James Best
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia James Best (born Jewel Franklin Guy; July 26, 1926 โ April 6, 2015) was an American television, film, character, voice, and stage actor, as well as a writer, director, acting coach, artist, college professor, and musician, whose career spanned seven decades of television. He appeared as a guest on various country music and talk shows. One of the busiest actors in Hollywood, who began his contract career with Universal Studios in 1949, where he met unfamiliar actors Julie Adams, Piper Laurie, Tony Curtis and Rock Hudson. Best's long career began in films in 1950. He appeared primarily in Westerns, playing opposite Audie Murphy in Kansas Raiders (1950), The Cimarron Kid (1952) and The Quick Gun (1964), Raymond Massey in Seven Angry Men (1955), George Montgomery in Last of the Badman (1957), Frank Lovejoy in Cole Younger Gunfighter (1958), and Randolph Scott in Ride Lonesome (1959). He also starred in the science fiction cult movie, The Killer Shrews (1959) and its sequel, Return of the Killer Shrews (2012). He is most known for playing bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the action/comedy Dukes of Hazzard, a role that he revised in The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! (1997) as his character was now "boss" of Hazzard County as well as sheriff, and again in The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood (2000).
Known For
Credits
- 2021 ยทHollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!as Self
- 2013 ยทThe Sweeter Side of Lifeas Paddy Kerrigan
- 2012 ยทReturn of the Killer Shrewsas Thorne Sherman
- 2007 ยทMoondance Alexanderas McClancy
- 2006 ยทHot Tamaleas Hank Larson
- 2005 ยทCMT: Inside Fameas
- 2004 ยทThe 50 Worst Movies Ever Madeas Thorne Sherman (archive footage)
- 2002 ยทThe Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fulleras Sgt. David Brent (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2000 ยทThe Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywoodas Rosco P. Coltrane
- 1998 ยทDeath Maskas Wilbur Johnson
- 1997 ยทThe Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!as Boss / Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
- 1996 ยทE! True Hollywood Storyas
- 1989 ยทB.L. Strykeras
- 1988 ยทIn the Heat of the Nightas
- 1983 ยทThe Dukesas Rosco Coltrane (voice)
- 1980 ยทEnosas
- 1979 ยทThe Dukes of Hazzardas Rosco P. Coltrane
- 1978 ยทCentennialas
- 1978 ยทHooperas Cully
- 1978 ยทThe Endas Pacemaker Patient
- 1977 ยทRolling Thunderas Texan
- 1976 ยทNickelodeonas Jim
- 1976 ยทThe Savage Beesas Pellegrino
- 1976 ยทOde to Billy Joeas Dewey Barksdale
- 1975 ยทThe Runaway Bargeas Bingo Washington
- 1974 ยทThe Manhunteras
- 1974 ยทSavagesas Sheriff Bert Hamilton
- 1973 ยทHawkinsas Sheriff John Early
- 1972 ยทSounderas Sheriff Charlie Young
- 1972 ยทThe Brain Machineas Rev. Emory Neill
- 1970 ยทRun, Simon, Runas Henry Burroughs
- 1968 ยทLanceras
- 1968 ยทThe Mod Squadas
- 1968 ยทFirecreekas Drew
- 1967 ยทThe Guns of Will Sonnettas
- 1967 ยทFirst to Fightas Sergeant Carnavan
- 1966 ยทFelony Squadas
- 1966 ยทThe Green Hornetas Yale Barton
- 1966 ยทHawkas
- 1966 ยทThree on a Couchas Dr. Ben Mizer
- 1965 ยทHoney Westas Vince Zale
- 1965 ยทShenandoahas Carter, Rebel Soldier
- 1965 ยทBlack Spursas Ralph Elkins
- 1964 ยทDaniel Booneas Jethro Wyatt
- 1964 ยทFlipperas
- 1964 ยทThe Quick Gunas Scotty Wade
- 1963 ยทShock Corridoras Stuart
- 1963 ยทRedigoas
- 1963 ยทBurke's Lawas Tucson, 'The Cowboy'
- 1963 ยทThe Fugitiveas Dan Murray
- 1962 ยทThe Gallant Menas
- 1962 ยทCombat!as Trenton
- 1962 ยทGeneral Electric Trueas
- 1962 ยทThe Alfred Hitchcock Houras Tom Carmody
- 1962 ยทThe Virginianas Curt Westley
- 1962 ยทBlack Goldas Jericho Larkin
- 1961 ยทBen Caseyas
- 1961 ยทWhispering Smithas
