Jewel Franklin Guy (July 26, 1926 – April 6, 2015), known professionally as James Best, was an American television, film, stage, and voice actor, as well as a writer, director, acting coach, artist, college professor, and musician. During a career that spanned more than 60 years, Best was known for his high-pitched, exasperated voice, who performed not only in feature films, but also in scores of television series, his appearances were almost all on

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

programs, as well as appearing on various country music programs and talk shows. He played Captain Thorne Sherman in both ''

The Killer Shrews ''The Killer Shrews'' is a 1959 American independent science fiction horror film directed by Ray Kellogg, and produced by Ken Curtis and Gordon McLendon. The story follows a group of researchers who are trapped in their remote island compound o ...

'' (1959) and its spin-off, '' Return of the Killer Shrews'' (2012). Television audiences, however, perhaps most closely associate Best with his starring role as the bumbling

Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane Rosco Purvis Coltrane is a fictional sheriff character who first appeared in the 1975 film '' Moonrunners'', which inspired the creation of the American TV series ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' (and related spin-off films). In ''Moonrunners'', he was p ...

in the

action comedy The action comedy is a film genre that applies to action films where humor plays a much more central role. While early films feature stuntwork and humor, academic Cynthia King wrote that the genre only came into its own as a mainstay of the America ...

series ''

The Dukes of Hazzard ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy television series created by Gy Waldron that aired on CBS from January 26, 1979, to February 8, 1985, with a total of seven seasons consisting of List of The Dukes of Hazzard episodes, 147 ...

'', which originally aired on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

between 1979 and 1985. He reprised the role in 1997 and 2000 for the made-for-television movies '' The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!'' and '' The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood'' (2000).

Early years

James Best was born Jewel Franklin Guy on July 26, 1926, in Powderly, Kentucky, to Lark and Lena (née Everly) Guy. Lena Guy's brother was Ike Everly, the father of the pop duo

the Everly Brothers The Everly Brothers were an American rock duo, known for steel-string acoustic guitar playing and close-harmony singing. Consisting of Isaac Donald "Don" Everly and Phillip "Phil" Everly, the duo combined elements of rock and roll, country, ...

. He was raised by adoptive parents in

Corydon, Indiana Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, Harrison Township and the county seat of Harrison County, Indiana, located north of the Ohio River in the extreme southern part of the state. Corydon was founded in 1808 and serve ...

. Best served in the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, training in 1944 in

Biloxi, Mississippi Biloxi ( ; ) is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. It lies on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast in southern Mississippi, bordering the city of Gulfport, Mississippi, Gulfport to its west. The adjacent cities ar ...

, as a gunner on a B-17 bomber; but by the time he completed his training the war had almost ended, so he was assigned to the army's law enforcement section. In the military police, Best served in war-torn Germany immediately after the

Nazi Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...

government's surrender in May 1945. While stationed in Germany, he transferred from the military police to an army unit of actors, who traveled around Europe performing plays for troops. Those experiences formed the beginning of his acting career.

Film career

Best began his contract career in 1949 at

Universal Studios Universal Studios may refer to: * Universal Studios, Inc., an American media and entertainment conglomerate ** Universal Pictures, an American film studio ** Universal Studios Lot, a film and television studio complex * Various theme parks operat ...

, where he met fellow actors

Julie Adams Julie Adams (born Betty May Adams; October 17, 1926 – February 3, 2019) was an American actress, billed as Julia Adams in her early career, primarily known for her numerous television guest roles. She starred in a number of films in the 1 ...

Piper Laurie Piper Laurie (born Rosetta Jacobs; January 22, 1932 – October 14, 2023) was an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films '' The Hustler'' (1961), '' Carrie'' (1976), and '' Children of a Lesser God'' (1986), and the miniseries ...

Tony Curtis Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925September 29, 2010) was an American actor with a career that spanned six decades, achieving the height of his popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in more than 100 films, in roles co ...

Mamie Van Doren Mamie Van Doren (; born Joan Lucille Olander; February 6, 1931) is an American actress, singer, and model. A Bombshell (slang), blonde bombshell, she is one of the "Three M's" along with Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, who were friends and ...

and

Rock Hudson Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor. One of the most popular film stars of his time, he had a screen career spanning more than three decades, and was a prominent figure in the G ...

. Initially, he performed in several uncredited roles for Universal, such as in the 1950 film '' One Way Street'', but credited performances soon followed that same year in the

s '' Comanche Territory'', ''

Winchester '73 ''Winchester '73'' is a 1950 American Western film noir starring James Stewart, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea and Stephen McNally. Directed by Anthony Mann and written by Borden Chase and Robert L. Richards, the film is set in 1876 and fol ...

'', and ''

Kansas Raiders ''Kansas Raiders'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Ray Enright, and stars Audie Murphy, Brian Donlevy, Marguerite Chapman, and Scott Brady. It is set during the American Civil War and involves Jesse James coming under the influence ...

