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James Best (I) (1926–2015)
American character actor and teacher. Born Jewel Guy in Powderly, Kentucky, on July 26, 1926, he was orphaned at three and adopted by Armen and Essa Best, who re-named him James K. Best and raised him in Corydon, Indiana. Following high school he worked briefly as a metalworker before joining the Army during World War II in July 1944. The majority...
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Born:in Powderly, Kentucky, USADied:(age 88) in Hickory, North Carolina, USA |
Known For
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Actor (187 credits)
Actor (187 credits)
2004
The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee
(Video Game)
Sheriff Rosco. P. Coltrane (voice)
Sheriff Rosco. P. Coltrane (voice)
1991
In the Heat of the Night
(TV Series)
Nathan Bedford
Nathan Bedford
- Sweet, Sweet Blues
(1991)
... Nathan Bedford
1979-1985
The Dukes of Hazzard
(TV Series)
Sheriff Rosco Coltrane / Woody
Sheriff Rosco Coltrane / Woody
- Opening Night at the Boar's Nest
(1985)
... Sheriff Rosco Coltrane
- Enos and Daisy's Wedding
(1985)
... Sheriff Rosco Coltrane
- Strange Visitor to Hazzard
(1985)
... Sheriff Rosco Coltrane
- When You Wish Upon a Hogg
(1985)
... Sheriff Rosco Coltrane
- The Haunting of J.D. Hogg
(1985)
... Sheriff Rosco Coltrane
1983
The Dukes
(TV Series)
Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
- A Hogg in the Foggy Bogg
(1983)
... Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane (voice)
- The Dukes in Hollywood
(1983)
... Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane (voice)
- The Canadian Caper
(1983)
... Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane (voice)
- A Dickens of a Christmas
(1983)
... Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane (voice)
- The Kid from Madrid
(1983)
... Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane (voice)
1976
Gator
(unconfirmed)
1963-1969
Gunsmoke
(TV Series)
Charlie Noon / Beal / Dal Creed
Charlie Noon / Beal / Dal Creed
- Charlie Noon
(1969)
... Charlie Noon
- The Glory and the Mud
(1964)
... Beal
- With a Smile
(1963)
... Dal Creed
1967-1969
The Guns of Will Sonnett
(TV Series)
Harley Bass / Rake Hanley
Harley Bass / Rake Hanley
- Robber's Roost
(1969)
... Harley Bass
- Meeting at Devil's Fork
(1967)
... Rake Hanley
1966-1968
The Felony Squad
(TV Series)
George Collins / Arnold Wyatt
George Collins / Arnold Wyatt
- The Distant Shore
(1968)
... George Collins
- Flame Out
(1966)
... Arnold Wyatt
1966-1968
I Spy
(TV Series)
The Doctor / Sam
The Doctor / Sam
- Suitable for Framing
(1968)
... The Doctor
- Lisa
(1966)
... Sam
1961-1968
Bonanza
(TV Series)
Sheriff Vern Schaler / Page / Carl Reagan
Sheriff Vern Schaler / Page / Carl Reagan
- The Price of Salt
(1968)
... Sheriff Vern Schaler
- The Legacy
(1963)
... Page
- The Fugitive
(1961)
... Carl Reagan
1963-1966
Perry Mason
(TV Series)
Allan Winford / Martin Potter
Allan Winford / Martin Potter
- The Case of the Unwelcome Well
(1966)
... Allan Winford
- The Case of the Surplus Suitor
(1963)
... Martin Potter
1963-1965
Ben Casey
(TV Series)
Dr. Joe Sullivan / Simon Waller
Dr. Joe Sullivan / Simon Waller
- A Little Fun to Match the Sorrow
(1965)
... Dr. Joe Sullivan
- Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast
(1963)
... Simon Waller
1955-1964
Death Valley Days
(TV Series)
Jim Campbell / Jimmy Burns / Ruel Gridley / ...
Jim Campbell / Jimmy Burns / Ruel Gridley / ...
