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Willie Best (1916–1962)

Actor | Soundtrack

One of the hard-working, unappreciated African-American actors of Hollywood's "Golden Era" who produced good work with what he was given. He starred alongside some of film's great comedians including the Marx Brothers, Bob Hope, Laurel and Hardy and three films with Shirley Temple. In addition to being a talented comedian and character actor... See full bio »

Born:

in Sunflower, Mississippi, USA

Died:

(age 45) in Hollywood, California, USA
6 videos | 5 news articles »

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Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel -- This reel contains Christopher performing in Film and Television. The clips included are from the following: "The Boundary", "The Wire", "Duplicity", "Law & Order(SVU)", "Michael Clayton", "Cost Of A Soul", "HEROES" and "Law & Order (CI)".

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel

Melanie Molnar - Reel -- No description provided.

Melanie Molnar - Reel

Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

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Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

Francine Locke Film Reel

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama


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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (122 titles)
1950-1955 The Stu Erwin Show (TV series)
Willie / Willie, The Handyman / Beanie / …
– The Pearl Necklace (1955) … Willie the Handyman (credit only)
– The French Influence (1955) … Willie, The Handyman
– Father Becomes Efficient (1955) … Willie
– The Uninvited Guests (1955) … Willie
– Puppy Love (1954) … Willie
See all 35 episodes »
 
1952-1955 My Little Margie (TV series)
Charlie / Willie / Elevator Boy / …
– Corpus Delicti (1955) … Charlie
– The Unexpected Guest (1955) … Charlie
– Operation Rescue (1954) … Charlie
– The All American (1954) … Charly
– Kangaroo Story (1954) … Charlie
See all 22 episodes »
 
1954-1955 Waterfront (TV series)
Billy Slocum / Willie Slocum
– Beached (1955) … Billy Slocum
– Captain for a Day (1955) … Billy Slocum
– The Hideout (1955) … Billy Slocum
– The Rivals (1955) … Billy Slocum
– The Seal (1955) … Billy Slocum
See all 29 episodes »
 
1951-1952 Racket Squad (TV series)
Cleaning Man / Janitor
– The Christmas Caper (1952) … Janitor
– The Case of the Widow's Mite (1951) … Cleaning Man
 
1951 Mark Saber (TV series)
– The Case of the Snowman Murder (1951)
 
1951 South of Caliente
Willie, Stable Boy
 
1950 High and Dizzy (short)
Wesley
 
1949 Jiggs and Maggie in Jackpot Jitters
Willie (uncredited)
 
1948 Smart Woman
Train Porter (uncredited)
 
1948 Half Past Midnight
Andy Jones, nightclub janitor
 
1947 The Red Stallion
Jackson
 
1947 Suddenly It's Spring
Porter on Train
 
1946 Dangerous Money
Chattanooga Brown
 
1946 No Leave, No Love
Piano Delivery Man (uncredited)
 
1946 The Bride Wore Boots
Joe
 
1946 The Face of Marble
Shadrach
 
1945 The Red Dragon
Chattanooga Brown
 
1945 She Wouldn't Say Yes
Porter (uncredited)
 
1945 Hold That Blonde
Willie Shelley
 
1945 Pillow to Post
Lucille, Colonial Auto Court Porter
 
1945 The Monster and the Ape
Flash
 
1944 Music for Millions
Red Cap (uncredited)
 
1944 The Mark of the Whistler
Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
 
1944 The Girl Who Dared
Woodrow
 
1944 Home in Indiana
Mo' Rum (uncredited)
 
1944 The Adventures of Mark Twain
George (uncredited)
 
1943 Thank Your Lucky Stars
Soldier in 'Ice Cold Katy' Number (uncredited)
 
1943 The Kansan
Bones
 
1943 Dixie
Steward (uncredited)
 
1943 Cabin in the Sky
Second Idea Man
 
1943 Cinderella Swings It
Hipp
 
1943 The Powers Girl
Men's Room Attendant (uncredited)
 
1942 The Hidden Hand
Eustis the Chauffeur
 
1942 Scattergood Survives a Murder
Hipp
 
1942 Busses Roar
Sunshine
 
1942 A-Haunting We Will Go
Waiter
 
1942 Maisie Gets Her Man
Sam, Room Service Waiter (uncredited)
 
1942 Juke Girl
Jo-Mo
 
1942 Whispering Ghosts
Euclid White Brown
 
1941 The Body Disappears
William 'Willie'
 
1941 Nothing But the Truth
Samuel
 
1941 Minstrel Days (short)
Singer
 
1941 The Smiling Ghost
Clarence
 
1941 Highway West
Bub Wellington
 
1941 Kisses for Breakfast
Arnold
 
1941 The Lady from Cheyenne
George
 
1941 Scattergood Baines
Hipp
 
1941 Road Show
Willie
 
1941 Flight from Destiny
George
 
1941 West of the Rockies (short)
 
1941 High Sierra
Algernon
 
1940 Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
Andrew
 
1940 Money and the Woman
George Washington Jones, Dave's Servant
 
1940 The Ghost Breakers
Alex
 
1940 Blondie on a Budget
Newsboy (uncredited)
 
1940 I Take This Woman
Sambo
 
1939 Slightly Honorable
Art, the Elevator Operator (uncredited)
 
1939 Miracle on Main Street
Duke
 
1939 Private Detective
Norton's Valet
 
1939 The Covered Trailer
Baltimore
 
1939 At the Circus
Redcap (uncredited)
 
1939 Blackmail
Bunny - the Janitor (uncredited)
 
1939 Way Down South
Chimney Sweep (uncredited)
 
1939 Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
Driver (uncredited)
 