''. Work in that genre continued to be an important part of his ongoing film career, including roles in ''

The Cimarron Kid ''The Cimarron Kid'' is a 1952 American western film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Audie Murphy, Beverly Tyler and Yvette Duguay. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Plot Bill Doolin (Audie Murphy) is released f ...

'' (1952); ''

Seven Angry Men ''Seven Angry Men'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by Charles Marquis Warren and starring Raymond Massey, Debra Paget and Jeffrey Hunter. It is about the abolitionist John Brown, particularly his involvement in Bleeding Kansas and ...

'' (1955), in which he portrays one of the sons of abolitionist

John Brown John Brown most often refers to: *John Brown (abolitionist) (1800–1859), American who led an anti-slavery raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1859 John Brown or Johnny Brown may also refer to: Academia * John Brown (educator) (1763–1842), Ir ...

; ''Last of the Badmen'' (1957); ''Cole Younger Gunfighter'' (1958); ''

Ride Lonesome ''Ride Lonesome'' is a 1959 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Randolph Scott, Karen Steele, Pernell Roberts, Lee Van Cleef, and James Coburn in his film debut. This Eastmancolor film is one of Boettich ...

'' (1959); '' The Quick Gun'' (1964); and ''

Firecreek ''Firecreek'' is a 1968 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Vincent McEveety and starring James Stewart and Henry Fonda, the latter in his first of two roles that year as a villain (the second being Sergio Leone's ''Once Upon a ...

'' (1968). Best's film roles were not limited to Westerns. He also starred in the 1959 science fiction cult movie ''

'', and in its 2012 sequel '' Return of the Killer Shrews''; as army medic Rhidges in the 1958 film adaptation of

Norman Mailer Nachem Malech Mailer (January 31, 1923 – November 10, 2007), known by his pen name Norman Kingsley Mailer, was an American writer, journalist and filmmaker. In a career spanning more than six decades, Mailer had 11 best-selling books, at least ...

's ''

The Naked and the Dead ''The Naked and the Dead'' is a novel written by Norman Mailer. Published by Rinehart & Company in 1948, when he was 25, it was his debut novel. It depicts the experiences of a platoon during World War II, based partially on Mailer's experienc ...

''; as escaped POW Carter in the

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military aviator. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morali ...

movie '' Shenandoah''; as Dr. Ben Mizer in the 1966 comedy '' Three on a Couch''; and as the

cross-dressing Cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothes traditionally or stereotypically associated with a different gender. From as early as pre-modern history, cross-dressing has been practiced in order to disguise, comfort, entertain, and express onesel ...

Dewey Barksdale in the 1976 drama ''

Ode to Billy Joe "Ode to Billie Joe" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry released by Capitol Records in July 1967, and later used as the title track of Ode to Billie Joe (album), her debut album. Five weeks after its release, the song topped ...

''. He had the lead role in

Samuel Fuller Samuel Michael Fuller (August 12, 1912 – October 30, 1997) was an American film director, screenwriter, novelist, journalist, and actor. He was known for directing low-budget genre movies with controversial themes, often made outside t ...

's '' Verboten!'' (1955), and played

Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor most famous during the 1970s and 1980s. He became well known in television series such as ''Gunsmoke'' (1962–1965), '' Hawk'' (1966) and '' Dan Augus ...

's partner Cully in the 1978 movie ''

Hooper ''Hooper'' may refer to: Place names in the United States: * Hooper, Colorado, town in Alamosa County, Colorado * Hooper, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Hooper, Nebraska, town in Dodge County, Nebraska * Hooper, Utah, place in Weber Cou ...

''.

Television

James Best Andy Griffith Andy Griffith Show 1961

Best guest-starred more than 280 times in various television series. In 1954, he played outlaw Dave Ridley in an episode of ''

Stories of the Century ''Stories of the Century'' is a 39-episode Western (genre), Western historical fiction television series starring Jim Davis (actor), Jim Davis that ran in Broadcast syndication, syndication through Republic Pictures between 1954 and 1955. Synop ...

''. In 1954, Best appeared twice on the syndicated ''

Annie Oakley Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American marksman, sharpshooter and folk heroine who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoveris ...

'' series. In 1955, he played Jim Blake on ''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in a ...

'', Season 4, Episode 47. He was cast in the religion

anthology series An anthology series is a written series, radio, television, film, or video game series that presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a different ca ...

Crossroads Crossroads is a junction where four roads meet. Crossroads, crossroad, cross road(s) or similar may also refer to: Film and television Films * ''Crossroads'' (1928 film), a 1928 Japanese film by Teinosuke Kinugasa * ''Cross Roads'' (film), a ...

'', in its 1956 episode "The White Carnation." He was also cast on an episode of the

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

sitcom '' The People's Choice'' and in the crime drama ''

Richard Diamond, Private Detective ''Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' is an American detective drama, created by Blake Edwards, which aired on radio from 1949 to 1953, and on television from 1957 to 1960. Radio Dick Powell starred in the ''Richard Diamond, Private Detective' ...

