Napoleon Whiting

Napoleon Whiting (September 21, 1910, Mississippi – October 22, 1984, Los Angeles, California),{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xqUYAQAAIAAJ|title=The Ultimate Directory of Silent and Sound Era Performers: A Necrology of Actors and Actresses|page=583|first1=Billy|last1=Doyle|first2=Anthony|last2=Slide|publisher=Scarecrow Press|date=1999|isbn=9780810835474|via=Google Books}} was an American character actor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39205152/|title='Black Samson' premieres|work=The Pittsburgh Courier|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|date=October 5, 1974|access-date=November 22, 2021|page=14|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Closed access}}

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

class="wikitable"
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 \|

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1942

| Lucky Ghost

| The Chauffeur

1942

| Professor Creeps

| Taxicab Driver

1943