- The Hero of Fort Halleck
(1964)
... Jim Campbell
- Sixty-Seven Miles of Gold
(1964)
... Jimmy Burns
- The $275,000 Sack of Flour
(1962)
... Ruel Gridley
- Million Dollar Wedding
(1955)
... Tiny Stoker
1963-1964
Rawhide
(TV Series)
Art Fuller / Brock Quade / Willie Cain
Art Fuller / Brock Quade / Willie Cain
- Incident of El Toro
(1964)
... Art Fuller
- Incident of the Rawhiders
(1963)
... Brock Quade
- Incident at Spider Rock
(1963)
... Willie Cain
1963-1964
Temple Houston
(TV Series)
Gotch
Gotch
- Do Unto Others, Then Gallop
(1964)
... Gotch
- The Case for William Gotch
(1964)
... Gotch
- Fracas at Kiowa Flats
(1963)
... Gotch
1961-1963
The Twilight Zone
(TV Series)
Billy Ben Turner / Jeff Myrtlebank / Johnny Rob
Billy Ben Turner / Jeff Myrtlebank / Johnny Rob
- Jess-Belle
(1963)
... Billy Ben Turner
- The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank
(1962)
... Jeff Myrtlebank
- The Grave
(1961)
... Johnny Rob
1959-1962
Laramie
(TV Series)
Johnny Best / Ben Leach / Dallas
Johnny Best / Ben Leach / Dallas
- The Runaway
(1962)
... Johnny Best
- Company Man
(1960)
... Ben Leach
- The Lawbreakers
(1959)
... Dallas
1958-1961
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
(TV Series)
Bish Darby / Hennessy / Norman Frayne
Bish Darby / Hennessy / Norman Frayne
- Make My Death Bed
(1961)
... Bish Darby
- Cell 227
(1960)
... Hennessy (as James K. Best)
- Death Sentence
(1958)
... Norman Frayne
1960-1961
The Andy Griffith Show
(TV Series)
Jim Lindsey
Jim Lindsey
- The Guitar Player Returns
(1961)
... Jim Lindsey
- The Guitar Player
(1960)
... Jim Lindsey
1960-1961
Stagecoach West
(TV Series)
Mike Pardee / Jack Craig / Les Hardeen
Mike Pardee / Jack Craig / Les Hardeen
- The Dead Don't Cry
(1961)
... Mike Pardee
- The Arsonist
(1961)
... Jack Craig
- High Lonesome
(1960)
... Les Hardeen
1957-1961
Have Gun - Will Travel
(TV Series)
Roy Smith / Andy Fisher
Roy Smith / Andy Fisher
- A Quiet Night in Town: Part 2
(1961)
... Roy Smith
- A Quiet Night in Town: Part 1
(1961)
... Roy Smith
- The Long Night
(1957)
... Andy Fisher
1958-1960
Bat Masterson
(TV Series)
Danny Dakota / Joe Best
Danny Dakota / Joe Best
- Dakota Showdown
(1960)
... Danny Dakota
- Stampede at Tent City
(1958)
... Joe Best
1960
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
(TV Series)
Jovan Wilanskov
Jovan Wilanskov
- Love on Credit
(1960)
... Jovan Wilanskov
1960
The Rebel
(TV Series)
Abel Waares / Ted Evans
Abel Waares / Ted Evans
- Deathwatch
(1960)
... Abel Waares
- Night on a Rainbow
(1960)
... Ted Evans
1959-1960
Wagon Train
(TV Series)
Art Bernard / Bowman Lewis / Garth English
Art Bernard / Bowman Lewis / Garth English
- The Clayton Tucker Story
(1960)
... Art Bernard
- The Colonel Harris Story
(1960)
... Bowman Lewis
- The Andrew Hale Story
(1959)
... Garth English
1955-1959
The Lineup
(TV Series)
Rhodes / Jim Kasino
Rhodes / Jim Kasino
- Lonesome as Midnight
(1959)
... Rhodes
- The Kasino Case
(1955)
... Jim Kasino
- San Francisco Playboy
(1955)
1959
The Man and the Challenge
(TV Series)
David Mallory
David Mallory
- Maximum Capacity
(1959)
... David Mallory
1959
The David Niven Show
(TV Series)
Frank Simms / Boland
Frank Simms / Boland
- Good Deed
(1959)
... Frank Simms
- Portrait
(1959)
... Boland
1958-1959
Wanted: Dead or Alive
(TV Series)
Luke Perry / Stoner
Luke Perry / Stoner
- Six-Up to Bannach
(1959)
... Luke Perry
- Sheriff of Red Rock
(1958)
... Stoner