''.

James Best Laura Devon Anne Francis Twilight Zone Jess Belle

Best made four appearances on the syndicated

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

''. His first role was as miner "Tiny" Stoker in the 1955 episode "Million Dollar Wedding". In 1960, Best appeared in the episode "Love on Credit" of CBS's anthology series ''

The DuPont Show with June Allyson ''The DuPont Show with June Allyson'' (also known as ''The June Allyson Show'') is an American anthology drama series which aired on CBS from September 21, 1959, to April 3, 1961, with rebroadcasts continuing until June 12, 1961. The series w ...

''. The same year, he guest-starred on ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom television series that was aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The series ...

'' as "The Guitar Player" (Season 1, Episode 3 and 31). He starred in three episodes of ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'' including " The Grave" (Season 3, Episode 7), " The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank" (Season 3, Episode 23), and "

Jess-Belle "Jess-Belle" is an episode of the American television science fiction and fantasy anthology series ''The Twilight Zone''. In this episode, a young woman, whose name sounds like "Jezebel", spurned by the man she loves, becomes a witch in order t ...

" (Season 4, Episode 7). In 1961, he guest-starred in the ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' episode "Make My Death Bed". In 1963, he was cast as the courageous

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

game warden Ernie Swift in the episode "Open Season" of another CBS anthology series, ''

GE True ''GE True'' (also known as ''General Electric True'') is a 33-episode, American anthology series sponsored by General Electric that aired from September 30, 1962, until May 26, 1963, with repeats through September 1963. Telecast on CBS, the ser ...

'', hosted by

Jack Webb John Randolph Webb (April 2, 1920 – December 23, 1982) was an American actor, television producer, Television director, director, and screenwriter, most famous for his role as Joe Friday in the Dragnet (franchise), ''Dragnet'' franchise ...

. In the story line, Swift's character faces the reprisal of

organized crime Organized crime is a category of transnational organized crime, transnational, national, or local group of centralized enterprises run to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for profit. While organized crime is generally thought of as a f ...

after he tickets a gangster for illegal fishing. In 1962, he played the part of Art Fuller in the episode "Incident of El Toro" on CBS's ''

Rawhide Rawhide may refer to: *Rawhide (material), a hide or animal skin that has not been tanned * Whip made from rawhide Entertainment * ''Rawhide'' (1926 film), a Western directed by Richard Thorpe * ''Rawhide'' (1938 film), a Western starring baseball ...

''; and in 1963, he returned to play Willie Cain in the episode "Incident at Spider Rock." Best made two guest appearances on ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and four short stories, all of which involve a ...

''. In 1963, he played title character Martin Potter in "The Case of the Surplus Suitor," and in 1966 he played defendant and oilman Allan Winford in "The Case of the Unwelcome Well." He appeared on a long list of other television series in the 1950s and 1960s, including ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western television series that aired for eight seasons, first on the NBC television network (1957–1962) and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and reached the top of the ...

'' (three times), '' Laramie'' (three times), ''

The Adventures of Kit Carson ''The Adventures of Kit Carson'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that aired from 1951 to 1955 and consisted of 104 episodes. While airing, the show was shown in over 130 markets and was sold to the Coca-Cola Bott ...

'', '' The Rebel'', ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...

'', ''

Sheriff of Cochise ''The Sheriff of Cochise'' is an American police crime drama television series of 79 black-and-white episodes broadcast from 1956 to 1958. The show has two seasons of 39 episodes, and there is an additional standalone episode. Each episode run ...

'', ''

Pony Express The Pony Express was an American express mail service that used relays of horse-mounted riders between Missouri and California. It was operated by the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company. During its 18 months of opera ...

'', ''

Rescue 8 ''Rescue 8'' is a syndicated American action adventure drama series about Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) Rescue Squad 8. It premiered in 1958 and originally ran for two seasons with syndicated reruns continuing for almost a deca ...

'', '' The Texan'', ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'', ''

Have Gun – Will Travel ''Have Gun – Will Travel'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that was produced and originally broadcast by CBS on both television and radio from 1957 through 1963. The television version of the series starring Ri ...

'', ''

The Barbara Stanwyck Show ''The Barbara Stanwyck Show'' is an American anthology drama television series which ran on NBC from September 1960 to September 1961. Barbara Stanwyck served as hostess, and starred in all but four of the half-hour productions. The four in whi ...

'', ''

Tombstone Territory ''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western television series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the seco ...

'', '' Whispering Smith'', '' Trackdown'', ''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television series starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show ...

'', ''

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. The Cheyenne comprise two Native American tribes, the Só'taeo'o or Só'taétaneo'o (more commonly spelled as Suhtai or Sutaio) and the (also spelled Tsitsistas, The term for th ...

'', ''

Stagecoach West Stagecoach West is a bus operator providing services in Gloucestershire, Bristol, Swindon, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, North Somerset and Herefordshire, in the West of England, and Monmouthshire in the South-East of Wales. The company is a subsidia ...

