

13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

6.1

TV Special

SAG producer

2007

 

12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2006)

12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

7.6

TV Special

producer: SAG

2006

 

James Garner in 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2005)

11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

6.4

TV Special

producer: SAG

2005

 

10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)

10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

6.9

TV Special

producer: SAG

2004

 

Daniel Day-Lewis in 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2003)

9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

6.6

TV Special

producer: SAG

2003

 

8th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2002)

8th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

4.7

TV Special

producer: SAG

2002

 

David Boreanaz in Angel (1999)

7th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

6.2

TV Special

producer: SAG

2001

 

6th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2000)

6th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

3.9

TV Special

producer: SAG

2000

 

5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (1999)

5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

3.5

TV Special

producer: SAG

1999

 

2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (1996)

2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

5.4

TV Special

producer: SAG

1996

 

1st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

3.9

TV Special

producer: SAG

1995