Russell Napier was born in Perth, Western Australia. Originally a lawyer, Napier was active as an actor on the stage as early as 1936; on the screen, from 1947 to 1974, playing both comedic and dramatic roles in both cinema and television. Notably, he starred in a liveBBC television production of H. G. Wells' The Time Machine in 1949; still photographs of this production exist, but no actual footage.

• The Angry Silence (1960)

  
• The Shiralee (1957)

  
• The Stranger Came Home (1954)

  
• Tread Softly Stranger (1958)

  
• Francis of Assisi (1961)