'','' Wanted: Dead or Alive'',''

Overland Trail The Overland Trail (also known as the Overland Stage Line) was a stagecoach and wagon trail in the American West during the 19th century. While portions of the route had been used by explorers and trappers since the 1820s, the Overland Trail w ...

'',''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the late 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was bo ...

'', ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'', ''

Combat! ''Combat!'' is an American television drama that originally aired on ABC from 1962 until 1967. The exclamation point in ''Combat!'' was depicted on-screen as a stylized bayonet. The show covered the grim lives of a squad of American soldiers ...

'', ''

The Green Hornet The Green Hornet is a superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell (director), James Jewell. Since his 1930s radio debut, the character has appeared in numerous serialized dramas i ...

''("Deadline for Death"),''

The Mod Squad ''The Mod Squad'' is an American crime drama series, originally broadcast for five seasons on ABC from September 24, 1968, to March 1, 1973. It starred Michael Cole as Peter "Pete" Cochran, Clarence Williams III as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes, Pegg ...

'', ''

I Spy I spy is a guessing game where one player (the ''spy'' or ''it'') chooses an object within sight and announces to the other players that "I spy with my little eye something beginning with...", naming the first letter of the object. Other players a ...

'', '' The Fugitive'', and '' Flipper''. He made a guest appearance on former costar

Anne Francis Anne Francis (September 16, 1930 – January 2, 2011) was an American actress known for her ground-breaking roles in the science fiction film ''Forbidden Planet'' (1956) and the television action-drama series '' Honey West'' (1965–1966). ...

's series ''

Honey West Honey West is a fictional character created by the husband and wife writing team Gloria and Forest Fickling under the pseudonym "G.G. Fickling", and appearing in eleven mystery novels by the duo. The character is notable as being one of the firs ...

'' in the 1965 episode "A Matter of Wife and Death".

''The Dukes of Hazzard''

Best's highest-profile role was as

on CBS's ''

''. He appeared during the entire run of the program, from 1979 until the end of the series in 1985. He later revealed that the caricature-like persona of Sheriff Coltrane was developed from a voice he used when playing with his young children. On set, Best was particularly close to

Sorrell Booke Sorrell Booke (January 4, 1930 – February 11, 1994) was an American actor who performed on stage, screen, and television. He acted in more than 100 plays and 150 television shows, and is best known for his role as corrupt politician Jefferson ...

, who played the character of Boss Hogg, who was both the boss and the brother-in-law of Rosco. The two actors became close friends; and according to interviews by the series' creators, the two often improvised their scenes together, making up their own dialogue as they went along. In the second season of the show, he temporarily left the show, due to a dispute over changing-room conditions. Best appeared in almost every episode of the series, with the exception of 5, throughout the run. Until his death, he remained close to actress

Catherine Bach Catherine Bach (born Catherine Bachman; March 1, 1954) is an American actress. She is known for playing Daisy Duke in the television series ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' and Margo Dutton in '' African Skies''. In 2012, she joined the cast of the CBS ...

, who played the character of

Daisy Duke Daisy Duke is a fictional character, played by Catherine Bach, from the American television series ''The Dukes of Hazzard''. She is the cousin of Bo and Luke, the third main protagonists of the show, and the three live on a farm on the outskir ...

; and long after the show's cancellation, she was a regular visitor to the website dedicated to Best's painting.

Later television career

In 1991, Best appeared in an episode of the NBC crime drama '' In the Heat of the Night''. He portrayed retired sheriff and repentant killer Nathan Bedford in the episode " Sweet, Sweet Blues". In August 2008, Best was presented the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Artist, teacher, writer, and other activities

Best later moved to Florida and taught at the

University of Central Florida The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public university, public research university with its main campus in unincorporated area, unincorporated Orange County, Florida, United States. It is part of the State University System of Florida. ...

(

Orlando Orlando commonly refers to: * Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States Orlando may also refer to: People * Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name * Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...

). After semi-retiring, he administered a production company and accepted occasional acting roles. He also developed a reputation as an artist for his paintings of landscapes, scenes from ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' in collaboration with Scott Romine, and other subjects. Later, after residing for a while on Lake Murray near

Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-mo ...

, he moved once again, this time to

Hickory, North Carolina Hickory is a city in western North Carolina primarily located in Catawba County, North Carolina, Catawba County. The List of municipalities in North Carolina, 25th most populous city in the state, it is located approximately northwest of Charlot ...

. An acting coach too, Best taught drama and acting techniques for more than 25 years in Los Angeles. He also served as artist-in-residence and taught drama at the

University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi (Epithet, byname Ole Miss) is a Public university, public research university in University, near Oxford, Mississippi, United States, with a University of Mississippi Medical Center, medical center in Jackson, Miss ...