1957-1958
Trackdown
(TV Series)
Joe Sunday / Bud Ehlers / Rand Marple
Joe Sunday / Bud Ehlers / Rand Marple
- Sunday's Child
(1958)
... Joe Sunday
- The Mistake
(1958)
... Bud Ehlers
- The Marple Brothers
(1957)
... Rand Marple
1957
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
(TV Series)
Jack Milhoan
Jack Milhoan
- Merry-Go-Round Case
(1957)
... Jack Milhoan
1957
West Point
(TV Series)
William Purdom / Cadet Dick Mileston
William Purdom / Cadet Dick Mileston
- The Dragoon Patrol
(1957)
... William Purdom
- The Manhunt
(1957)
... Cadet Dick Mileston
1953-1956
Cavalcade of America
(TV Series)
Slate Morley / Harry
Slate Morley / Harry
- Woman's Work
(1956)
... Slate Morley
- Crisis in Paris
(1955)
- One Day at a Time
(1955)
... Harry
- A Man's Home
(1954)
- Night Strike
(1953)
1956
Frontier
(TV Series)
Jason Cartwright / Ben Reed
Jason Cartwright / Ben Reed
- Out from Texas
(1956)
... Jason Cartwright (as Jim Best)
- The Texicans
(1956)
... Ben Reed
1955-1956
The Adventures of Champion
(TV Series)
Mace Kincaid / Paul Kenyon
Mace Kincaid / Paul Kenyon
- Andrew and the Deadly Double
(1956)
... Mace Kincaid
- The Stone Heart
(1955)
... Paul Kenyon
1953-1955
Lux Video Theatre
(TV Series)
Waldo / Clem Wallace
Waldo / Clem Wallace
- The Inside Story
(1955)
... Waldo
- Three Just Men
(1953)
... Clem Wallace
1955
Buffalo Bill, Jr.
(TV Series)
Telegrapher Larry Martin
Telegrapher Larry Martin
- The Death of Johnny Ringo
(1955)
... Telegrapher Larry Martin (as Jimmy Best)
1954-1955
The Adventures of Kit Carson
(TV Series)
Henry Jordan
Henry Jordan
- The Phantom Uprising
(1955)
- Frontier Empire
(1954)
... Henry Jordan
1954
The Gene Autry Show
(TV Series)
Ray Saunders / Bank Teller
Ray Saunders / Bank Teller
- Hoodoo Canyon
(1954)
... Ray Saunders
- Holdup
(1954)
... Bank Teller
1954
Annie Oakley
(TV Series)
Jess Dugan / Scott Warren
Jess Dugan / Scott Warren
- Annie and the Outlaw's Son
(1954)
... Jess Dugan
- Outlaw Mesa
(1954)
... Scott Warren
Show
Director (1 credit)
Director (1 credit)
Show
Writer (3 credits)
Writer (3 credits)
Show
Soundtrack (2 credits)
Soundtrack (2 credits)
Show
Producer (1 credit)
Producer (1 credit)
Show
Miscellaneous Crew (1 credit)
Miscellaneous Crew (1 credit)
Show
Self (9 credits)
Self (9 credits)
Show
Archive footage (6 credits)
Archive footage (6 credits)
Edit
Personal Details
Other Works:
Unsold pilot: Starred in the pilot for a proposed NBC western series called "Pony Express". See more »Alternate Names:
James K. Best | Jimmy Best | Jim BestHeight:
6' 1" (1.85 m)
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Did You Know?
Personal Quote:
Actually, a lot of times when I caught the Duke boys, I'd let 'em go - because who else was I going to chase? I didn't have too much of a choice! If I wanted to chase somebody, yeah, I'd pick on the Dukes. But you could see underneath that Rosco and the boys really didn't hate each other at all. It was a love show! See more »Trivia:
In the mid 1970s he decided to take a semi-retirement, and became an artist-in-residence at the University of Mississippi. During his two years there, he taught Motion Picture technique and Drama; directed four plays, established the Mississippi Film Commission and was elected to the University's Hall of Fame. See more »Trademark:
Southern accent. See more »Nickname:
JimmieStar Sign:
LeoContribute to This Page
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