1939 Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
Apollo Johnson
 
1939 Mr. Moto in Danger Island
Launch Pilot (uncredited)
 
1939 The Saint Strikes Back
Algernon, Simon's Butler (uncredited)
 
1938 Prairie Papas (short)
 
1938 Blondie
Porter
 
1938 Spring Madness
Porter on Train (uncredited)
 
1938 Straight Place and Show
Hannibal (uncredited)
 
1938 Youth Takes a Fling
George
 
1938 A Western Welcome (short)
Cook
 
1938 I'm from the City
Train Porter (uncredited)
 
1938 Vivacious Lady
Porter
 
1938 Goodbye Broadway
Jughead
 
1938 Merrily We Live
George
 
1938 Gold Is Where You Find It
Joshua
 
1938 Everybody's Doing It
Jasper - Elevator Operator (uncredited)
 
1938 Crashing Hollywood
Train Porter (uncredited)
 
1937 Saturday's Heroes
Sam
 
1937 The Lady Fights Back
McTavish
 
1937 Super-Sleuth
Warts
 
1937 Meet the Missus
Mose, Shoe Shine Boy
 
1937 You Can't Buy Luck
Airline Porter (uncredited)
 
1937 Breezing Home
Speed (as William Best)
 
1937 Criminal Lawyer
Janitor (uncredited)
 
1937 Racing Lady
Brass
 
1937 Mississippi Moods
 
1937 Deep South (short)
 
1937 We Who Are About to Die
Airport Porter (uncredited)
 
1936 Night Waitress
Black Pedestrian (uncredited)
 
1936 General Spanky
Henry (as William Best)
 
1936 Make Way for a Lady
William Townley, Jackson's Chauffeur (uncredited)
 
1936 Thank You, Jeeves!
Drowsy
 
1936 Mummy's Boys
Catfish
 
1936 Down the Stretch
Noah (as William Best)
 
1936 The Green Pastures
Henry, the Angel (uncredited)
 
1936 The Bride Walks Out
Smokie - at marriage bureau
 
1936 Murder on a Bridle Path
'High-Pockets'
 
1936 Two in Revolt
Eph
 
1936 Silly Billies
Excitement (uncredited)
 
1936 The Lady Consents
Sam - Jim's Servant (uncredited)
 
1936 Muss 'em Up
Janitor at Spivali's Bar (uncredited)
 
1936 Dog Blight (short)
Sleepy
 
1935 The Littlest Rebel
James Henry
 
1935 To Beat the Band
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
 
1935 Annie Oakley
Second Cook (uncredited)
 
1935 Hot Tip
Apollo
 
1935 Jalna
Sam, the Janitor (uncredited)
 
1935 The Arizonian
Pompey
 
1935 The Nitwits
Sleepy
 
1935 Murder on a Honeymoon
Willie (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
 
1934 West of the Pecos
Jonah (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
 
1934 Kentucky Kernels
Buckshot (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
 
1934 Little Miss Marker
Dizzy Memphis (uncredited)
 
1932 The Monster Walks
Exodus (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
 
1931 Up Pops the Devil
Laundryman (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
 
1931 The Virtuous Husband
Luftus
 
1930 Feet First
Janitor (as Sleep 'n' Eat)
 
1930 Ladies of Leisure
George - the Elevator Operator (uncredited)
 
1930 Deep South
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (16 titles)
2012 Cuéntame (TV series)
– Sorpresas (2012) (writer: "I Love You for Sentimental Reasons")
 
2010 Desperate Housewives (TV series)
– The Glamorous Life (2010) (writer: " I Love You For Sentimental Reasons" - uncredited)
 
2002 Lovers & Leavers (writer: "Sua lemmin kuin järjetön mä oisin I Love You for Sentimental Reasons")
 
2001 What's the Worst That Could Happen? (writer: "Sentimental Reasons")
 
1998 The Parent Trap (writer: "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons" / as William Best)
 
1997 As Good as It Gets (writer: "FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS I LOVE YOU" / as William Best)
 
1994 Baadasss TV (TV series documentary)
– Pilot (1994) (music: " I Love You For Sentimental Reasons")
 
1993 The Cemetery Club (writer: "For Sentimental Reasons" / as William Best)
 
1989 Driving Miss Daisy (writer: "I LOVE YOU FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS" 1945 / as William Best)
 
1987 Slam Dance (music: "For Sentimental Reasons" / as William Best)
 
1955 Show Time at the Apollo (TV series)
– Downbeat Revue (writer: "I Love You for Sentimental Reasons")
 
1947 Sepia Cinderella (music: "Is It Right" / lyrics: "Is It Right")
 
1947 For Sentimental Reasons (short) (writer: " I Love You For Sentimental Reasons")
 
1943 Thank Your Lucky Stars (performer: "Ice Cold Katy" 1943 - uncredited)
 
1942 Maisie Gets Her Man (performer: "Happy Days Are Here Again" 1929 - uncredited)
 
1935 The Littlest Rebel (performer: "Turkey In The Straw" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (1 title)
1948 Shanghai Chest
Himself (uncredited)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (6 titles)
2004 TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (video documentary)
Himself
 
1993 Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America (TV documentary)
Willie
 
1975 Brother Can You Spare a Dime (documentary)
 
1962 World of Comedy (documentary)
Charlie
 
Waterfront (TV series)
 
1941 Breakdowns of 1941 (short)
Himself (uncredited)
 

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Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

Television actor.

Alternate Names:

William Best | Sleep 'n' Eat

Height:

6' (1.83 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

Yassuh! See more »

Trivia:

In his earliest film appearances, in the early 1930s, if he was given screen credit he was billed as "Sleep 'n' Eat". See more »

Nickname:

Sleep 'n' Eat See more »

Star Sign:

Gemini