(

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

) for two years prior to his stint on ''The Dukes of Hazzard''. On November 9, 2014, Best and fellow actor Robert Fuller (along with their wives) attended the 100th birthday celebration of lifelong friend and fellow actor

Norman Lloyd Norman Nathan Lloyd (''né'' Perlmutter; November 8, 1914 – May 11, 2021) was an American actor, producer, director, and centenarian with a career in entertainment spanning nearly a century. He worked in every major facet of the industry, inc ...

. Best said, "I had the honor to have been directed by Norman in a Hitchcock episode called 'The Jar.' Having worked with hundreds of directors in my career, I found very few that had Norman's qualities. He was most kind, gracious and patient with his actors. He is in all respects a complete gentleman in his personal life and I found it a genuine pleasure just to be in the presence of such a talented man. I am also doubly honored to consider him my friend. We are so blessed to have such a man among us for so long."

Personal life

Best had a son, Gary, with his first wife. In 1959, Best married his second wife, Jobee Ayers. The couple had two daughters, Janeen and JoJami, before divorcing in 1977. Best married his third wife, Dorothy Collier, in 1986. He had three grandchildren. Best enjoyed a wide range of hobbies and interests. He was an accomplished painter, a guitarist, and a black belt in

karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...

; enjoyed writing; and ran his own acting school. His students included

Lindsay Wagner Lindsay Jean Wagner (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Wagner is best known for her leading role in the American science fiction television series '' The Bionic Woman'' (1976–1978), in which she portrayed character Jaime Sommers. S ...

Roger Miller Roger Dean Miller Sr. (January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992) was an American singer-songwriter, widely known for his honky-tonk-influenced novelty songs and his chart-topping country hits " King of the Road", "Dang Me", and " England Swing ...

Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American country musician and actor. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting ''The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour'' on CBS television from ...

Quentin Tarantino Quentin Jerome Tarantino (; born March 27, 1963) is an American filmmaker, actor, and author. Quentin Tarantino filmography, His films are characterized by graphic violence, extended dialogue often featuring much profanity, and references to ...

, and

Regis Philbin Regis Francis Xavier Philbin ( ; August 25, 1931 – July 25, 2020)Archived aGhostarchiveand thWayback Machine was an American television presenter, comedian, actor, and singer. Once called "the hardest-working man in show business", he held th ...

. He was also an

animal rights Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all Animal consciousness, sentient animals have Moral patienthood, moral worth independent of their Utilitarianism, utility to humans, and that their most basic interests—such as ...

advocate. James Best was a born again Christian; when he converted is unknown, but it was sometime during or after The Dukes Of Hazzard.

Death

Best died on April 6, 2015, at the age of 88, in

, from complications of pneumonia. Prior to his death, Best's former ''Dukes of Hazzard'' co-star and longtime friend John Schneider said: "I laughed and learned more from Jimmie in one hour than from anyone else in a whole year." He also added that, when asked to cry for the camera, "(Best) would say, 'sure thing, which eye?' I'm forever thankful to have cut my teeth in the company of such a fine man." Nearly one year after Best's death, Schneider said about his working relationship with Best:

Filmography

*'' One Way Street'' (1950) as Driver (uncredited) *'' Comanche Territory'' (1950) as Sam *''

I Was a Shoplifter ''I Was a Shoplifter'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Scott Brady and Mona Freeman. Plot A shoplifter, Faye Burton, is being watched by Herb Klaxon, a security guard at a Los Angeles department s ...

'' (1950) as Police Broadcaster in Surveillance Plane (uncredited) *''

'' (1950) as Crater *'' Peggy'' (1950) as Frank Addison *''

'' (1950) as Cole Younger *'' Target Unknown'' (1951) as Sergeant Ralph Phelps *'' Air Cadet'' (1951) as Jerry Connell *''

Apache Drums ''Apache Drums'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Hugo Fregonese and produced by Val Lewton. The drama features Stephen McNally, Coleen Gray, and Willard Parker. The film was based on an original story: ''Stand at Spanish Boot'', by ...

'' (1951) as Bert Keon *''

Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man ''Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man'' is a 1951 American science fiction comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the team of Abbott and Costello alongside Nancy Guild. The film depicts the misadventures of Lou Francis and B ...

'' (1951) as Tommy Nelson (Arthur Franz's stand-in) *''

'' (1952) as Bitter Creek Dalton *'' About Face'' (1952) as Joe, Hal's Roommate *'' Steel Town'' (1952) as Joe Rakich *''

The Battle at Apache Pass ''The Battle at Apache Pass'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by George Sherman. The stars are John Lund as United States Army Maj. Colton and Jeff Chandler (in brownface) repeating the role of Apache chief Cochise, whom he had played ...

'' (1952) as Corporal Hassett *''

Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair ''Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair'' is a 1952 American comedy film directed by Charles Barton. It is the fourth installment of Universal-International's ''Ma and Pa Kettle'' series, starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride. Plot Ma and Pa Kettle ...

'' (1952) as Marvin Johnson *''

Francis Goes to West Point ''Francis Goes to West Point'' is a 1952 American black-and-white comedy film from Universal-International, produced by Leonard Goldstein, directed by Arthur Lubin, and starring Donald O'Connor, Lori Nelson, Alice Kelley, and Gregg Palmer. The di ...

