James Best

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Birth Name: Jules Franklin Guy

Born: 26 July 1926 Died: 7 April 2015

Country of origin: United States

Height: 6' 1"

Relationship Status: Married

Partner: Dorothy Best

Lists

11 votes

In Memoriam 2015 (166 items)
list by SwtChaos

Published 8 years, 7 months ago

2 comments

3 votes

Famous Bonanza Guest Stars (307 items)
list by Brian G

Published 6 years, 1 month ago

1 comment

1 votes

Andy Griffith Show guest stars (31 items)
list by cooker

Published 7 years, 6 months ago

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Description: American character actor and teacher. Born Jules 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 United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He initially trained as a B-17 air gunner, but was transferred to an army military police unit in Germany. He transferred again to an army unit of actors, who traveled around Europe performing plays for troops. According to Best, he first acted in a European tour of "My Sister Eil American character actor and teacher. Born Jules 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 United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He initially trained as a B-17 air gunner, but was transferred to an army military police unit in Germany. He transferred again to an army unit of actors, who traveled around Europe performing plays for troops. According to Best, he first acted in a European tour of "My Sister Eileen" directed by Arthur Penn. Upon his return to the U.S., he toured in road and stock companies in plays and musicals, and was finally spotted by a scout from Universal Pictures, who put him under contract. A handsome young man, his rural inflections perhaps kept him from frequent leading man roles. During the 1950s and '60s, he was a familiar face in movies and television in a wide range of roles, from Western bad guys to craven cowards and country bumpkins. Physical ailments curtailed his work for a long period late in his career, and he established a well-respected acting workshop in Los Angeles.

He also served as artist-in-residence at the University of Mississippi, teaching and directing. He worked in both acting and producing capacities for Burt Reynolds on several of the latter's films in the late 1970s, before taking on his greatest commercial success. Although the The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) TV series was far beneath his talents, his role as Sheriff Roscoe Coltrane was the part that gave him his greatest fame. He continued teaching, both in Hollywood and later in Florida (at the University of Central Florida).

Semi-retired, he makes personal appearances and exhibits his paintings. James Best starred in the 2007 feature film, Moondance Alexander (2007), along with Don Johnson, Lori Loughlin, Kay Panabaker, Sasha Cohen and Whitney Sloan. ... (more)