- 1960 ยทSurfside 6as
- 1960 ยทStagecoach Westas
- 1960 ยทThe Andy Griffith Showas Jim Lindsey
- 1960 ยทMichael Shayneas
- 1960 ยทThe Barbara Stanwyck Showas Joe
- 1960 ยทThe Mountain Roadas Niergaard
- 1960 ยทAftermathas Hardy Coulter
- 1960 ยทPony Expressas Bart Gentry
- 1960 ยทOverland Trailas
- 1959 ยทHawaiian Eyeas
- 1959 ยทStartimeas
- 1959 ยทThe Rebelas Ted Evans
- 1959 ยทThe Rebelas Abel Waares
- 1959 ยทThe Twilight Zoneas Jeff Myrtlebank
- 1959 ยทThe Twilight Zoneas Billy-Ben Turner
- 1959 ยทMen Into Spaceas
- 1959 ยทLock-Upas
- 1959 ยทThe DuPont Show with June Allysonas Jovan Wilanskov
- 1959 ยทLaramieas
- 1959 ยทBonanzaas Sheriff Vern Schaler
- 1959 ยทThe Man and the Challengeas
- 1959 ยทCast a Long Shadowas Sam Mullen
- 1959 ยทThe Killer Shrewsas Thorne Sherman
- 1959 ยทThe David Niven Showas Boland
- 1959 ยทVerboten!as Sgt. David Brent
- 1959 ยทRide Lonesomeas Billy John
- 1959 ยทBlack Saddleas Ben Travers
- 1959 ยทRawhideas Willie Cain
- 1959 ยทRawhideas Brock Quade
- 1958 ยท77 Sunset Stripas
- 1958 ยทBat Mastersonas Joe Best
- 1958 ยทBat Mastersonas Danny Dakota
- 1958 ยทBehind Closed Doorsas Webb
- 1958 ยทThe Riflemanas
- 1958 ยทThe Texanas
- 1958 ยทBroncoas
- 1958 ยทWanted: Dead or Aliveas Stoner
- 1958 ยทWanted: Dead or Aliveas Luke Perry
- 1958 ยทThe Naked and the Deadas Rhidges
- 1958 ยทThe Left Handed Gunas Tom Folliard
- 1958 ยทCole Younger, Gunfighteras Kit Caswell
- 1957 ยทMan on the Prowlas Doug Gerhardt
- 1957 ยทTombstone Territoryas
- 1957 ยทTrackdownas
- 1957 ยทPerry Masonas Allan Winford
- 1957 ยทPerry Masonas Martin Potter
- 1957 ยทHave Gun, Will Travelas
- 1957 ยทRichard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Jack Milhoan
- 1957 ยทLast of the Badmenas Ted Hamilton
- 1957 ยทHot Summer Nightas Kermit
- 1956 ยทThe Rackas Millard Chilson Cassidy
- 1956 ยทWest Pointas
- 1956 ยทCalling Homicideas Det. Arnie Arnhoff
- 1956 ยทGabyas Jim
- 1956 ยทForbidden Planetas Crewman (uncredited)
- 1956 ยทCome Next Springas Bill Jackson
- 1955 ยทAlfred Hitchcock Presentsas Norman Frayne
- 1955 ยทAlfred Hitchcock Presentsas Hennessy
- 1955 ยทAlfred Hitchcock Presentsas Bish Darby
- 1955 ยทFrontieras
- 1955 ยทCheyenneas
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Beal
- 1955 ยทGunsmokeas Charlie Noon
- 1955 ยทTop of the Worldas Col. French's Orderly (uncredited)
- 1955 ยทSeven Angry Menas Jason Brown
- 1955 ยทBuffalo Bill Jr.as
- 1955 ยทThe Millionaireas Fred Morgan
- 1954 ยทClimax!as Shag
- 1954 ยทThe Lineupas
- 1954 ยทThe Raidas Lt. Robinson
- 1954 ยทReturn from the Seaas Barr
- 1954 ยทThe Caine Mutinyas Lt. JG Jorgensen
- 1954 ยทThe Yellow Tomahawkas Private Bliss
- 1954 ยทStories of the Centuryas
- 1954 ยทRiders to the Starsas Dr. Sidney K. Fuller
- 1953 ยทSkip Tayloras
- 1953 ยทCity of Bad Menas Deputy Gig (uncredited)
- 1953 ยทColumn Southas Primrose
- 1953 ยทSeminoleas Corp. Gerad
- 1953 ยทGeneral Electric Theateras Hardy Coulter
- 1952 ยทCavalcade of Americaas
- 1952 ยทCavalcade of Americaas Harry
- 1952 ยทCavalcade of Americaas Slate Morley
- 1952 ยทHopalong Cassidyas
- 1952 ยทMa and Pa Kettle at the Fairas Marvin Johnson
- 1952 ยทFrancis Goes to West Pointas Cpl. Ransom
- 1952 ยทThe Battle at Apache Passas Cpl. Hassett
- 1952 ยทSteel Townas Joe Rakich
- 1952 ยทThe Cimarron Kidas Bitter Creek Dalton
- 1951 ยทHallmark Hall of Fameas
- 1951 ยทSchlitz Playhouse of Starsas
- 1951 ยทThe Adventures of Kit Carsonas
- 1951 ยทApache Drumsas Bert Keon
- 1951 ยทAir Cadetas Jerry Connell
- 1951 ยทTarget Unknownas Sgt. Ralph Phelps
- 1950 ยทKansas Raidersas Cole Younger
- 1950 ยทLux Video Theatreas Clem Wallace
- 1950 ยทThe Gene Autry Showas
- 1950 ยทWinchester '73as Crater
- 1950 ยทPeggyas Frank Addison
- 1950 ยทI Was a Shoplifteras
- 1950 ยทComanche Territoryas Sam
- 1950 ยทOne Way Streetas Driver (uncredited)