'' (1952) as Corporal Ransom *'' Flat Top'' (1952) as Radio Operator (uncredited) *''

Seminole The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, ...

'' (1953) as Corporal Gerard *'' Column South'' (1953) as Primrose *'' The President's Lady'' (1953) as Samuel Donelson (uncredited) *''

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms ''The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms'' is a 1953 American independent monster film directed by Eugène Lourié, with stop motion animation by Ray Harryhausen. It is partly based on Ray Bradbury's 1951 short story of the same name, which was later ...

'' (1953) as Charlie, Radar Man (uncredited) *''

City of Bad Men ''City of Bad Men'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Harmon Jones and starring Jeanne Crain and Dale Robertson. Plot A heavyweight championship fight between "Gentleman Jim" Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons is coming to Carson City, ...

'' (1953) as Deputy Gig (uncredited) *''

Riders to the Stars ''Riders to the Stars'' is a 1954 independently made American science fiction film produced by Ivan Tors Productions and released by United Artists. The film was directed by Richard Carlson (who also stars) and Herbert L. Strock (uncredited) ...

'' (1954) as Sidney K. Fuller *'' The Yellow Tomahawk'' (1954) as Private Bliss *''

The Caine Mutiny ''The Caine Mutiny'' is a 1951 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel by Herman Wouk. The novel grew out of Wouk's personal experiences aboard two destroyer-minesweepers in the Pacific Theater in World War II. Among its themes, it deals with the mo ...

'' (1954) as Lieutenant Jorgensen (uncredited) *'' Return from the Sea'' (1954) as Barr *'' The Raid'' (1954) as Lieutenant Robinson *''

They Rode West ''They Rode West'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by Phil Karlson. It reunites two of the stars of ''The Caine Mutiny'', Robert Francis and May Wynn. It also stars Donna Reed and Philip Carey. Based on the story ''Wood Hawk'' by Le ...

'' (1954) as Lieutenant Finlay (uncredited) *''

'' (1955) as Jason Brown *''

A Man Called Peter ''A Man Called Peter'' is a 1955 American drama film directed by Henry Koster, and starring Richard Todd. The film is based on the life of preacher Peter Marshall, who served as Chaplain of the United States Senate and pastor of the New York A ...

'' (1955) as Man with Jane at Youth Rally (uncredited) *''

The Eternal Sea ''The Eternal Sea'' (aka ''The Admiral Hoskins Story'') is a 1955 American biographical war film directed by John H. Auer and starring Sterling Hayden, Alexis Smith and Ben Cooper. The film follows the career of Captain John Hoskins, who lose ...

'' (1955) as Student *'' Top of the World'' (1955) as Colonel French's Orderly (uncredited) *'' The Adventures of Champion'' (1955–1956, TV Series) (2 episodes) **(Season 1 Episode 13: "The Stone Heart") as Paul Kenyon **(Season 1 Episode 21: "Andrew and the Daily Double") as Mace Kincaid *''

'' (1955–1964, TV Series) (4 episodes) **(Season 3 Episode 12: "Million Dollar Wedding") as Tiny Stoker **(Season 11 Episode 2: "The $275,000 Sack of Flour") as Ruel Gridley **(Season 12 Episode 14: "Sixty-Seven Miles of Gold") as Jimmy Burns **(Season 13 Episode 6: "The Hero of Fort Halleck") as Jim Campbell *''

Come Next Spring ''Come Next Spring'' is a 1956 American Trucolor drama film directed by R. G. Springsteen and starring Ann Sheridan, Steve Cochran and Walter Brennan. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. The theme song, "Come Next Spring", with ...

'' (1956) as Bill Jackson *'' When Gangland Strikes'' (1956) as Jerry Ames (uncredited) *''

Forbidden Planet ''Forbidden Planet'' is a 1956 American science fiction action film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, produced by Nicholas Nayfack and directed by Fred M. Wilcox (director), Fred M. Wilcox from a script by Cyril Hume that was based on a film story by ...

'' (1956) as Crewman (uncredited) *'' Gaby'' (1956) as Jim *'' Calling Homicide'' (1956) as Arnie Arnholf *''

The Rack The Rack may refer to: * ''The Rack'' (1915 film), an American silent drama film * ''The Rack'' (1956 film), a courtroom drama starring Paul Newman * ''The Rack'' (album), the 1991 debut album by Asphyx * "The Rack" (''The Professionals''), a 1978 e ...

'' (1956) as Millard Chilson Cassidy *'' Last of the Badmen'' (1957) as Ted Hamilton *'' Hot Summer Night'' (1957) as Kermit *''

I Was a Teenage Werewolf ''I Was a Teenage Werewolf'' is a 1957 American science fiction horror film directed by Gene Fowler Jr., and starring Michael Landon as a troubled teenager, Yvonne Lime, and Whit Bissell. Co-written and produced by cult film producer Herma ...

'' (1957) as Kid at party who gets slapped (uncredited) *'' Man on the Prowl'' (1957) as Doug Gerhardt *'' Trackdown'' (1957–1958, TV Series) (3 episodes) **(Season 1 Episode 1: "The Marple Brothers") (1957) as Rand Marple **(Season 1 Episode 27: "The Mistake") (1958) as Bud Ehlers **(Season 2 Episode 12: "Sunday's Child") (1958) as Joe Sunday *''

'' (1957–1961, TV Series) (3 episodes) **(Season 1 Episode 10: "The Long Night") (1957) as Andy Fisher, one of three parties in danger of being hanged, along with Richard Boone and guest star Richard Schallert **(Season 4 Episode 17: "A Quiet Night in Town: Part 1") (1961) as Roy Smith **(Season 4 Episode 18: "A Quiet Night in Town: Part 2") (1961) as Roy Smith *'' Cole Younger, Gunfighter'' (1958) as Kit Caswell *''

The Restless Gun ''The Restless Gun'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne (actor), John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Ci ...

'' (1958) (Season 2 Episode 1: "Jebediah Bonner") as Jim Kenyon *''

The Left Handed Gun ''The Left Handed Gun'' is a 1958 American Western film and the film directorial debut of Arthur Penn, starring Paul Newman as Billy the Kid and John Dehner as Pat Garrett. The screenplay was written by Leslie Stevens from a teleplay by Gore Vi ...

'' (1958) as Tom Folliard *''

'' (1958) as Joe Best, murderer *''

'' (1958) as Private Rhidges *''

'' (1958–1961) (3 episodes) **(Season 3 Episode 30: "Death Sentence") as Norman Frayne **(Season 5 Episode 34: "Cell 227") (1960) as Hennessy **(Season 6 Episode 37: "Make My Death Bed") (1961) as Bish Darby *''

'' (1959) as Billy John *'' Verboten!'' (1959) as Sergeant David Brent *''

'' (1959) as Thorne Sherman *'' Cast a Long Shadow'' (1959) as Sam Mullen *''

'' (1959–1960, TV Series) (3 episodes) **(Season 2 Episode 35: "The Andrew Hale Story") (1959) as Garth English **(Season 3 Episode 15: "The Colonel Harris Story") (1960) as Bowman Lewis **(Season 3 Episode 18: "The Clayton Tucker Story") (1960) as Art Bernard *'' The Mountain Road'' (1960) as Niergaard *''

'' (1960–1961, TV Series) (2 episodes) as Jim Lindsey **(Season 1 Episode 3: "The Guitar Player") (1960) **(Season 1 Episode 31: "The Guitar Player Returns") (1961) *''

'' (1961–1963, TV Series) (3 episodes) **(Season 3 Episode 7: "The Grave") (1961) as Johnny Rob **(Season 3 Episode 23: "The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank") (1962) as Jeff Myrtlebank **(Season 4 Episode 7: "Jess-Belle") as Billy Ben Turner *''

'' (1961–1968, TV Series) (3 episodes) **(Season 2 Episode 20: "The Fugitive") (1961) as Carl Reagan **(Season 5 Episode 11: "The Legacy") (1963) as Page **(Season 9 Episode 19: "The Price of Salt") (1968) as Sheriff Vern Schaler *''

'' (1962, TV Series) (Season 4 Episode 29: "The Day a Town Slept") as Bob Barrett *''

Bronco A bucking horse is any breed of horse, male or female, with a propensity to buck. They have been, and still are, referred to by various names, including bronco, broncho, and roughstock. The harder they buck, the more desirable they are for ro ...

'' (1962, TV Series) (Season 4 Episode 18: "Then the Mountains") as Frankie Banton *''

'' (1962, TV Series) (Season 7 Episode 2: "Satonka") as Ernie Riggins *'' Black Gold'' (1962) as Jericho Larkin *''

Shock Corridor ''Shock Corridor'' is a 1963 American psychological thriller film starring Peter Breck, Constance Towers, and Gene Evans. Written, directed and produced by Samuel Fuller, it tells the story of a journalist who gets himself intentionally commit ...

'' (1963) as Stuart Couter *'' The Fugitive'' (1963, TV Series) (Season 1 Episode 13: "Terror at High Point") as Dan Murray *''

'' (1963–1966, TV Series) (2 episodes) **(Season 6 Episode 19: "The Case of the Surplus Suitor") (1963) as Martin Potter **(Season 9 Episode 25: "The Case of the Unwelcome Well") as Allan Winford *''

'' (1963–1969, TV Series) (3 episodes) **(Season 8 Episode 29: "With a Smile") (1963) as Dal Creed **(Season 9 Episode 14: "The Glory and the Mud") (1964) as Beal **(Season 15 Episode 7: "Charlie Noon") (1969) as Charlie Noon *''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 a ...

'' (1964) (Season 2 Episode 17: "The Jar") as Tom Carmody *''

'' (1964, TV Series) (Season 2 Episode 21: "Mail Call") as Trenton * '' The Quick Gun'' (1964) as Sheriff Scotty Grant *'' Flipper'' (1965, TV Series) (Season 1 Episode 29: "The Call of the Dolphin") as Dr. Peter Kellwin *'' Black Spurs'' (1965) as Sheriff Ralph Elkins *'' Shenandoah'' (1965) as Carter *'' The Virginian'' (1965, TV series) (Season 4 Episode 14: "Letter of the Law") as Curt Westley *''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (, 1734September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyo ...

'' (1965) (Season 1 Episode 21: "The Devil's Four") as Wyatt *''

'' (1965, TV series) (Season 1 Episode 4: "A Matter of Wife and Death") as Vince Zale *'' Three on a Couch'' (1966) as Dr. Ben Mizer *'' First to Fight'' (1967) as Gunnery Sergeant Ed Carnavan *''

The Guns of Will Sonnett ''The Guns of Will Sonnett'' is an American Western television series set in the 1870s that was broadcast in color on the ABC television network from 1967 to 1969. The series, which began with the working title, "Two Rode West", was the first ...

'' (1967–1969, TV Series) (2 episodes) **(Season 1 Episode 8: "Meeting at Devil's Fork") (1967) as Rake Hanley **(Season 2 Episode 15: "Robber's Roost") as Harley Bass *''

'' (1968) as Drew *'' Sounder'' (1972) as Sheriff Charlie Young *'' Hawkins'' (1973, TV Series) (Season 1 Episode 4: "Blood Feud") as Sheriff John Early *'' Savages'' (1974, TV Movie) as Sheriff Bert Hamilton *''

'' (1976) as Dewey Barksdale *'' Gator'' (1976) *''

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (nicknamed Nick) is an American pay television channel and the flagship property of the Nickelodeon Group, a sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on April 1, 1979, as the first ca ...

'' (1976) as Jim *'' Rolling Thunder'' (1977) as Texan *''The Brain Machine'' (1977) as Reverend Emory Neill *''

The End The End may refer to: Film * The End (1953 film), ''The End'' (1953 film), a film by Christopher Maclaine * The End (1978 film), ''The End'' (1978 film), a comedy by Burt Reynolds * ''The End'' (1995 film), a List of Canadian films of 1995, Cana ...

'' (1978) as Pacemaker Patient *''

'' (1978) as Cully *''

Centennial A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century. Notable events Notable centennial events at a national or world-level include: * Centennial Exhibition, 1876, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

'' (1979, TV Mini-Series) (Season 1 Episode 12: "The Scream of Eagles") as Hank Garvey *''

'' (1979–1985, TV Series) (141 episodes) as

*'' Enos'' (1981, TV series) (Season 1 Episode 9: "Horse Cops") as

*'' The Dukes'' (1983, TV Series) (20 episodes) as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane *'' In the Heat of the Night'' (1991, TV Series) (Season 5 Episode 8: "Sweet, Sweet Blues") as retired Sheriff Nathan Bedford – Crystal Reel Award, ''Best Actor'' *'' The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!'' (1997, TV Movie) as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane *''Raney'' (1997) as Uncle Nate *''Death Mask'' (1998) as Wilbur Johnson *'' The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood'' (2000, TV Movie) as Rosco P. Coltrane *''

Hot Tamale ''Hot Tamale'' is a 2006 American comedy-drama film directed by Michael Damian, co-written by Janeen Damian. It stars Randy Spelling, Diora Baird and Carmen Electra. The film opened on April 23, 2006, and the DVD was released on August 29, 200 ...

'' (2006) as Hank Larson *''

Moondance Alexander ''Moondance Alexander'' is a 2007 American comedy-drama film directed by Michael Damian and written by Janeen Damian, Juan Saenz and Martha Lopez. Shot on location in Okotoks, High River and Calgary, Alberta, Canada the film is based on actual ...

'' (2007) as Buck McClancy, a friend and storekeeper of the Alexanders (based on the life of real-life daughter Janeen) *'' Return of the Killer Shrews'' (2012) as Thorne Sherman *'' The Sweeter Side of Life'' (2013, TV Movie) as Paddy Kerrigan, the father of the protagonist (final film role)

References

External links

* *
James Best Bio at HazzardNet.com

James Best Crystal Reel Awards

Obituary – Legacy
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Best, James 1926 births 2015 deaths American male film actors American male television actors American male voice actors 20th-century American male actors Male Western (genre) film actors Male actors from Kentucky United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II Universal Pictures contract players University of Central Florida faculty University of Mississippi faculty People from Muhlenberg County, Kentucky People from Corydon, Indiana Male actors from Orlando, Florida Military personnel from Kentucky Deaths from pneumonia in North Carolina Western (genre) television actors American military police officers

Early years

Film career

Television

''The Dukes of Hazzard''

Later television career

Artist, teacher, writer, and other activities

Personal life

Death

Filmography

Further reading

References

External links